Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-03-27
From Noah's Sunday Times.
The Cross of the Seven Daggers.
BY A TRAVELLER


After traversing the mountains of CALI
cia, on a journey from Corunna to Ma
drid, we came to halt late one afternoon
near small town, which had once sup
ported prominent university, but which
now bore the usual tokens of that drow-
sy decay manifested by every portion of
Spain. There were several gentlemen OF
various nations composing our company
who, like myself. were always anxious to
learn those passages of interest which al
most every foot of ground possesses in
this ill.fated land, so full of romance and
folly. As the moon would give us q
pleasant light in the evening, we conclud-
ed to defer our entrance into the village
until after nightfall. Accordingly, we
gave directions to have our snppers pre-.
pared where we were, for which we were
daily provided with materials, rs we gene.
rally found it to be our advantage, both
as regarded pocket and palate, to prepare
our own meals when circumstances would
allow, rather than depend upon the mise
rable posadas. While our repast was
being prepared, we strolled about to take
a view OF the scenery. Observing a little
eminencc short distance off, we ascend
ed it, and found that it commanded a fine
view of the town and surrounding coun-
try. On its top was a grove of trees,
from among which flowed Il rill of pure
water, that added sort of rural music to
the charms Of the scene as it rippled over
its pebbly bed down the gentle slope
A little beyond we saw couple Of our
muleteers who had come to the spring
for water, silently gazing upon a cross
that was erected over what appeared to
be the ruins of habitation, and on which
seven daggers, with red handles, were
strikingly painted. We inquired Of the
muleteers the purpose Of the cross and
the meaning of the daggers.
Hospita!! and you do not know the
story of the Cross Of the Seven Daggers?'
exclaimed one of them, thinking, us the
conceited Spaniard always does, that Il
man is wofully ignorant who is not us IA
miliar with every object within their own
observation as they are themselves. "Can
it be possible" continued he, that You,
who have read so many books, are not
acquainted with the great event that took
place here q
We replied that our books had been
sadly at fault Oh that subject, and that il
he could tell story worth listening to,
we would hear it while supper was pre-
pairing. So we seated ourselves upon the
ground, and at our bidding the most fluent
talker narrated the tale, while his COM
rade went back with the water buckets.
He informed US that some half a cen.
tury back there lived in the southern part
of the province Of Andalusia an old and
proud family of the name of De Castro.
One of the younger members of this ia
nliy, named Emanuel, had conceived a
romantic passion for the daughter of a
poor musician, most beautiful and inter
estiug girl, and profered her his hand in
honorable marriage. When the matter
became known to the friends of the young
man, it occasioned great indignation, and
a threat of the severest 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 in
dependent young Emanuel gathered all
the money he could command; secretly
married the fair Leonora, fled with her
from his native province, and finally set
tied upon the very spot where we were
then sitting.
For three years Emanuel De Castro
and Lconora lived in this retired place as
happily as two doves, cultivating small
farm and selling its products in the neigh
boring village AT first, this mode Of life
came rather awkward to the young eou-
pie; but Emanuel had stout heart as
well as frame, and, Ike true philosopher,