Council Bluffs bugle. [volume] (City of Council Bluffs, Iowa) 1853-1857, 1855-06-26

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I A TALE OF GRANADA.
BY HAxkIfr A. DAVIDSON. '~'%
| 80 q sgfa9sis p. .--. ~ p 1i .tGiHat
i The moon had risen and shona with un-
i cl0uded brillisney upon scene Of warlike
preparation. HOysss had been fed and sad
a1R@sEelehs g ,.sa4 nsx,ia the. c0u.t,
war horses, eleven Of which wers backed by
men all in glittering steel tho twelfth was
held by groom, and only waiting to be
mounted by the brave knight Henri Guari-
nois. Standing by a deep win low through
which the moonlight streamed, were two fg-
ures, one the young and brave Count GUAR
nois, the other his loved and lovely wife, the
Lady Blanche. She was delicate and slen
der girl, with nothing matronly in either air
or figure, not certainly over eighteen, and of
FARO beauty. Beauty in deed was hers ofthe
tlrst order; the high, pale forehead, from
which the brown curls fell in profusion; the
dellcately pencled eyebrow MS and large, soft,
brown eyes, gazing with q saddened, but
1 perfect
IN their serene, holy beauty. Henri Guari-
nols looked sadly upon his lovely wife, the
bride of but four short months whom he
must now leave TO ming.e in the blood and
strife of war In silence they stood, till the
count, rousing himself from his abstraction
said:
"My good steed Trebizond and my men
alarms grow inpatient and | must cease
this lingering, dear Blanche; and bending
his tall form he kissed her pale brow.
Lady blanche was pale, but her eye was
as bright and calm as ever-she would not,
she warriors wife, show how her heart
| trembled and sank. After mutual embrace,
one long, last kiss, she with her own delicate
fingers laced his hemlet. Her fingers linger-
ed one moment IN the clasp Of his mailed
hand, then leading him to the door, in a clear
voice she bade him go.
$50, and may God be with you and keep
you, my noble Henri -
One instant more, and he had vaulted into
the saddle, and at the head of his men-at-
arms, was dashing out of the court yard
Their lance points flashed like diamonds in
the moonlight, and the steel shod hoofs of
their horses changed merrily on the stones
turned in his saddle and waved a mute aGfnf adfea
to his lovely lady; one moment his white
crest mingled with his chargers flowing
mane, the next he was gone, and the gat3
closed behind him.
Long stood Lady Blanche in that castle
door, with the moon lighting up her sad pale
face; long after her husbands form had dis
appeared from her sight, she stood attentive
ly listening to the sound of the steel-shod
So l..
even her anxious ear could not catch no fur
ther sound then with a sigh, she turned to
her desolate apartments.
The drawbridse was secured, the portcul-
lis lowered by her orders, and VOW she reg
istered, to admit no stranger to the hospi-
tality of her board, till her husband returned.
Many noble ladies did the same while their
lords were absent and IN peril.
Many tears were shed after the fight of
Roncesvall The Moors fought like de-
mons. The smoke hung like pail over the
battle ground a mingled clamor as ofthou-
sands in agony, smote on the ears of the des-
pairing Frenchmen. Backwards and for
wards rode the knights and paladins, cheer
ing and shouting to the men. Foremost was
Count Guarinois. apparently fresh and un-
wearied. "On, on to the rescue Close up
France and victoryp' he shouted, hut to no
purpose. The column was broken and pan
ic-struck, and borne backwards in wild con-
fusion.
The heart of Guarinois sank when he be-
held the despair and wild retreat of the men.
Knights and men-at-arms all seemed to be
struck with despair and terror. One effort
more the brave Guarinois made. Waving
his lance on high, and putting spurs to his
gallant charger, he rushed forward, his
white plume streaming in the air, and his
clear, high tones distinctly heard.
"Fly not, cravens-hy not Death to the
Moors! Forward and conquer ~
Alas, it availed nothing. The soldiers
pushed not forward, and the Moors closed
round the devoted warrior and his few re-
naming men-at-arms, trusty followers, who
would not leave their lord in his great peril.
Surrounded as he was, he still fought with
desperation, shouting sFrance and victory %
The Frenchmen heard, but they only made
fains attempt of rallying to his rescue. His
followers were cut down one by one, yet still
he fought. Laying aside bis lance he seized
his ponderous battie-axe. Raising himself
in his stirups, he welded it with wonderful
strength, and at each blow Moorish knight
rolled to the dust, and horse careered rider
less over that bloody plain. But one man
cannot hold his ground against numbers,
and a we'll objected blow from lance un-
horsed the now exhausted but dauntless cav
alier Guarinois. As the Moor who had over
thrown him was abont to oleaye his head
from his body, the King Marlotes, one of the
seven Moorish Kings, dashed up. ss1
'Slay him not, siay. him not! he shouted,
s'but bear him of to prison d ..7asg 4
The day closed in, aud darkness spread its
welcome cloak over that 6eld. WHICH had
been ths seems Of tho hleody and fatal fight
Of Roncsyalles. ed hds ,z4,u a.1 II
o, weep, ye men Of France over yeur de-
feat! Weep, lhoni beautiful Lady Blsnche,
for thy brngs Henri lie, in - Moorish .dun-
sgeon L Hide yours heads II shame, ye era
pans. vho came not 80 the rescue Of tb q