The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1858-03-11

Is hopes of a passionate love now crushee
, forever.
;, In the early morn, when the ametlys
c and purple flushed upqh the eastern skv
a messenger galloped,, in hot haste, tc
: the palace of the ZegriS, and was admit,
ted.
i What woudst thou Of meP asted Ber
zegrs, moodily.
, Our gracious monarch would h4holi
thee at his feet.
f 'Enough!' and the naughty noble wav.
e ed the messenger away, and ere the sand:
within the hour glass half had run, hc
! stood within the palace.
The Abencerrages are thy foes, said
MOhammed, nervously.
Aye, SIRE
t And thou thirsteth for thine hour oil
Vengeance
The noble bowed.
'hnowest thou, Ben Zegris, that thy
day of retribution is at handP whispered
the monarch, with frown, as the hateful
memory came back unto him.
Aye, full well,' was the naughty re-
jonder.
Nor is thy hatred abated, that thou
wouldst spare the race, if they were now
before thee, chained, and thy good wea-
pom in thy hand?'
Sire replied Ben Zagris, coldly, were
\ the deadIest foe of my house helpless be.
ore me, this hand should never raise the
tand against MS life; but were we on
equal terms
Hold! spoke Mohammed, quickly
from beneath his clenched teeth, to-
nigh thy foes shall not exist. Abdallah-
he whom took into my fayor-curses on
the traitor, by my fathers! he shall die
the death. Ben Zegris, ,hou and thy race
this day must arm thyselyes. Thy enc
mics lie chained within the dungeons
thou wilt not shrink from vengeance. Do
| reckon aright!'
MY liege,' returned the zegris, scorn-
luily, my race are not assassins.'
'Ha! and thou wouldst slight the ven
geaECe that l offer thee?' cried the king,
starting from his throne, and laying hs
hand heavily upon The mobiles arm.
Ben Zegris bowed his head, and fixed
his eyes upon those of the monarch, un-
fl nchingly, but in an instant the black
tide OF long nourished haired surged
back unto his heart. He pressed his
hanl TO his brow, and with the touch he !
bounded to the very steps of the throne
1T shall be done' he cried. Look!
tits the blood-mark of the Abencerrages,
and may the foul fend seize me il slay
not one for every Pang that it has cost
me-
IT'S well!' and the willy monarch
again buried himself in the purple of his
throne.
The Star Tower is at Gronada's west. {
ern gate, and its turretS overlook the
long groves of emerald trees tha; wave
among the gardens of the Alhambra. A {
strange place is the Star Tower, and the \
Moorish traditions of half a century have
peopled it with phantoms of those who S
have lain and rotted in its dungeons. Up P
he harrow, stone staircase, that leads 10 a
he upper room, and the heavy door a
swings back with a melancholy. creak P
lpon its rusty hinges. There is but one 5
window here, and that is double grated, p
IS though to keep the very sunbeams pit
nut. The walls are dripping with damp tn
ess, and the yellow bars throw long, ell
lack shadows in the blacker water, that o'
orm disgusting pool upon the floor az
There are two inches in the wall, and nc
ach niche has its moulded skeleton gap al
lg down, with grinning sockets at the Ia
ladoWs in the black pool. One sits be- 1e 1e
cath them, with his crimson robe spot W W
d with the damp, and his face hidden Ou u
his hands. Then he raises his head
I'd glances at the shackles on his limbs, -
I'd his teeth gnash together and bitter u" W.
ord comes from between them, but he ~ ~
YES not the clanking Of his letters, and ~ ~
s sad face is again buried in his hands. s"' '
There hiss been strange doings in the no
ar Tower to-day. There has been ne
amPings of heavy feet upon the stairs, "o'
at stopped in front of each dungeon,
en- there was noise of voices, perhaps ,,h
low breathed prayer--a ring of steel. Mo n"
en- the trampings were going down the s.,
,ps again, but the heavier and more ~aI ,'I
'asured, and there was a strange gurg- w., w.,
g sound, and noise like the rain falling ~
on the pavement, and when The man in "a ,,n,
, stone chamber heard the sound, he Ma ~"
!y clenched his teeth the more harsh. ,n", "
and then his face would go down Iao, I"o
ain upon his palms. S,a iSa
But still the weary day wore On, and ann
il the trampings were heard upon the due
p, till thesun was sinking in the wes' exp
d scattering its gold upon the tree teer
IS, and orange groves Of the Alhambra. view
then the tfampings ceased before the The
ne door, and as i opened, the lone in c
n crossed. .hiss upon his breast,
| a frowp gathered upon bis brow, and C
stamped upon the floor till the shadows man
the black pool changed to irregular don
work, and tie grim skeletons shook thol
ne Of the slotted midew from their cold
les,-then Gice more his face was win
- / ~