Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-07-22
S<tt&0 Gait.
A Tale Of the Spanish Wars.

On June evening in the year 1889, four
persons were assembled in the balcony of
pleasant little villa, some half-league from the
town of Logrouo in Navarro. The site of the
house in question was narrow valley, formed
b7 double range of wOoIcovered hills, the
lower limbs of mountain chain that bounded
the horizon some miles in rear of the villa
Tie houSe itself was long, low building, Of
which the white stone walls had acquired the
mellow tint that time and exposure to the
seasons can alone impart. A solid balcony of
carved Imprinted oak ran completely round
the hoaSc, its breadth preventing the rays of
tie sun from entering the rooms on the ground
doOr, aud thereby converting them into a cool
sud delightful refuge from the heats OF sum
mcr Tue windows Of the first and only story
opened upon this balcony, which, in its turn,
received shelter from roof Of yellow canes,
.aDI side hy side, and fastened by inuumprable
pckthreadS, in the same way as Indian mat
ting This sort of awning was supported hy
light wooden pillars, placed at distances of five
or six feet from each other, and corresponding
With the more massive columns that sustained
the balcony. At the foot of these latter, va
rious creeping plants had taken root. A
broal-Ieafcd vine pushed its knotty branches
and curIed tendrilS up 10 the very roof Of the
dTe.Ing, and passion flower displayed It's
MYSTICAL purple blossoms nearly at as great
height while the small white Stars of the
.aSnnc glittercd among its narrow dark green
leaves, and every passing breeze waited the
scent Of the honeysuckle and clematis through
ae open windows, in pufS Of overpowernS
fragrance
About two hundred yards to the right of the
house rose one of the ranges of hills already
l-nlloned, and on the opposite side the eye
ganced over some of those lnXuriant corn
ae.ds which form so important part of the
ffhes Of the fertile province of Navarro, The
ground IN front Of the villa was tastetully laid
oai as flower garden. and, midway between
TWO magnificent chestnut trees, mountain
.'aiet fell into a large stone basin, and fed a
,oaatan, from hich it was spouted twenty
,5et INTO the air greatly to the refreshment OF
"e surrounding pastures.
lhe party that on the evening in question
Was enjoying the scent OF the flowers and the
S'aS OF the nightingaieS, to which the neigh
Uo'rIag trees afforded shelter, consisted III the
Ist place, Of Don Torrbio Diana, wealthy
proprietor of La Rioja, and owner of the
"uh'rl house that has been described. He
a1a been long used to pass the hot months of
s-'n year at this pleasant retreat and il was
~ small calamity to him when the civil war
,u'' broke out on the death Of Ferdinand rem
rs'ea It scarcely safe, in Navarro at least to
,,e ivy out OF musket shot of garrison. Some
SITs, however and in spite of the advice OF
~ ~ friends, who urged him 10 greater prudence,
s -. worthy Riojana would mount his easy
fso"S round quartered cob, and leave the
@" Az 'oF lew hours rustication at his RstlrO.
!. ,.,gr time, finding himself unmolested either
H.. Carlists Or by the numerous predatory bands
io'. a, oyerran the country, he took for compan,
,nS VI hIS excursions his daughter. Gertrudis,
NJ. Sn orphan niece, to whom he supplied the
W. No oL father. Five years of impunity
n And |aken as guaranty for future safety
NJ m'. Ion ~ lorrbo now no longer hesitated to
''-' 'uC night at his country house as often as