Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-04-26

midst VI society are advantage TO one OF
somewhat shy aud quiet habits.
Then there is considerable suburb lying be-
low the Alhambra, filling the narrow gorge OF the
valley, and extending up the opposite hill OF the
Abaycin. Many of the houses are built In the
Moorish style, round patios or courts cooled oy
fountains and open to the sky; and az the inhao'
tants pass much Of their time in these courts anu
ON the terraced roufs during the summer season.
it follows that many a glance at their domestic
life may be obtained by an aerial spectator ike
myself, who can look down on them from the
clouds
Ienjoy, in some degree, the advantages OF the
student it, the famous old Spanish story, who be.
held all Madrid unroofed for his inspection, and
my gossippins squire Mateo &menes, othclates
occasionally as my Asmodeus, to give me anec'
dotes of the different mansions and their lnllaDi'
tants.
Iprefcr, however, to form conjectural histories
for myself; and thus can sit up aloft for hours.
weaving from casual incidents and indications
that pass under my eye, the whole tissue OF
schemes, intrigues and occupations, carrying on
BY certain of the busy mortals below. There is
scarce pretty face or striking figure that dali
ly see, about which | have not thus gradually
framed dramatic story; though some OF my cha
racters will occasionally set in direct opposition
TO The part assigned them, and disconcert my
whole drama.
A few DAYS since, as was recommending with
my glass the streets of the AbaycIn, | be-
held the processicA Of novice about to take the
veil; and remarked various circumstances that
excited the strongest sympathy 10 the fate OF the
youthful being thus about to be consigned to IL
wing tomb. I ascertained, to my satisfaction.
that she was beautiful; and. by the paeness OF
her cheek, that she was victim rather than vo-
tary She was arrayed IN bridal garments. and
decked with chaplet of white flowers; but her
heart evidently revoted at this mockpry Of a spi-
ritual union, and yearned after its earthly loves
A tall, stern looking man walked near her in the
procession; it was evidently the tyrannical father,
who, from some bisoted or sUrdd motive, had
| compelled this sacrifice Amidst the crowd was
dark, handsome youth, in Andalusian garb,
who seemed to fix on her an eye of agony It
was doubtless the secret lover from whom she
was forever to be separated. My indignation
rose as noted the malignant exultation painted
in the countenances of the attendant monks and
friars. The procession arrived at the chapel of
the convent; the sun cleaned for the last time
upon the chaplet of the poor novice as she eros
sed the fatal threshold and disappeared from
sight. The throns poured in, with cowl and
cross and mnstresy. The lover paused for a
moment at the door; could understand the tu-
mutt Of his feelings. but he mastered them, and
entered. There was long interval pictured
to myself the scene passing within. The poor
novice despoiled of her transient 6nery-cIothed
in the conventua garb; the bridal chaplet taken
from her brow; her beautiful head shorn Of its
| long silken tresses-i heard her murmur the ir-
revocabe vow-l saw her extended on her bier;
the death pail spread over; the funeral service
performed that proc lained her dead to the world;
her signs were drowned in the walling anthems
Of the nuns and the sepulchral tones of the organ
the father looked. unmoved, without tear
the lover-no, my fancy refused to portray the
anguish of the lover-there the picture remained
blank The ceremony was over; the crowd
again issued forth to behold the day. and mingle
in the Joyous stir of life; but the victim with her
bridal chaplet was no longer there-the door Of
the convent closed that secured her from the
world for ever. saw the father and the lover
issue forth-they were in earnest conversation
the young man was violent in his gestures,
when the wall of house interviewed. and shut
them from my sight.
That evening noticed solitary light twink
ling from remote lattice of the convent There,
said l., the unhappy novice sits weeping in her
availing anguish.
The officious Mateo interrupted my media.
tons, and destroyed in an instant the cobweb It's
sue of my fancy. With his usual zeal he had
gathered facts concerning the scene that had in
terested me. The heroine Of my romance was
neither young nor handsome-she had no love
she had entered the convent of her own free will,
as respectable asylum, and was one of the
cheerfulest residents within its walls!
felt at first half vexed with the nun for being
thus happy in her cell, in contradiction to all the
rules Of romance; but diverted my spleen BY
watching for day or two, the pretty ooquetries
Of "a dark-eyed brunette, who. from the covert of
a balcony shrouded with Towering shrubs and
siIken awning, was carrying on mysterious cor
respondence with handsome, dark, well-whis.
kered cavalier. in the street beneath her window.
Sometimes saw him. at an early hour, stealing
forth, wrapped to the eyes in mantle. Some
times he loitered at the corner. IN various dis
guises. apparently waiting for private signal to
slim into the bower Then there was a tinkling