The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-06-15

How is thisf exclaimed the Alcayds' re-
proachfulIy, that you, who were =, ha'u
and fearless in the field, should lose ai' SPIN
in nrisoni If any secret griefpreys on you,
haar confde il to me. as TO friend, ana
,,ro,nise YOU, on the faith of cavalier, tnat
you shall have no cause to repent the discio-
sure eh
A,oavde Noble cavalier, said he shat am
cas, down in spirit, is not from my wounds,
which are slight, nor from my captivity, for
vorr Kindness has robbed it Of all gloom nor
from nv defeat, for to be conquered by so ac-
conplished and renowned a cavalier, is no dis
grace. But to explain to you the cause OF my
grief, il is necessary to give you some parii-
culars of my story; and this am moved TO
do by the great sympathy you have manifested
towards me, and the magnanimity that shines
through all your actions.'
know, then, that my name is Abendaraez'
and that am Of the noble but unfortunate
line OF the Abencerrages OF Granada. lou
have doubtless heard of the destruction thai
fell upon our race. Charged with treason
able designs, Of which they were entirely IN
nocent, many of them were beheaded, me
rest banished so that not an Abencefrage
was permitted to remain in Granada, except
ing nv father and my uncle, whose Innocence
was proved, even TO the satisfaction OF their
prosecutors. Ii was decreed, however, should
they have children, the sons should be educat-
ed at distance from Granada, and the duush-
tiers should BIZ married out Of the kingdom.
sConformably to this decree, was sent,
while vet an infant, to be reared in the fortress
OF Cartama, the worthy Alcayde Of which was
an ancient friend of my father. He had no
children, and received me into his family as
his own child, treating me with the kindness
and affections Of father and | grew up IN
the belief that he really was such. A lew
years afterwards, his wife gave birth TO
daughter, butt tenderness towards me con-
tinued undiminished. / thus grew up with
Xarisa, for SO the infant daughter OF the Al
cayde was called, as her own brother, and
thought the growing passion which lelt Tor
her was mere iraterna affection. bcheld her
charms unfolding, as il wera lsal by leaf, like
the morning rose, each moment disclosing
fresh beauty and sweetness.
X. Al this period, ! overheard a conversation
between the Alcayde and his confidential do
mestic, and found myself to be the subject.
1T is time said he, 10 apprse him Of his pa
rentage, that he may adopt career in life.
have deferred the communication as long as
possible, through reluctance to inform him
that he is ola prescribed and an uniu, ky race
This intelligence would have overwhelmed
me al an earlier period, but the intimation that
Aarsa was not my sister, and operated like
magir, and in an instant transformed my bro
thery affections into ardent love-
i sought Aarisa to impart to her the secret
had learned. found her in the garden, in
bower OF jessamines, arranging her beauti-
full hair by the mirror of a crystal fountain.
The radance Of her beauty dazzed me. ran
to her with open arms, and she received me
with sisters embraces. When we had
seated ourselves beside the fountain, she be-
gan to upbraid me for leaving her so long
alone.
In reply, informed her of the conversa-
ton | had overheard. The recital shocked
and distressed her. Alas! cried she, then
Is our happiness al an end y
Howl exclaimed l, wilt thou cease to love
me, because am not thy brother =
Not so,' replied shei but do you not know
that when it is once known we are not brother
and sister, we can no longer be permitted
to be thus always together!'
in fact, from that moment our intercourse
took new character. We met often at the
fountain among the jessamines, but Xarisa no
longer advanced with open arms to meet me.
She became reserved and silent, and would
blush, AID cast down her eyes, when seated
myself beside her. My heart became prey
to the thousand doubts and fears that ever at
tend upon true love. was restless and un-
easy. and looked back with regret to the I'M
reserved intercourse that hid existed between
us, when we supposed ourselves brother and
sister, ye, l would not have had the relation
ship true, for the world. ..a
while matters were in this state between
US, an order came from the King of Granada
for the Alcayde to take command Of the fort
ress OF Coyn, which lies directly on the Chris
tian frontier. He prepared to remove, with all
his family, but signitied that should remain
at Cartama. | exclaimed against the separa-
ton, and declared that could not be pared
from Xarisa. That is the very cause said he,
'why leave thee behind. It is time, Abcn-
daraez that thou shouldst know the secret of
tiny 6lr'h; that thou art no son Of mine, neither
is Aarisa thy sister, Il know it ALL ex-
claimed /, 'and l love her with ten fold the
affection OF brother. You have brought us
up together; you have made us necessary to
each others happiness; our hearts have en-
twined themselves with our grow,h do not
now tear them asunder. Fill up the measure
Of your kindness be indeed father to me,
by giving me Xarisa for my wife,
The brow of the Alcayde darkencd as
spoke. Have then been deceived said he
Have those nurtured in my very bosom. been
conspiring against me2 Is this your return
for my paternal tenderness Ito beglle the
affections of my child, and teach her to de-
ceive her fatherl 1t was cause enough to re-
fuse thee the hand Of my daughter, that thou
vert Of a prescribed race who can never ap-
proach the walls Of Granada tnls, however,
lmlght have passed over; but never will give
d,III.I Ia, L..