The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-09-24

ndd passed that wondrous boupdarv ill.,
~ female life which separates the crude
informed, tIl and thoughtless girl from,
.Lle Oloomlng, blushing, meditative wo-
lie ne prepared for his return by sending
o,7o 10 lteiS 4- before him, commanding every-
one TO keep out of the road bv which he
was to pass and that all doors and
windows should be closed at the an
Proach OF the princesses. He then set
OUT, accompanied by his precious CHARGE
On three bc bcautiful white palfreys. and
escorted by strong guard.
r, Inc caValcade was drawing near To
Granada, when it overlook, on the banks
OF Aenll, small body of Moorish SOL
dlers, with convoy of prisoners. It
was too late for the soldiers to get ont
OF the way, so they threw themselves
On On thelr faces on the earth, ordering
thelr captlves to do the same. AmonS
Vhe prisoners were the three identical
cavaliers whom the princesses. had seen
from the pavilion. They either did not
understand, or were too naughty to
ooey the order, and remained standing
and gazing upon the cavalcade as it an.
preached.
The ire of the monarch was kindled
at this hagrant defiance of his ORDER.
drawing his scimitar and pressing for
| ward, he was about to deal a left-banded
blow that would have been fatal to at
least one of the gazers, when the prin-
cesses crowded round hirl, and implored
mercy for the offenders. Mobammed
paused with uplifted scimitar, when the
captain OF the guard threw himself at
MS feet and exclaimed "I,et not
! your majesty do a deed that NAV cause
great scandal throughout the kingdom.
These are three brave and noble Span |
lsh knights, who have been taken in
| battle, lighting like lions. " g Enough !"
said the king, ''I will spare their lives. |
but punish their audacity let them be |
taken to the Vermilion towers, and put |
to hard labor" While Mohammed had |
been making this harangue, the wells of |
the three princesses had been thro En |
back, and the radiance of their beauty |
revealed. Its effect upon the three cav !
allers was instantaneous and complete. |
Quick as was this victory, not less singu-
lar was the fact that each of the love |
vanquished cavaliers was enraptured |
with special beauty. The eavalcade |
resumed its march and reached the AL
hambra the Spanish captiyes were con-
Quoted to their allotted prison in the .
Vermilion towers in the same fortress.
The memory of the noble cavaliers
filled the fair charges of Kadiga with
pensive and melancholy thoughts. In
spite of all the luxury with which
they were surrounded, they pined and
faded. In vain did the anxious Moham-
med ransack the Zacatin of Granada for
the richest silks and most precious Jew
els. He gave it up as a hopeless affair,
and gave carte blanche to the discreet
Kadiga, III whom his confidence was IN
bounded. The wise duenna was skilled
in diseases of the heart, and knew the
hest medicine for her pining charge.
The day before she had discovered the
locale of the Christian captives, and 60
ing privately to Hussien Baba, the big
whiskered, broad-shouldered renegade,
in whose charge they were, and slipping
a broad piece of gold into his itching
palm, thus signiied her wishes "My
mistresses have heard of the musical
talents of the three Spanish cavaliers,
and are desirous of hearing a specimen
of their skill. l am sure you are too
lInd-hearted to refuse them so innocent
a qualification" The cautious Hnssien
was about to suggest obstacles and dan
gers, but they we're removed by the
golden logic of Kadiga, and it was ar
ranged that the cavaliers should be
placed TO work in q ravine at the bot
tom of the princesses' tower. The va
riOus scenes in the interesting drama
which followed need not be detailed.
BY the generous connivance of Hussien
Baba, the lovers held converse by song
and flowers. Days and weeks few by
like so many hours, the mutual passion
of the captives and their royal mis-
tresses becoming strengthened by the
very difficulties by which it was at
tended. At length there was an inter
ruption in ther telegraphic correspond
ence; for several days the cavaliers
ceased to make their appearance IN the
glen. The three beautiful princesses
looked out from the tower in vain. In
vain they stretched out their swan-like
necks from the balcony; in vain they
sang like captive nightingales in their
cage nothing was to be seen of their
Christian lovers; not q note responded
from the groves. The discreet Kadiga
was sent forth for intelligence, and soon
returned with face full of trouble.
60 'Ah, my children ! " cried the sorrow
ing duenna, ''you may now hang up
your lutes on the willows. The Span
ish cavaliers are now ransOmed by their
families they are down in Granada '
and are preparing to return to their ,
native country.
The three beautiful princesses were in {
despair at the tidings. As soon as the s
first burst of sorrow had subsidized, the I
faithful governess ventured to finish
her communication. /" Yes, my chill
dren, we'll may you grieye at the loss
of such worthy cavaliers. Granada,
alas has not their equals. Would they {
had embraced the faith Of Islam, and /
taken service under your father There I
might have been hope. As it is, they I
are in despair, and could think of only ]
one plan that would remedy your COM J
mon misfortune"
What was it, good Kadiga ?" ex-
claimed the anxious princesses in a {
breath. "What was it ? that we may
lose none of their parting words.
"In the excess of their affection, they
to persuade me to urge you {
to fly with them to Cordova, and become
their wives !"
The three Processes turned alternate
" pale and red, and trembled, and looked
down, and cast shy look at each other; :
but doubts aud fears were all silenced
and removed by the potent arguments
of love. The following night was the
one appointed for their escape. Toward
midnight. when the Alhambra was buried
in sleep. the discreet Kadiga listened /,
from the balcony of q window that looked
into the garden. Hussien Baba, who
was to accompany the cavaliers IN their
flight, was already below, and gave the
appointed signal. The duenna fastened
the end of a ladder of ropes TO the bal
cony, lowered it into the garden, and de-
scended. The two eldest princesses fol-
lowed her with beating hearts but when
it came to the turn of the youngest =
princess, Zorahayda, she hesitated and
trembled. Every moment increased the
danger of discovery. a distant tramp :
was heard.
'sThe patrols are walking the rounds, s
cried the renegade; ''jf we llngerwe per-
ish. Princess, descend instantly, or we
leave you. 1
Zorahayda was for moment in fear
ful agitation then, loosening the lad :
der of ropes, with desperate resolution.
she flung il from the balcony.
"It is decided" she cried ; flight is
now out of my power. Allah guide and 2
bless you, my sisters Farewell t
The two eldest princesses would fam
4 g. Ii =