Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-09-03


passion which the memory of them
strengthened and confirmed. The prog
ress of this dangerous and subtle dis
ease was not unperceived by the sharp
sighted Kadiga. The discreet cid
woman became alarmed at the mischief
which she had net the power to counter
act or remove, and resolved to rid her.
self of her responsible charge by init
mating to Mohammed that his daughters
had arrived at the manageable age
the critical period at which the astrol-
ogers had warningly pointed.
As he sat one day on dlvan in one of
the cool halls of the Alhambra, a slave
arrived from the fortress of Salobrena,
with message from the wise Kadiga,
congratulating him on the anniversary
of his daughters birthday. The slave
at the same time presented a delicate
little basket, decorated with flowers,
| within which, on a couch of vine and
| fig leaves, lay peach, an apricot, and
| a nectarine, with their bloom and down
| and dewy sweetness upon them, and all
in the early stage of tempting ripeness.
The monarch was versed in the oriental
language of fruit and flowers, and
readily OWNED the meaning of the en-
blematic offering.
"The critical period has arrived, }"
said he; I" / must gather them under
my wing, and trust no other guardian
ship"
So saying, he ordered that tower of
the Alhambra should be prepared for
their reception, and departed at the
head of his guards for the fortress Of
| Salobrena, to conduct them home In
person. About three years had elapsed
since Mohammed had beheld his
daughters, and he could scarcely credit
his eyes at the wonderful change which
that small space of time had made in
! their appearance. During the interval
they had passed that wondrous bound
airy line in female life which separates
the crude, uniformed, and thoughtless
girl from the blooming, blushing, medi-
tative woman.
He prepared for his return by sending
heralds before him, commanding every
one to keep out of the road by which he
was to pass; and that all doors and
windows should be closed at the APP
proach of the princesses. He then set
out, accompanied by hisprecious charge
on three beautiful white palfreyA and
escorted by a strong guard.
The cavalcade was drawing near to
Granada, when it overlook, on the
banks of Xenil, small body of Moorish
soldiers, with a convoy of prisoners.
1t was too late for the soldiers to get
out of the way, so they threw them
selves on their faces on the earth,
ordering their captives TO do the same.
Among the prisoners were the three
identical cavaliers whom the princesses
had seen from the pavilion. They eth
er did not understand, or were too
naughty to obey the order, and remained
standing and gazing upon the cayalcade
as it approached.
The ire of the monarch was kindied
at this fragrant defiance of his orders.
Drawing his scimitar and pressing for
ward, he was about to deal aleft handed
blow that would have been fatal to al
least one of the gazers. when the prin.
cesses crowded round him, and implored
mercy for the offenders. Mohanmeo
paused with uplifted scimitar, when the
captain of the guard threw himself at
his feet and exclaimed "Let not
your majesty do deed that may cause
great scandal throughout the kingdom.
These are three brave and noble Span.
battle, fighting like lions. 4" Enough =
said the King, {" will spare their lives
but punish their audacity; let them be
taken to the Vermilion towers, and put
to hard labor" While Mohammed ha6
been making this harangue, the wells OF
the three princesses had been thrown
back, and the radiance of their beauty
revealed. Its effect upon the three cav
, alters was instantaneous and complete
Quick as was this victory, not less sin.
gular was the fact that each of the love
vanquished cavaliers was enraptureC
with special beauty. The cavalcad,
resumed its march and reached the AL
/ hambra f; the Spanish captives were con
Quoted to their allotted prison in tn,
Vermillon towers in the same fortress
The memory of the noble cavalier
4 filed the fair charges Of Kadiga will
pensive and melancholy thoughts. Il
; spite of all the luxury with which the,
: were surrounded, they pinned and faded
In vain did the anxious Mohammed ran
sack the Zacatin of Granada for TIL
richest silks and most precious jewels
g He gave it up as hopeless affair, an,
9 gave carte blanche to the discree
D Kadiga, in whom his confidence was I'M
: bounded. The wise duenna was skille,
in diseases of the heart, and knew tn
: best medicine for her pining charge
r The day before she had discovered tn
locale of the Christian captives, and GO
Y ing privately to Hussien Bahia, the big
: whiskered, broad-shonldered renegade
v in whose charge they were, and slippin
4 broad piece of gold into his itchin
palm, thus signifed her wishes: an
v mistresses have heard of tn
s musical talents Of the three Spar
Q ish cavaliers, and are desirou
r of hearing a specimen of their skill
Y | am sure you are too kind-hearted t
: refuse them so innocent a qualification.
!, The cautious Hussien was about to sue
e gest obstacles and dangers, but the
v were removed by the golden logic {
e Kadiga, and it was arranged that th
h cavaliers should be placed to work i
d the ravine at the bottom of the prir
= cesses' tower. The various scenes i
ir the interesting drama which followe
l. need not be detailed. BY the generoc
d conniyance of Hussien Baba, the lover
La11 H.