The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-09-17
THREE BEAUTIFUL FRANCHISES.

Early in his reign, Mohammed, OF
Granada, had found among the clptivcs
in one Of his forays into the territories
of the Christians damscl of tran
scendcnt beauty. The fair captive, and
the old duenun who had been taken with
her, were consigned to the royal harem,
aud in due time tho former made the
Moorish sovereign (called the left
handed king the proud and happy
father of three lovely daughters, all
born ut birth. Mohammed could have
wished theyhad been sons, but consoled
himself with the idea that three
daughters at birth were pretty we'll
for man somewhat stricken in years,
and left-hauded. As usual with all
MOslem mOnarchs, he summoned his
astrologers on this happy event. They
cast tho nativtie. of the three princess
es, and shock their heads.
Daughters, o king - said the saGes,
care always precnrious property: but
those will most need your watchtulncss
when they arrive at n marriageable a}e;
at that time gather them under your
wings, anl trust them 10 10 othor
guardidnship.'
Tire threefol birth was the last mnt,
rimonial trophy of the monarch his
queen died soon after, hcqneothing bis
infant daughters to his love, and to the
lidclityof the discreet Kadlga such
was the name Of the ducnnG.
Acting upon the advice OF his a9trolo-
gists, the cautious monarch sent his
daughters under the care OF the Kadiga
to be reared in the castle of Salobrena.
This was q sumptuous palace surround
ed by strong Notifications and situated
IN the summit of hill which ovcrlooks
the blue wntCr8 Of The Mediterranean
sea. Here the prinrcsses remained,
by oil kinds of luXuries and
amuaements. Years rolled on smoothly
and sercnelY, the discreet hadiga watch
ing her precious charge with nnrcmlt'
ting carc. At a corner OF the garden
which clothed the side Of the hill on
which the royal castle of Salobrena was
built, was Il small watchtower, fitted up
as a pavilion, with latticed windows to
admit the sea.breeze. Here the prin-
casses-whose names were Ilyda, 10
raydn, Zorahayda Used to pass the
sultry hours OF midday. taking their
siesta, or noontide slumbcr. Hero, ms
the sisters were one day inhaling the
hca!tbftl! breczca waited over the azure
bosom Of the Mediterranean, their at
tcntion was attracte! by galley which
came coasting along with measured
strokes Of tho oar. As il drew near
tLpv observed TINT il was filled with
armed meu. The galley anohoted at
the foot of The towor in which they nnt,
and numbcr of Moorish Holdicts
landed on the narrow beach, conducting
several Christian pris oners. The fair
Of tho tower peeped cautious
" through the close ialousies OF the
lattice, which screened them from sight, |
and perceived among the prisoners three
Spanish cavaliers. richly dressed. They |
we're in the flower of yOnth, and OF noble |
and the lofty manner IN which
thcy carried themselves, though loaded
With chains, and surrounded with enc
mies, bespoke the grandeur Of their
souls, The priucessas brcathed with in.
tense and brcathless interest. Coopcd
up a. they had been in this castle among
female attendants, seeing nothing oi the
male sex but black slaves, or the rude
fishermen of the sea-coast, 1t is not to
Do wondered at that the appearance OF
,hree gallant cavaliers, in the pride OF
youth and manly beauty, should pro-
luce in their unsophisticated bosoms
sensations closely bordering upon the
agreeable.
"Did ever noblor being tread the
,arth than that cavalier in crimson p
'ricd zayda, tho eldest OF the sisters.
. See now proudly he bears himself, az
hough oil around him were lis slayes!"
"B,t notice that nrn jn Green y ex-
,laimed Zorayda. "WAat grace what
Elegance what spirit %
The gentle Iorahayda said nothing
,ut she secretly gave preference to The
,hevalicr in green. Il,
Weeks and months gli1ed on, the fair
,is.ers thinking only of tho captive cava.
iers, aud bscomiDg daily more and
more under tho influence OF the fatal
passion which tho memory OF them
! .'rengthened and confirmed. The pro-
,ress of this dangerous and subtle dis
ase was not uupprceiyed by the sharp
:.i,,.d Kod;go Tho discreet old wO. {