Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1854-01-26
THE KNIGHT OF LEON:
THE M0NARCH'S LAST BRIDE,
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.
lCoNTINUED.J ]
CHAPTER XIV.
AN UNLOCKED ron EXCHANGE.


He had asked the man who brought him
his food how long he was to remain there.
and he had asked Tarik, too, but he gain
ed no answer to his inquiry save that of
ignorance.
Tarik was sitting alone in his office-a
small room in the lower story of the pris-
on-early in the morning. when he was
aroused from his meditatons by the en-
trance of an old dervish The old mans
brow was wrinkled and weather beaten,
and his unshorn face bore a wild, luxuri-
ant growth of white beard. He stopped
in his gait, and his trembling hands bore
a stees-pointed staff, with which he aided
his weak steps
"A blessing upon thee my son p pro-
nounoed the dervish, as he leaned heavily
upon his staff.
Il thank thee returned Tarik, with
feeling of reverence
Jailor, you have prisoner here whom
| would see'
His name2'
name, nor do l know whence he comes :;
but [ hear he is brave man. and one we'll
read in the science of the world Such
Christian l have longed to see I would
converse with him upon his religion
And suppose he should make Chris
tian of you p
Allah forbid 7 uttered the dervish. with
holy horror. L will sooner bring him to
the fold of the faithful
L know not that should do wrong to
let you 60 to him.
Allah forbid that you should overstep
your duty at my behest If it would be
wrong. let me 60 unsatisfed away; but if
it would be right, 1 would see him and
converse with him Perhaps It's not his
fault he is an in6del. and glory be to Al
lab and his Prophet if one like him shall
be converted Shall go2'
L cannot refuse you
Thanks, good jailor'
Give me your arm, and will lead you
NO. Lead the way, and | will follow.
Old age has not yet unnamed me, though
the hand of time bears heavily upon me
Tarik looked kindly upon the old man,
and turning towards heavy door that
opened into the prison he babe him follow.
Whence comes the Christian q asked
the dervish, as ne worked his way SLOWLY
up the stone stairs that led to the second
story of the prison.
From Leon returned Tarik
And his name p
'Charles. Count of Valladold.'
"A goodly title he hath. Is he so brave
as have heard p
Too brave to be at large in Granada
Here is the door. Go in. and / will call
for thee when your stay has been reasona-
ble'
Tarik opened the door as he spoke, and
merely looking in to see that all was right,
he closed it again after the dervish had
passed through
Charles looked up, and he wondered as
he saw his strange visitor
Allah bless and save thee y uttered the
dervisb
The knigho made no reply.
They tell me thou art a brave knight.
All, l see the fire in thine eyes now I
have come to save thee.
TO save me echoed Charles starting
up from his seat
From the pains of the unbeliever in the
world TO come. l will teach thee of our
holy Prophet
Cease, old man Go your way said
the knight, sinking back upon his seat,
i want none of your religion. / have al
ready seen enough of it to make me loathe
it. 1t may do for those whose minds
can never get above the trash of selfish
ness, but | want none of it,
'Bravely spoken! By San Dominic,
sir Charles. but you speak wonderful WE'LL
Pedro 7 uttered the knight, starting to
his feet, while his heart beat wildly in his
bosom
Pedro Bambino. at your service re-
turned the faithful esquire, as he shook
himself out of bent position and cut a
variety of fantastic movements
God bless thee L would press thee
to my bosom, but you see I cannot l
had mistaken you. Pedro; for | suspected
you of cowardice'
No, no-there is none of that in Pedro
Bambino. l saw the state of things, and
| knew | could be of more use to you as
| am now than were l lodged in prison
L see it all now. But your disguise.
my faithful fellow-how gained you such
victory over your own self2'
This dress-this beard-this staff, and
judicious touch of paint by way of wrin-
kles, did it all But there's no time to
lose. 1t will all fit you
Fit me- Pedro 2
'1es-and | have paint, too, for the
wrinkles
DO you mean that you have come to
change places with mel
Most assuredly. For what else should
I Gomez You shall go, and | will stay
NO. Fedro-I cannot do that
'Bu. you must
Il cannot. love you for your kindness.
but cannot accept the sacrifice you would
make
Nonsense Do you know that they
mean TO xii. you p