Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1854-02-09
VOL. VINO. IS.
are paying good round price for your of

Ben Abtas =
%, take it not unkindly, for | mean
what | say. Of course the eternal peace
of the gentle being you would sacrifice is
nothing more than meet for the kingly fa-
vor you get in returnp =
Now by Allah. Ben Abbas, if you mean
to beard Inc with taunts, you shall answer
for it, cried the alcalde, starting with pas
sion.
Look ye, Ben Hamed,' returned HUI
sam. his whole couDtenauce beaming with
pride as he spoke, you can call these
things taunts if you choose, but let me tell
thee that every honest knight in Granada
abomlnates the act you have bound your
self to perform. Zebra is the farest maid
in our city. and we like not that she should
be sacrificed to Mohammed'
you shall answer for this
so 1 will Go carry your daughter to
the king first, and then you may seek me
if you choose Mohammed waits to snuff
the fragrance of the fair flower you have
plucked for him.
AS Ben Abbas spoke, he turned away
and left the alcalde to himself
BY the holy Prophet, they shall not
beard me thus Ben Hamed exclaimed as
nc was ieie aioho. Lucy Sudil YET unu
that my arm has not weakened
For some moments the alcalde paced up
and down his apartment in an endeavor to
calm the passion that had been aroused
in his soul He knew not exactly what
Ben Abbas meant by the hints he had
thrown out. but yet they had much influ-
ence upon his mind He knew that he
was stalking his all for the kings favor,
and should he lose that he would have no
friend towards whom he could turn
However, he at length contrived to quiet
himself upon the hope that Mohammed
would be true to him and in this mood he
went to seek his daughter
Zebra he said. with as much kindness
of tone as he could command, you must
prepare to accompany me to the Alham-
bra. The king has sent for you, and he
is anxious for your coming
The effect was like palsy shock to the
poor girl She sank back upon the couch
and covered her face with her hands.
Come, Zehra,-cheer up.
20. is there no escape from this p
'Escape2 What mean you? Did you
not promise me that you would 60 calmly
and quietly Q
perhaps I did, but o, thought not Of
the pangs | was to suffer The poor p-is-
oner in his dungeon may think calmly of
! the stake and the fire, but when the fla mes
that are to consume him begin to crackle
in his ears, his heart may quail 0, save
me from this
Come, come, Zehra,-you have ere this
exhausted my patience. Beware how you
triae with me more
Tho don ro,pai1aj Gonna tiu,a
her hand upon her brow. and at length
she arose to her feet There were no
| tears in her eyes, for whatever of grief
and anguish she may have felt was too
keen. too deep. for tears. She was pale,
and the muscles about her mouth were
still and quiet. She had passions at work,
but they were like the hidden fires of the
earth that fud no crater. They lived up
on the soul wherein they ragged
Il will CO. she said, in voice too calm
| to be usual.
Then make your preparations, and I
will call for you
'One question, Ben Hamed Where is
| Charles of Leon
In the prison.
And will he be released when I am
once at the palaceF
| Yes
you do not deceive me now p
why should | p
you spoke with strange accent
Did l g.
Yes
Then it was because your question was
a strange one
Ben Hamed you know make this sac
riice because you have told me it would
save the life of the young Christian
And suppose it would not save bis
life p
Then l would not make it
The alcalde thought of speaking harsh
ly, but his better judgment prevailed =
He would not have Zebra appear before
the king with her eyes swollen with tears,
and SO he dropped the subject and with
drew
In less than an hour the fair maiden
was prepared for her departure from the
home of her youth, and she had two fe-
male servats to attend her.
You look exceedingly beautiful said
Ben Hamed, as he led her from her cham
/ Der. The king will be overjoyed'
AT my miseryP
Hush, Zebra. At your beauty I
meant
And when that fades 7
1t will not fade. You are young aud
your beauty will outlive the king
%, what hope for a poor soul is thatp
murmured Zebra. That her beauty may
outlive her husbands life Say no more
to me, if you would have me calm
| Ben Hamed obeyed the girls injunc-
ton, aud without further remark be led
her to the palanquin which was waiting
| to convey her to her destination As
Zebra stepped into the eaudily arrayed
vehicle, low groan escaped from her lips
| but Ben Hamed did not hear it. The
! silken curtains were drawn, and then the
maiden was borne away towards the Al
| hambra.
| When her bearers reached the royal
residence she was lifted out by the alcalde
! and messengers from the king were wait