Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1854-01-05
VOL. VU.--NO. s.

Are you ill. Zebra Speak to me
The fair girl opened her ewes and gazed
up into Ben Hameds face.
You are not ILL., he uttered while raw
of hope shot athwart his features. But
1t was selfish hope. for its opposite was
fear of the kings wrath, and not a love
for the girl Speak to me: Zebra. You
are not i'll
l shall be better when you are gone.
But before | go tell me what the Chris
tian said to you,' uttered the alcalde rails
ing Zebra to a sitting posture. and then
starting to his feet. look of relief break
ing over his features as he spoke.
Nothing nothing, murmured Zebra.
Tie did cried Ben Hamed at once
moved and blinded by the passion he could
not curb He told you that YOU were
not my child But be told you lie p
Zebra raised herself to the ottoman
that stood near her, aui then gazed with
steady, burning look into Ben Hamed's
face. She remembered how Charles had
started when she spoke to him of her
doubts, and she now saw more clearly what
might be the fears of the man before her.
though she was of course deeply puzzled.
Ben Hamed,' she said, YOU have pre-
missed that the Christian has spoken with
me On that point you may rest on your
own surmises; but let me assure YOU that
the idea of my not being your daughter
was never breathed to me BY other lips
than your own; unless, indeed, the lam
guage of my poor old nurse might have
been construed into that meaning. But
that was years ago, and | have almost lost
the things she told me-
You are my child Ben Hamed said =
\ our old nurse never told you that you
were not
If | am your child, then treat me as
such,' returned Zebra, wishing to have the
interview closed, and to that end express
ing no doubt upon the subject.
Il will treat you as such and more then
that, [ will teach you that | am parent,
and parents authority shall be over you
till you feel the stronger power of your
husband. You leave not this room again
till you leave it for your home in the Al
hambra Whatever NAV have passed thus
far you may keep to yourself if you choose
but you had better not whisper it to other
ears than mine. | will leave you to your
rest now. and you may settle the matter
with yourself. From this moment a
watch is set over you You will not
leave this place till l Will it.
AS Ben Hamed ceased speaking he
turned and left the apartment For some
time after he had gone Zebra remained
upon the low ottoman, but at length she
started to her feet
Between the Christian knight and Ben
Hamed there is some mystery.' she said
to herself, as she pressed her hand upon
her brow. Upon my souls happiness
would stake the belief that Ben Hamed
fears Charles of Leon far more than he
dares to tell. | saw the movement of
fear upon his face when he called that
name
As the fair girl sank into her own re-
fections her lips continued to move. but
no sound came forth Suddenly there
came upon her features bright, startling
ray of light, and under its impulse she
arose from the ottoman and went to a GU
riously wrought cabinet that stood in one
corner Of her apartment She opened
door, and drew forth a small drawer,
which she took in her hand and carried to
where stood the lamp. 1t was full of
trlnkets, some of them costly and magnif
lcent, while others were simple and unpre-
tending. She took out, one after another,
the articles that lay uppermost, and laid
them upon the stand by the side of
the lamp, At length she reached the ar
ticle she sought. 1t was small golden
crucifx. As the rays of the lamp fell up
on it, its jewels sparkled with exceeding
lustre, and for some moments she gazed
silently upon it.
This my nurse gave me, and most as
suredly she said it was my mothers, muir
INJURED the fair girl Yet it is no Mos
lem bauble 'Tis the Christians symbol
of the Saviour, Charles told me Of Was
my mother a Christian 2
The words fell from Zehra's lips and as
she pressed the crucifx to her lips. she
sank back upon the ottoman and closed
her eyes.
Watch me watch me she said as she
clasped the cross but l tell thee, Ben
Hamed you will need thousand eyes to
watch me as you wish