Year: 1861

During the first year of Tacon's cover


norship, there was a young Creole girl


named Miralda Estalez, who kept httlt


cigar-store in the Cole de Narcaderes, and


whose shop was the resort of all the young


men Of the town who loved a choicely- made


and superior cigar. Miralda was only sew
enteen, without mother or father living,
and earned an humble though sufficient
support BY her industry in the manufacto-
~ we have named, and by the sales, of her
little store, She was picture of ripened
tropical beauty, with a finely rounded
form, lovely face, of soft, olive tint, and
teeth that a Tuscarosa might envy her.
AT tunes there was a dash of langour in
her dreamy eye that would have warmed
an anehorlte;; and then her cheerful jests
were SO delicate, yet free, that she had un-
Willingly turned the heads, not to say
hearts, OF half the young merchants in the


CGHe de Mdrcaderes. But she dispensed
her faVors without partiality; none of the
rlch and gay exquisites of Havana could
say they had ever received any particular
acknowledgement of the fair young girl to
their Warm and constant attention. For
TINS one she had pleasant smile, fer an
other a few words Of pleasant gossip, and
1or third snatch of Spanish song; but
70 none did she give her confidence, except
to young Pedro Mantanez, fine looking
ooarman, who piled between the Punta and
Moro Castle, on the opposite side of the
harbor.


Pedro was amanly and courageous young
fellow. rather above his class in intelli-
.gence, appearance and associations, and
pulled his oars with strong arm and light
heart, and loved the beautiful Miralda with
an ardor romantic in its fidelity and truth.
He was sort of leader among the boat
men of the harbor for reason of his supe-
rior cultivation and intelligence, and his
'quick-witted sagacity was often turned for
the benefit Of his comrades. Many were
the Hcbie deeds he had done in and about
the harbOr since boy, for he had followed
his calling Of a waterman since boyhood.
Is his fathers had done before him. Mi
ralda In turn ardently loved Pedro; and,
when ne came at night and sat in the back
part of her little shop, she had always a
neat and fragrant cigar for his lips. Now
and then, when she would steal away from
her shop on some holiday, Pedro would
hoist tiny sail in the PROV of his boat,
and securing the little stern awning over
Miralda's head, would steer out into the
gull, and coast along the romantic shore


There was famous roue, well known at
this time in Havana, named Count Almon-
te, who had frequently visited Miralda's
shop, and conceived quite passion forthe
girl, and, indeed, he had grown to be one
of her most liberal customers. With
cunning shrewdness and knowledge of hu-
man nature, the Count besieged the heart
of his intended victim EWithout appearing
t, do 50, and carried on his plan Of opera.
tions for many weeks before the innocent
girl even suspected his possessing partial
ity for her, until one day she was surprised
By q present from him of so rare and cost
1y nature as to lead her to suspecl the
donors intentions at once, and to promptly
decline the offered gift. Undismayed by
THIS still the Count continued his profuse
patronage in a way to which Marilda could
lind no plausible pretext for complaint.


At last, seizing upon what he consider
ed q favorable moment, Count Almonte de-
-clared his passion of Marilda, besoupbt her
TO come and be the mistress of his broad
and rich estates at Cerito, near the city.
and offered all the promises of wealth, IA
Vor and fortune; but in vain. The pure
minded girl scorned his offer, and bade
him never more to insult her by visiting
her shop. Abashed but not cOnfounded,
the Count retired, but only to weave a new
snare whereby he could entangle her, for
he was not one to be SO easily thwarted.


One afternoon, not long after this, as
the twilight was settling over the town, a
file Of soldiers halted Just opposite the
door of the little cigar shop, when young
man; wearing a lieutenant's insignia, en-
tered and asked the attendant if her name
was Miralda Estalez, to which she timidly
responded.


Then you will please to come with
me"


"By what authority" asked the trem-
bling girl.


The order Of the gOvernOr-general." =