Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1850-07-20
From Noahs Sunday 7Wes1
The Cross OF the Seven Daggers.
BIZ A TRAVELLER.


cia on journey from Corunna to Madrid,
Il small town, which had once supported a
prominent university, hut which ncw bore
the usual tokens of Tint drowsy decay man
Tested by every portion Of STin. There
were several gentlemen of various nations
composing our company who, like myself,
were always anxious to learn those pas
saues of Interest which almbst every foot
of ground possesses in this ill-fated latid,
so full of romance and folly. As the moon
would give us PLEASANT light in the eve
ming, we concluded to defer our entrance
into the village until after nightfall
Accordingly, we gave directions to have
our suppers prepared where we were, for
which we were duly provided with mater
ialsa as we generally found it to be our ads
vantage both as regarded pocket ahd palate
to prepare our own meals when circumstnn-
ces would allow, rather than depe1d. upon
the miserable posadas. While our repast
Wis being prepared, we strollea about to
take view ofthe scenery Observing little
elninenoe a short distance OIL. we aseended
it, and found that it commanded fine
view of the town and surrounding country.
Dn its tep.was grove OF trees, from a.
mong which flowed a ril of pure water,
that added sort of rural music to the
charms OF the scene as it rippled over lis
pebbly bed down the gentle slope. A little
beyond we snW couple of our nuletecrs
who had come to the spring for water;
silently gazing upon cross that was
erected over what appeared to be the ruins
OF d habltation, and OH which seven
dagger- with red handles, were strikingly
painted. We inquired of the nluleteers
the purpose of the cross and the meaning
Of the daggers.
Hospifd and you do not know the
story of the Cross of the Seven Daggers =
exclaimed one III them, thinking, as the
eonceited Spaniafd always does, that a man
is wolully ignorent who is not as familiar
with every object within their own obser-
vation as they are themselves. "Csn it
lie possible - continued he, "tl,at you.
have read so many books, are not acquaiht-
ed with the great event that took place
herep'
We replied that ot,r books had been
sHdly Mt fault on that subject, and that if
he could tell story worth listehiug to, we
would hear II while supper was preparing
So we seated ourselves upon the ground,
and at our bidding the most fluent talker
narrated the tale, while his coinfade went
back with the water buckets.
lie informed us that some half century
back there lived in the southern part Of
the province Of Ahdalusia all old and proud
family of the name of De Castro Que
OF the younger members Of this fa%ily
named Emanuel, had conceived q romantic
passion for the daughter of a poor musician
Il most beautiful and interesting girl, and
proHered her his hand in honorable mar
rlage. When the matter became known
to the friends of the young man, it oc-
casione1 great Indignation, and 81 threat of
the sevcrest vengeance from the old rich
Don, his father should he persist in his
foolish desires. The result of the. affair
was. that the spirited and independent
young Emanuel gathered all the money he
could cotnIliand, secretly married the fair
Leonora, fled with her from his native
province, and finally settled upon the very
spot where we where then setting.
For three years Emanuel De Castro and
Leorora lived i'll this retired place as hap
PLY rs two doves, cultivating n small
f,rm and selling its products in the neigh
boring village AT first, this mode Of life
came rather awkward to the young couple i,
but Emanuel had stout heart. ns well ms
frame, and, like true philosopher, per-
servered in what he had undertaken. BY
degree, aided by the instruction and advice
OF the surrounding peasantry, they became
acquainted with the various features of
rural life, and their unbounded love for each
other was strengthened and made happy
by their gradual and satisfactory sticceess.
Thus, under their own fg-tree, they quietly
reposed; herds gazed upon their pastures,
and their fertile fields teemed plentiful
with grain.
Occasionally they were visited hy stud
ents of the university, who always found
in their intelligence and hospitality the
essentials for making this abode most
agreeable resort Among this number
was one Velasquez, young nobleman of
distinguished and ahluent connexions,
generally of genteel bearing, but perfectly
debased in his appetites and passions, and
INSCRIPTIONS i'll the means of their grati-
fication. His agreeable manners at first
won their friendship of Emanuel and his
wife, who little suspected that the brutal
william lurked under so pleasant an exterior.
This man was the leader of club COM
posed of six members besides, himself,
who were organized as sort of bacchana-
liam gang, and many scene were they
the actors Of which would make virture
recol to witness. Their infractions Of the
university laws Were frequent and utl-
scrupulons, but their combination and the
high standing of their families preserved
them even from rebuke.
Vclasguez and his companions were on
a revel one evening, and rambling forth
without noticing whether they went they
came to the cottage of Emanuel. Il was
getting somewhat late in the evening, but
being filled with wine, without any cere-
mony they straggered into the house.
Here they found no one but half-fright-
tened servant girl, and to their inquiries for
her master and mistress, she informed them
that they Were not at home. She was
then ordered to bring forth the best that the
house afforded Of wine and refreshments.
which she declined doing, whercupon she
| was treated with gross indignities; and
while they were engaged in making the
poor girl the object of brutal sports,
Emanuel returned. The servant soon
made him acquainted with the treatment
~, I,a i ,aoa;,,,5 R1r,,ino with indiyna.