Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1854-01-05
In the garden, father she unhesitating

ly answered.
And what did you there q
| walked amid the foliage.
Were you alone q
The alcalde bent searching glance up
on the maiden as he spoke, and he took a
step nearer to her
Were you alone q he repeated.
1t was hard question for Zebra. She
knew not how to disobey Ben Hamed, and
she knew not how to tell a lie.
W ere you alone 2 asked Ben Hamed
for the third time
No. tremblingly uttered Zebra.
Ha L saw two men leaving my gar
den as L came in. Who were they
Zebra almost wished. now that she had
told a lie, for she must either brave the
anger of Ben Hamed or betray her lover.
The former she feared but the latter she
was determined not to do. She knew but
too well what might be the fate of the
young Christian were he discovered in
this, and she resolved to keep the secret.
She knew not but that she might have
been discovered in company with the
young knight, and therefore she determin-
ed to tell of truth what she did TELL and
keep the rest to herself
Who were those men2 I asked
cannot tell returned Zebra. bring
ing all her fortitude to her assistance.
Beware, girl Tell me no falsehoods. )
shall tell you none
Then who were those men p
| cannot tell
DO you mean that you 1ciU not p
1t cannot matter what mean else.
cannot tell yoat'
By the holy Prophet, girl, I do not
brook your stubborn disobedience. sOnce
more | ask you, who were those men Z?
Ben Hamed, were your dagger at this
moment pressed upon my bosom, should
give you no other answer
But you shall answer me-and let me
tell you, too, that have mistrus.ed your
fidelity, and that sure measures have been
taken against your disobedience. This
very week you go to the king
If Ben Hamed meant that to have
frightened Zebra into confession. he
was greatly mistaken, for it only served
to nerve her soul with a stronger resolu-
ton.
Now, Zebra, once more I ask you
who were those men 2
Ou nave my answer.
Now. by Allah I'll take you at YOUR
word cried Ben Hamed, in fury of pas
sion at the same time grasping the maiden
by the shoulder and pointing his dagger
to her heart Answer my question. or
this sharp steel shall drink your best
blood Answer
Ben Hamed, your weapon frightens me
not. All, press it's point till it feels nv
heart, if you choose, and while [ die |
will tell you that it were far preferable to
the arms of Mohammed Strike me, Ben
Hamed, but you will get no answer from
me-
The alcalde let his dagger fall upon the
floor in utter astoundment. To see the
maiden thus was what he could not have
believed, and even now he doubted wheth-
er she were in her right mind She that
ha1 ever been so coy and mild-so meek
and unassuming- see her thus almost
turned the will of Ben Hamed, in that it
puzzled his brain. He was at fault, for
be would no more have dared to harm the
person of the maiden than he would have
dared to cut off his own right hand.
Zebra he asked, at length, while he
struggled hard to govern his passions, do
you not know who those persons were
and were they not with you2'
Do not question me further, Ben
Hamed, for [ will not answer Ay-
strike me if you please, | can bear your
blows
Ben Hamed moved slowly back, and his
features underwent dark, lowering
change. The passion settled into a de-
moniac feeling, and as he laid his hand
upon the door knob he turned upon the
maiden
Keep your secret, but it shall do you
no good Now | k71oac who it is that has
been within my garden this night to see
you 1t is Charles of Leon But, by
Allah, his head shall answer for it 7
Zebra forgot herself Her woman's
heart betrayed her, for as she heard these
fearful words she uttered quick cry, and
started towards her guardian.
90 harm not him 7 she cried, clasping
her hands together.
Ben Hamed smiled grim smile
I've read your secret, he said and
then, with sudden energy he asked what
did the Christian dog tell your
Nothing, nothing
Il knoac what he told you but he told
you lie
Zebra started, for there were now marks
of fear upon Ben Hamed's features His
words were strange, and the girl saw that
he was powerfully moved by other feelings
than those of anger.
W hat-what did be tell you p re-
peated the alcalde, letting go his hold
upon the door and taking step towards
Zebra.
The fair girl hesitated for her reason
once more came to her assistance. She
had no doubt that Ben Hamed was conf
dent that the young Christian bad been
to see her bat she knew that the secret
of the plans she had that night agreed to
was safe What the alcalde meant she
could not divine, though it was evident to
her that he alluded to something of mo-
ment of which she was ignorant.
You need not question me- the maiden
at length answered.
Then Charles of Leon dies Mark