The Nevada journal., 1857-02-20
From Ballou's Dollar Magazine.
THE QUE ms PAGE.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

Urraca, queen of CASTLE, sat upon the
throne, and around her were some of the
bravest knights and mobiles of her king
dom. There was dark cloud upon the
queens brow, and her hand trembled
when she raised it from the cushion of
her chair-arm.
" Sir John de Bles," she spoke in a
quick, regretful tone, "stand before me.
The knight approached his queen and
bowed low. He was one of the bravest
of all the Christian warriors, and the
handsomest in CASTLE. And yet he as
mere youth-not over ix-and-twenty
He held his jeweled cap in his hand,
and the long white ostrich feather trail
ed upon the floor.
Sir John de Bles," spoke the queen,
more firmly now, thou hast been ac-
cused of treason
'Of treason!' uttered the knight,
starting back in horror. Who has
dared accuse me of this 2
i do accuse thee nOw,' replied the
queen. i tell thee, Sir John, it grieves
me to the heart thus to accuse thee, but
it must be done. Thou canst not deny
the charge
But what is the charge, most gra-
oious majesty 2
Listen, Sir John de Bles: Didst know
that our deadly enemy, Alcassim, the
accursed Moor of Cordova, was in our
city only on night before last 2
- Il. l.
and for a moment he turned pale.
All, Sir Knight, you tremble,' cried
II c queen. WAS not the Moorish king
in our own city on the time have men
toned 2
lie was, most noble queen answer
ed the knight, now standing nobly up,
and speaking frankly.
And was he not in thine own house,
Sir John de Bles!'
He was
'Ha you own it! Now what was he
doing there 2
| cannot tell thee now, my queen,
for | am under solemn obligation not
to do 50. But as true as there is a God
who sees US now, have done no wrong.
Done no wrong Are your senses
departed! Done no wrong, Sir Knight
Did you not know that price had been
set upon the Moors head, and that your
queens own safety demanded his APP
prehension Did you not know this!'
i did but | could not take him
tt en-
'Out upon thee, recreant knight = the
queen cried, bringing her hand down
smartly upon the arm of her chair
when thou didst know that | had
strained every nerve for the Moor's cap
ture, thou didst receive him within thine
own house, entertain him, and let him
depart
Il did, most gracious sovereign; but
| could not have done otherwise
Hold, Sir John. A child could prate
thus-even so child could plead for
eXtenuation; but it cannot avail thee.
Now what did the Moor with thee 2
. | cannot tell thee
Cannot! Then you go to your death.
Away with him! Sir Gomez Radigo,
convey Sir John de Bles to the prison,
and within this present hour do you
bring me word that his head is off Be
speedy now, for in the miss of this thine
own shall answer !!
But, most gracious queen uttered
an old noble, moving quickly forward
and kneeling, may not Sir John have
some further time to prepare himself for
this Can so noble a knight be guilty
Remember-he has done thee much
service, and thou canst i'll afford to spare
him
Cease cried the queen. L know
what Sir John de Bles has been, and
his very station makes this present crime
more black. Where are those whom
the accursed Moors have killed Where
is Philip la Reyna-the boy who was a
child to me-about whom my deepest
love was gathered, and in whom found
calm joy of sweet discourse when my
brain ached with the labor of state p
Where is he now Ho would ye ask
the life of one who has held the accurs-
ed Moor in his grasp, and yet sent him
away to curse us more ? No ! Away
WIN INN liz Nou ClcdI IlllllSOll iIOh do
well as at any time He has his tongue
and his memory. Let him speak if he
will tell all-else let him be silent for
ever
Sir Juan Torquedo arose and moved
back; and Gomez Radigo placed his
hand upon Sir Johns arm.
'Will you not give me until to-mor-
row 2 asked the youthful knight, turn
ing once more towards his queen.
'Will you tell me what passed be-
tween thee and the Moorish king?
i cannot now, my queen
Then away the queen cried If
you go now, then the enemy may buy
their way to every house in our city
with impunity. Men shall not say, the
queen spared one whom she loved. Sir
Gomez, within the hour bring me the
word | bade thee. Away!'
With these words, Urraca arose from
her chair and left the chamber, and a.
mid stiffness broken only by the deep,
painful breathing of shocked souls, Sir
John de Bles was led away.