Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-12-29
THE KNIGHT OF LEON.
THE M0NARCH'S LAST BRIDE
A TALE OF MOORISH GRANADA.
BY SYLvANUS COBB, JR.
CONTINUED |

one OI MS WlnQOWS. mere was broad
verandah ran around the building on a
level with the floor upon which was the
knights apartment, and Charles thought
1T might be some one merely passing the
window. Ii moment there was dark
shadow thrown across the floor. where the
moonbeams lay, and upon turning he saw
the figure Of man outside of the win
dow. He started back to the table where
he had laid his sword, and as he grasped
its hilt the window was thrown open, and
the stranger stepped into the apartment.
Put up your weapon, Charles of Leon,
said the new conner. L am far from mean
ing you HARM
GU choose strange time for visit,
at all events said the knight, still holding
| his sword in his hand And there is a
door to my room, too
Never mind the time, nor the mode Of
my entrance, sir knight. Do you not rec
ognize me?'
'Abdalla2' uttered Charles, as he now
recognized In his visitor the lame man
whom he had picked up from the road
side, and whom he had seen once since at
the tournament.
Yes returned the Moor Il told you
when [ first saw you that we might never
meet again. but you see we have met not
withstanding
Charles gazed upon his visitor with no
little degree of curiosity and wonder, and
instinctively he let his sword settle back
! into it's scabbord
There is seat at your disposal' said
the knight, and if it would please you [
would hear your business
$ My business is but little, sir Charles.
and before [ speak Of it must assure YOU
that L come as no spy upon you What
! passes between us is sacred with US. |
know that you have come to Granada with
some sort of Il mission from King John of
Leon and CASTLE You need not start
Now dare you tell me what that mission
is?
| dare tell, but L shall not
The Moor smiled
You own that you hare mission, then, )
he said
[ have not owned it, nor have con-
tradicted you
Very well-let it pass I think not
that you would have travelled SO far with
out an object
Charles eyed his visitor uneasily There
was something in the Moor's look that
half awed and half puzzled him On the
present occasion Abdalla looked the same
as he did on the morning when the Chris
tian had met him on the road but yet
Charles could see that he was deeply dis
gulsed- There was a look of more than
common Intelligence in his countenance,
and his eyes themselves spoke volume
of character. One thing, more than all
else, however, moved Charles with sort
of distrust The Moor seemed uneasy
and anxious. His glances were quick and
varying and the least movement of the
vines that grew up about the windows
caused him to start with half developed
fear
'Charles of Leon continued the Moor,
after moments silence, am going to
ask you an important question. |, too,
am knight, and upon my knightly honor
L swear that your answer, whatever it may
be. shall not pass from my lips. l have
reason to believe that you are here on Sc
cret business. Now will your king pursue
this thing with the sword, if necessary?
Upon my faith, sir, you ask me cr-
rious question, returned the Christian.
And | have a curious reason for ask
ing It, said the Moor
You display but little wit, at all events
You know me-know my rank, station.
and title, and profess, even, to know my
very business while l know nothing at
all of you-not even your name, for that
matter
AS the Christian knight ceased speak
ing, he was struck by the change that came
over the Moors countenance His eyes
sparkled with fierce lustre, his lips were
compressed tightly over his pearly teeth,
and his brow grew black as night
Rank station namer he uttered. in
thrilling accents Charles of Leon, 1 |
have none 1 have only nv honor left to
me, and that l will keep l have reason
for asking the question Will King John
send an army if you should fail p
You ask me that which 1 cannot an
sNer,' returned Charles, gazing with grow
ing interest upon his strange visitor
If you know, implore you co tell me,
urged Abdalla
Look ye, Moor, said the Christian |
you seem to know not what you are ask
ing of me Here am [, stranger in YOUR
city, perhaps with spies already upon nv
movements, looked upon with dlstrust by |
Your alcalde, and known to be an adherent
of a government which has heretofore been |
hostile to the Moslem. Now with what |
reason can you ask me such question,
and expect that [ should answer 1t q
The Moor looked troubled
| confess he returned, that my ques- !
tion may seem out of place bat your
thoughts could be no more safe in your
own bosom than they might in mine
That is not the way | generally regard |
important secrets. But | viii tell you