Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-06-02


, scarcely mistrust, even by the insinuation
: OF her son, conGrmed-as he deemed then
to be-by the evidence of his senses-whe
| he met her so unexpectedly travelling un
der the escort Of Pedro Sese.
But shert space was left to Nuna 70
these agonizing thoughts. Death, shame
full death, was the punishment of The adul,
eress; but Sancho, more merci(ul than sh
had dared to hope, had granted her onl
loophole for eseape-one slender chance
of proving her innocence. The lists wer,
to be open to any champion believing il
the lady's gqiltlessness, WIN should ven
ture his life in her defence. If any such
should profer his services, he might d.
battle in single combat with her accuser
God-accordlng TO the belief Of those days
would give victory 10 him who main
tanned the truth! ~ ..-....
The fatal day approached, arrived, and
had we'll nigh passed. Garcia, unopposed,
bestrode his war-steed, the redoubtable
black llderim, whose possession he had so
eagerly coveted, and purchased at so fear.
ful a price. The discrowned queen, in
conformity with custom, was placed with.
in sight of the arena, tied 10 a stake, sur.
mounting wha. would prove her funeral
pile, If no champion appeared on her he-
hall, or if her defender should suffer de.
feat.
Who can paint the agitation Of Dona
Nuna, thus placed within view Of the lists,
when the precious hours passed, one by
one, and no champion stoQd forth in de-.
fence Of her purity and truth? She was
about to resign herself hopelessly to her
inexherable fate. when the sound of a
horse's tramp was heard, approaching at
rapid pacej and knight in complete ar-
mour, mounted ON charger, whose foam
ing mouth and reeking sides tod that he
had been ridden at fearful pace, dashed
into the lists, flung down his gauntlet of
defiance, and announced that he was come
to do battle in defence ofthe falsely-accus.
ed, but stainless and guil,less queen.
There was an involuntary movement
among the assembled multitude, when Gar
eia prepared for the inevitable encounter.
None knew, or could guess, who the
knight might be. No deyice or emblem,
by which his identity would be discovered,
shieldi bur the ease with which he sur
mounted his steed, and his graceful and
gallant bearing, evincea tha. he was an &C.
Complished warrior.
In few seconds the preliminary or
rangemenss were complete; and, with Ian.
ces in rest, the opponents approached. In
the first encounter, 10 the amazement of
all, Garcia was unhorsed, and fell heavily
to the ground. .-.
'sShe is innocent! she is innocent!' shout
ed the multitude.
ssGod be praised! though have lost
son." was the subdued ejaculation Of the
king.
81 am prepared, in defence of the much.
injured lady, to do combat to the DEATH"
said the stranger night. "Case and dast-
ardlo villain! confess thy unnatural crime,
or prepare to meet me once mere, when
| swear will not let thee escape so
slightly.''
Garcia hesitated; he was evidently torn
by conflicting emotions. Conscious guilt
fear Of the just retribution Of heayen,
executed by the strangers ayenging sword
urged him to confess his villainy. On
the other hand, apprehension Of the exc
crations Of the mqllitude, and the indigna=
ton of his injured parents, restrained him
from making frank avowal Of his crime.
"RemouLt, miscreanl! and make ready
for another encounier, or confess that you
haye lied in your throat" exclaimed the
stranger, sternly.
Before Garcia could reply, an aged and
venerable ecclesiastic threw himself be- |
tween tine opponents.
ssIn the name of heaven! | command
ye to withhold from this unnatural strife"
he exclaimed, addressing them; ''brothers
are ye; the blood of common father flows |
in your veins. Ramiro -forbear. Gar
combat this day has testified to
your guilt; make your only atonement-a
full confession.'' t.....
Calculations of astonishment and pity |
burst from all the spectators: "Long live
the noble bastard! The base-born has |
made base the well.born! The step.son
has proved the true son! Praise be to the
Virgin, the mother Of the People has not
been left without godson to fight for her!''
And all the matrons, and many even of the |
hardened warriors among the multitude,
wept with tenderness and joy.
In few moments, the ugitated queen
found herself in her husbands arms. He
implored her forgiveness for the sorrow
shs had endured, nor could she withhold it,
even for moment, when she listened TO
the ayowals of the degraded Garcia; who |
confessed how, step by STEPS he had poison
ed his fathers mind by tales, of her infdel-
ity, in revenge for her refusal, and that of
Pedro sese, to entrust him with Saneho's |
favorite charger, black Ilderi'n.
Nuna turned from her abject son, aud
motioned her young champion to approach.
He knelt at her feet.
"Ramira," she softly said, as she un-
clasped the helmet and visor which con-
cealed the handsome features of Sancho's
illegtima;e son; ''child of my affections,
for whom have ever felt molher's love,
though haye pot BORN for thee mothers
pains-how shall I thank thee? Thou
hast this day more than repaid the tender
ness lavished on thy infant wears. Thou