The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-04-01
AtSreGl dtlf IT'S.
From Graham's Magazine, for March.
THE LADY AND THE PAGE.
STORY OF MOORISH SPAIN.
by MARY $. PEAsE.

yearugo, Won may remember, Taavera was hert
lie has not heen here since. A short time aite
that, his last visit, the page came-hough it is NJ
of him would speak. We plnycd-Taluvera an
!. At first won-in the success of the moment
staked Highland lost, | still played on--eyer
throw swept off acre after acre of the lands my IA
theirs owned, Midnight saw me wilhouta arthn:
and without Il foot Of earth 10 call my own.
Then came bond. signed it. 1t gave me bacl
my broab lands--my woalth-but it deprived M
of the only thins had on earth to love--ofyou
my Isabel See! here is the bond
The lady's heart was si--yery still-so still
it almost frightened her, Her cheeks, lips, hands
were cold and bloodcss. 1t seemed rs though her
blood had all gone to her heart and frozen there
Her eye was passionless, i; was so calm. she held
the open paper before her, and without reading or
SEEING she read and saw enough to know that the
lair grounds and castle of o-Rossc-where she
had lived from her infancy-whele her father had
loved her molher-we.e to 90 into the hands OF The
Talavera, unless she bccume his BRIDE
"Isabe, ! have sworn thou shalt be his bride,
but | will recall my oath thou sayest so. What
is thy decision :"
81 will wed him." replied the girl.
Llenaro clasped her to his heart, and kissing
he cold brow, he added,
"The day thou art seventeen was the day dcci-
ded upon-it will be here in week. But lift twill
be too soon, no doubt The Marquis will''-
"'Twl not be too SOON"
"Isabol thou frightenest me, thou art so pale-I
will not force thee into what would be thy unhap-
piness."
"Nay, papa, had much rather be unhappy
myself than TO see thee so. Blu, will not be-
Tomorrow thou shalt see me more cheerful"
The willy lord had learned the way to make his
daughters will his own, lie loved that daughter,
and felt Il fathers pity for her. But he thought
although she suffered then-and it panied him to
the soul to see it--she would soon forget her youth
ful passion, and, as the wife of the Talaveru, she
would gradually learn to be happy. Her future hus-
band was all that was noble and good-all this
thought the iaher-and then he thought " the cas-
tic of Ysolo-Rosse Will sill be mine" The ia
TIERS conscience was almost quoted.
81 have f0rsworn playing, Belle" said he, snd-
ly, "never, should live forever, will another
card pass through my hands, Isabel, my darling
child! do not look so sad,-seek the cool air, it
will revive thee. Go and gather thy f,yoritc wild
flowers; they will divert thy mind from its sorrow
My noble generous girl" lie l0ndy kissed his
child and then withdrew,
Isabel left TO herself mechanically sought the
garden. She wandered over her flyorite haunls
scarce knowing what she did, Her heart, her
thoughts were still us the grave. She reached her
bower-tho little vine clad bower, where the page
aud she had so offer sat listeninS 10 the music of
each others voices Aud there, on the very seat
where they were wont to s-was Jose, the page!
"lsabe! boloyed!'' exclaimed he in unleigned
deght-and the glrl was in bis arms.
"Dourest, best, my gentle Isabel! am | once
more permitted TO see thee to clasp the TO my
heart But, sweetest how thou hast changed How
pale thou art. Go with me dearest, will be thy
father, brother, husband fiend Leave this hated
cast!e-now-s speak, dear one, wilt thou 90 with
me? Dear, ter Isabel, tell me-
"Josc, cunnot--I have promised to become
his brido!"
"But dearest, they shall not force thee to do
what thou dost not wish"
"Jose had my own free choice"
"And thou didst choose?
"To become his BRIDE"
evil nothing induce the to alter thy determine
ton !"
".Noihingl"
"Good bye, Isabel"
"Jose! Dear Josc-'but the page was gone.
The next morning found the lady Isabel in the
spot where the page had left her. Then followed
many days of sickness. Her life was despaired Of
Day after day she lay, pale, cod nsensibe. Rca-
son had l0rsaken her throne. Her sweet smiles
were gone, and the speaking glances of her dewy
eyes had fled. Her voice loo-for she had not
spoken since that night. Even the pulsatons of
her heart were silent Life alone remaincd-life
without its light. And how her father watched
over her-and how bitterly he lamented, aud cursed
himself for having brought her thus. AT length
light shone in her eyes-the light of life Morning
dawned in upon the darkness of her soul
"GoOd bye, I5ajei," said she:
"lly own child, what dOs thou say ;" asked
the father, bending anzionsly over her
"Good bye, lsabel'-" and she looked up in her
fathers face and smiled.-TAat smile, il haunted
him to his gave!
care you better, my own TsabeI' my dearest
child -
ayes papa am well What strange dream
! have had. All. now ! recUllcct-' and she sank
into gentle sleep
Day by day she gained health and strength The
father never left her side.
"Papa" said she one day." will you let me see
that paper again you know the one mean''
"No, my child, you never need see or think of
it,
"Do let NE take it, papa-you do moi know how