Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-06-23

| no to the universal custom OF the CouhuI' IL
IA true her complexion was tinged by the ardou'
Of a southern sun, but it served to give richness
10 the mantling bloom on her cheek, and to
heighten the Iustre of her melting eyes.
Ruyz de Alarcon beheld all thus with single
glance, for it became him not to tarry; he merely
nurmured his acknowledgements. and thea
bounded lightly up the spiral staircase In que''
| of his falcon. He soon returned with the truant
bird upon his fist. The dansel. 10 the meantime
had seated herself by the fountain IN the hail.
and was winding silk; but in her agitation sh"
| let fall the reel upon the pavement The page
sprang and picked it up. then dropping graceful
" upon one knee. presented il to her; but, selZ-
inc the hand extended to receive =, imprinted on
| il kiss more tervent aud devout than he had
ever imprinted on the fair hand OF his sovereign
Ave Maria, senorr exclaimed the damsel,
blushinp still deeper with confusion and surprise.
for never before had she received such a saluta
ton. The modest page made ,nousand apollo
,,ies. assuring her it was the way At court ct ex-
messing the mast profound homage and respect.
Her anger, if anger she felt, was easily Pached,
but her agitation and embarrassment Continued;
and she sat blushing deeper and deeper, with her
ewes cast down upon her work, entangling the
silk which she attempted to wind. The cunning
page saw the confusion IN the opposite camp and
would lain have proted by it; but The fine speech
es he would have uttered died upon his lips. his
attempts at gallan,ry were awkward aud lneffec.
tual; and, to MS surprise, the adrolt page, who
had figured with such grace and ettrontery among
the most knowing and experienced ladies OF the
court, found himseIf awed and atashed in the
presence of simple damSe of fifteen. In TACT,
The artess maiden IN her own motesty and inno-
cence had .guardians more effectua than the bolts
and bars prescribed by her vigiIaBt aunt. Still.
where !. the female bosom proof against the htst
wl.pcyincs of love?
The little damsel, with all her artIessness, IN
stinctivev comprehendct all that the faltering
tongue Of the q&ge failed to express; and her
heart was hattercd at behnldng, Ter the first
time. a lover at her ieet-and SUCH lover! The
diHi'leGCe u tue page though genuine, was snort
| lived, aud lie was recovering his usual ease anu
confidence, when shriil voce was heard at
; distance. sMv aunt is returning from mass'
cried the dansel in alright : pray you, senior,
depart Not until You grant me that rpse
| from your hair as remembrance She hastily
UNFINISHED the rose from her raven locks: lake
/ it. cried she, agltaed and busning; but pray
begone.' The page took the rose, and at the
same time covered with kisses thu fair hand that
gave it. Then, placing the Hover III his bonnet
and taking the falcon upon his list, he bounded
off through the garden. bearing away with him
the heart Of the gentle Jacinta When The Nlsl'
| liant aunt arrived at the tower, she remarked the
agitation of her niece, and an air OF confusion
in the ball; but word Of explanation suhced-
A ger-falcon had pursued his prey into the half
| - Mercy on us! to think OF talc"l lying into
the tower! Did ever one hear OF so saucy hawk!
Why, the very bird IN the cage is not safe! The
visiIant Fredeganda was one OF the most wary OF
ancient spinsters. She had becoming terror
and dlstrust of what she dcnominated the oppo-
site SEX which had gradually increased through
long life of celibacy Not that the good lady
had ever suffered from their wies. nature having
set up safeguard in her lace tha, forbade all
trespass upon her premises: but ladics who have
leas. cause to fear for themselves, are must rea-
DIV to keep a watch over their mure tempting
neishbors. The niece was The orphan of an OIL
Ger who had fallen 10 the wars. She had been
educated in a convent, and had recently been
transferred from her sacred asylum to the lmme-
date guardianship of her aunt. under whose
oyershadowing care she vegeIated 10 obscurty.
| like an opening rose blooming beneath brlar -
I Nor indeed is this com parson entirely accident
al: for, To tell the truth, her fresh and d3N G.ng
beauty had caught the public exc. ey'A IN her
seclusiOn. and. will, that poei'cai tIrn common
to the people Of Andausla, the peasauuy OF the
/ neiohborhood had given her the aPPrlia'ion OF
the Rose of the 4 hambra.' Ti,e weary aunt
continued 10 keep faithful watch over her
tempting l,te niece as long as the court contlnu-
ed AZ Granada and fatered herself that her vi
GLANCE had been successful. Il is true, the good
ladv was now and then discomposed by the link
ling of guitars and chanting Of low dities IRON
the moonlit groves beneath the tower; but she
would exhort her niece to shut Der ears against
such idle mnstrelsy, assuring her that it was ore
of the arts of the opposite sex, by which simple
maids were often lurej to their undong. Alas!
What chance with simple maid has dry lee
ture against moonlight serenade9 At length
King Philip cut short his sojourn at Granada,
and suddenly departed with all his train. The
vigiaut Fredeganda watched the royal pageant
as it issued forth from the gate Of justice, and
descended the great avenue leading to the city.
When the last banner disappeared from her sight,
she returned exulting to her tower, for all hei
cares were over. To her surprize, light Ara
ban steed paved the ground at the wicket gate Of
the gardpn:-tO her horror. she saw through the