The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1860-12-19
From the New York Mercury.
The Game Of Chess.
TALE OLE ANCIEAV SPAIN

literature and art. and rassionate!y fond {
3 study. SO pas~ionateiy wss he attached t
this mode OF lie, hat he repeatedly state
The younger son, Aohammed, was very dii
ferent from his brother. He was a man c
the most unbridled iccn,iousne.s;and thougl
young. was looked upon with terror and dis
gust. Gaining to his cause a number Of par
'isans, he formed the daring plan of d!spos
sessing his elder brother, and seizIng upo1
the throne. No sooner had the breath lef
the body of his father, than, aided by hi
pastisans, Mohammed seized upon the crown
and hanished his brother to the fortress o
Salobrena. He then com menced reign 0
trouble and care.
Our tale opens in the year of our Lore
14lO, or in the Mohammedan year of th<
Hegira s13. The sun was fast sinking in
the west, and his last rays gilded the tall
minarets and towers OF Grenada with an al
most heavenly glory. No breezes stirred
| the beautiful trees Of The famous city, and
ii e Moorish standards dropped heavily from
the ramparts of the Alhambra. A deep and
solemn silence reigned over everything.
In rich chamber Of the gorgeous palace
of Ahamer the Great, on rich couch, No
hammed lay dying. a deep silence rel gned
throughout the apartment, unbroken by any
sounds save the low pIashing of waters in the
beautiful hall of the sisters" and the heavy
painful breathing of the dying man. Through
the open easement stole the balmy breeze
that came up from the rivers brink, loa ded
with the thousand perfumes from the orange
groves and the ciiron boughs. The mellow
rays OF the setting sun lit up the apartment
with soft, sad radiance, that gave strange
and touching beauty to the solemn scene.
Around the dying monarch's couch were
gathered the steel clad mobiles of the king
dom. No one spoke At las, Mohammed
ftetly murmured:
Bring hither the young prince"
The child was brought to his fathers bed,
side. Sadly the monarch gazed upon his son.
Through long years of intamy auA guilt, this
child had been all that loved him, and his
love for the clild had been bright gleam in
his dark and fearful history Now he must
leave him, young, and without his jealous
care.
Let the sheiks come nearer" said the
king.
They approached.
'Ye have served me WELL brave warriors"
said Mohammed. "Many hard fought field
have we shared together. Now / must leave
you. Hear my last command. You see this
boy! Behold in him your future king. Kneel
row, and swear to me that you will be as
'ai,hfuI to him as you have been to me, and I
.hall die content"
The mobiles knelt and took the required
bath; and each one pressed the child's hand
o his lips, 10 token a his submission to him.
A grim smile OF satisfaction played over the
auaciated features of the king.
"Let the captain Of our guard approach"
be exclaimed.
mail clad warrior approached and knelt
BY the monarch's bed side. s
"Amhed ben Xarac,' said the king, "thou
last been faithful servant. We rely now
spon thy fidelity to serve us again. Our
brother. Yussef, now lies in prison, in our
sjout fortress Of Salobrena. 'Twere pity to
et him langush there forever We would
sin release him--bu our sons reign must
BOT be troubled By him. Take this" he con-
nued. giving him parchment bearing the
-oya seal give it to the Alca,le of SaIobre-
IA. See that he does as he is herein ordered.
# when morrow's sun sinks TO his rest,
iou dost not bring me Iussefs head, thine
,vn shall take lis place. Now. away"
AS Amhed rose to depart, murmrrs of dis
appreciation were heard on every side. The
yrant heard them, and raising himself on
,lssrm, exclaimed, fiercely:
"Dare ye oppose me, warriors! Let but
mother murmur pass your lips, and your
neaas shall grace these bat,lemenis! Though
seak and dying. ye shall fnd that am still
ting Of Grenada"
The naughty chieftains, curbed by will
ttonger than their own, boSed in silent sub
mission.
The silence was again unbrokon, and the
intwilight crept slowly over the scene.
In gloomy chamber Of the fortress of Sa-
obrena, By small table, were seated two
'esons. One Of them was man Of about
tIrty years Of age. His countenance wore
he stamp Of sorrow, midness and beneyo-
snce. His dress, though plain, was of the
most elegant materials. There was about him
d ~ ofnoble dignity, that marked him as
ersoD Of high rank. He was the Cid Yusef,
be son Of Mahcmmed w.
His companion seemed 10 be about half
score Of years older than himself. His
roM and lofty bearing marked him as =
ersoh Of high rank, and his dress showed
ip sobe wnrrior. He was Mustapha, the
IIcade Of salo5rena. a
The princes snd the alcade were deeply in
crested in game Of chess. Both were ex
client players; and the game was we'll fought
y each.
Suddenly an attendant entered and an
oonced that messenger from the king had
rived and demanded to speak with the al
ade Immediately.
admit him Instantly" exclaimed the
tjnce