Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-06-13
THE MOOR'S CAPTIVE.
A Tale of Granada.
BY Il. A. DAVIs6oN,

A0''S-N'
The moon had risen and shone with
unclouded briIIiancy upon scene Of war
like preparation. Horses had been fed
and saddled, armor polished, and now in
the court yard champed and paved twelve
powerful Warehouses, eleven of which were
backed by men all in glittering steel the
twelfth was held by groom, and waiting 6
only TO be mounted by a brave knight,
Henri Guarinois. Standing by 4 deep
window through which the moonlight
streamed, were two figures. one the young
and brave Count Guarnois, the other his
loved and lovely wife, the Lady Blanche.
She was delicate and slender girl. with
nothing matronly in either air or figure,
certainly not over eighteen, and Of rare
beauty. Beauty indeed was hers, of the
first order the high, pale forehead, from
which the brown curls fell in profusion ;
the delicately penciled eyebrows, and
large soft, brown eyes. gazing with a
saduened, but calm look upon the count
all were perfect in their serene, holy
beauty. Henri Guarinois looked sadly
upon his lovely wife, the bride Of but four
short months, whom he must now leave
to minglc in the blood and strife Of war.
In silence they stood, till the count, rous~
Ing himself from his abstraction, said:
D." My good stccd Trcbizond, and my
men arms grow impatient, and l must
cease this lingering, dear Blanche" and
bendi@g his tall form he kissed her pale
brow.
Lady Blanche VAS pal but her eye was
as bright and calm as ever-she would
not, she a warriors's wife, show how her
heart trembled and sank, After mutu-
! al embrace, one long, last kiss, she with her
own delicate fingers laced his helmet
Her fingers fingered one moment in the
clasp Of his mailed hand, then leading him
to the door, in IL clear voice she bade him
so.
" Go, and may God be with you and
keep you, my noble Henri -
One instant more, and he had vaulted
into his saddle, and at the head Of his men
alarms, was dashing out of the court,
yard. Their lance points flashed like dia-
monds in the moonlight, and the steel-shod
horses changed merrily on the stones
| Ere the outer gate was passed, the count
turned in his saddle and waved a mute
adieu to his lovely lady one moment his
white crest mingled with his chargers
! flowing name, the next he was gone, and
the gate closed behind him.
door, With the moon lighting up he!
sad, pale face long after her husband.
form had disappeared from her sight, she
stood attentively listening to the sound O
the steelshod hoofs, growing faint anc
more fainter, till even her anxious eaI
could catch no further sound then Will
sigh, she turned to her desolate apart
mentS.
The drawbridge was secured, the port
culis lowered by her orders, and vow
she registered, to admit no stranger to tn,
hospitality of her board, till her HUSBAND
returned. Many noble ladies did th
same while their lords were absent and il
peril.
Many tears were shed after the fight O
Roncesvalles. Tho Moors fought like de
mons. The smoke hung like a pail owe
a battle-ground mingled clamor as O
thousands in agony, smOte on the ears Q
the despairing Frenchmen. Backward
and forwards rode the knights and pala
dins, cheering and shouting to the men
Foremost was count Guarinois, apparent
ly fresh and unweoried. "On, on to tn
rescue ! Close up France and vic
tory !" he shouted, but to no purpose
The column was broken and panic STRUCK
and borne backwards in wild confusion.
The heart of Guarinois sank when h
beheld the dispair and wild retreat Of tn
men. Knights and men~at~arms all seem
ed to be struck with despair and terror =
One effort moreIhe brave Guarinois made
Waving his lance on high and putting
spurs to his gallant charger, he rushe
forwards his white plume streaming
heard.
Ely not. cravens-Ry not. Death
the Moors Forward and conquer !'-
| Alas it availed nothing. The sol
| disrs pushed not forward, and the Mool