The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-01-28
The Belle of Granada O

rlcious, who was called Alonzo. He was occu
pied dnring the day in counting bis ducats, anc
through the night in driving away the serena
ders who sought the window of Celestine. TIE
intention of Aonzo was to marry this rich heir
els to Don Henrique, his son, who had already
studied six years at Salamanca, and had begun
to translate Cornelios Nepos quite passably.
All the handsome cavaliers of Granada were
lovers of Ceestine; but they could only see he1
at mass, and the church days were strictly kept
by these worthy devotees. Among the most
distinguished of these were Don Pedro Alva-
rez, captain of cavalry. Of little wealth, but
Of noble family, brave and distinguished, he at
tracted the eyes Of all the danes of Granada,
but he only perceived Celestine This she soon
discovered, and her glances, in return, were
directed to him alone.
Thus they passed two months without daring
to speak, but at the end of that time, Don Pc
dro found means to convey to his mistress let
ter in which he disclosed to her all that she we'll
knew already. He also solicited permission to
stand beneath her window and behold her near
him, for on moment. Such is the custom
IN Spain, where the lattces serve more for the
night than for the day. At late hour, when
the street is deserted, the lover, enve]oped in
his cloak, armed with his sword, and invoking
the god of love and silence, walks joyfully to-
ward the happy spot and takes his station be-
meath the barred window. Soon il is softly
opened. charming Spaniard appears and
asks, in trembling tones, if any one is below
Her lover, transported with joy, reassures her;
he speaks in a low voice; they interrupt each
other, saying thousand times the same thing
VOWS ascend the lattice; kisses fly Though the
air. But the day approaching- they must sep
arate. An hour is passed in bidding adieu, and
they part without having said thousandth
portion Of all they had intended.
The window of Celestne overlooked small
place, almost deserted, and occupied only by a
few poor people. The old nurse of Don Pedro
soon soug hit his old friend
my good woman" said he, II have too
long suffered you to remain in this miserable
place. This torgetfulness is cul pable on my
part; go and occupy room near me, and leave
this humble abode for me to dispose of''
The good nurse could only reply with tears
She accepted with joy the exchange, and kissed
the hands Of her pous foster son.
No king ever took possession of his regal pal
ace with greater joy than Don Pedro felt, when
established in his nurses apartment. As soon
as night came Celestine appeared at the win
dow; no cloud seemed to obscure her happi-
ness, when Don Henrique, the son Of Alonzo,
and the future husband of Celestne, arrived
from Salamanca, bringing declaration of love
in Latin, which he had been months in writing.
While AIonzo was preparing the marriage
contract for his son and Celestine, the lovers
determined TO secure their happiness by an
eopement.
They decided to fly to Lisbon Every pre-
paratlon was made; Don Pedro, after having
left his horses outside the city, was to see Gel
cstlne, who would descend from the window,
and both were to fly to Portugal.
Don Pedro employed all the hours of the
day IN arranging his affairs; and Celestine, on
her part, reOpened little casket of Jewels which
her mother had left for her. 1t was filled with
diamonds and other precious stones, and among
the rest shone ring of emerald polish Don
Pedro had lately given her. This treasure she
was to bear away, and guarding it carefully,
Celcslne sat watching at the window, AS Don
Pedro hurried towards the spot, bis heart pal
pita'ing with joy and expectation.
But just as he arrived at the street, he heard
cries for succor, and turning, saw two men at
tackled by five assassins, armed with swords and
clubs, and evidently intent on murder. The
brave Pedro forgot everything to throw him
self on the agyressors; he pounded two, when
the others fled. What was his surprise at re-
cognlsing in those he had delivered, Alonzo,
the uncle of Celestne, and Don Henrique! Don
Pedro sought in vain to free himself from his
companions. In their gratitude, they deter
mined that he should pass the night with them,
and the poor lover found that he had already
lost two hours of his precious time. Alas he
little knew of the misfortune that had already
occurred!
One of the assassins, in his flight, passed be-
meath the window of Celestne. The night was
very obscure, and the unhapy maiden, when
she saw the ruttian appear, believed that Don
Pedro had at last arrived. Extending her hand
with sigh of impatience and joy, and present.
ing the casket:
'"Take these diamonds" she said to him.
while descend"
At the word diamonds, the assassin stopped
seized the casket without replying and while
Celestine was occupied in descending, he fled
Judge of the surprise of Celestine, when alone
IN the street, she looked around her in vain for
him she had thought to be Don Pedro. She
had called in a low voice, but no one responded
Fear seized her; she knew not what 70 do
Should she return to the house? Should she
leave the city and seek for the horses and at
tendants of Don Pedro who awaited them?-I
She hesitated. The silence and obscurity of
the streets redoubled all her fears. At last she
man, and asked in trembling
voice for the street which conducted to the gate
of the city. The man pointed it out She ad-
vanced with courage, and soon found herself in
the enyirons of Granada. Here she sought in
vain for Don Pedro; calling him at every step,
she still advanced, but in direction opposite
to Portugal.
However, Don Pedro, believing that Celes-
tine had seen or learned the cause of his delay,
submitted to the enreaties of Alonzo and his
son, and entered the house with them. Here
the tutor sent to the chamber Of his neice to
inform her of the peril they had escaped But
the room was deserted, and by the open win
dow they saw that Celestne had fled. The
house was alarmed all started in pursuit Don
Pedro, in despair, would have followed on the
but Henrique thanking him for the in
erest he seemed to take in their misfortune, in |
sisted on accompanying him. Don Pedro then
l