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

man became alarmed at the mischief
which she had not 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 marrigeable ago--the
critical period at which the astrologers
had warningly pointed.
AS he sat one day on a divan in one of
the cool halls OF tho Alhambra slave
arrived from the ortress of Sllobrcna,
with message from the wise Kadiga,
congratulNting him on the anniversary
Of his daughters birthday. Tho slave
at the same time presented delicate
little basket, decorated with flowers,
within which, on Il couch of vine and fig
leaves, lay n peach, an apricot, and a
nectarine, with their bloom and down
and dewy sweetness upon them, and all
ia the early stage of tempting ripeness,
The monarch was vcrsed in the oriental
language of fruit and flowers, and reai-
lily OWNED the meaning of the emblem,
attic Offering.
"The critical period has arrived, ]"
said he; 81 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 Mahommed had beheld his daugh,
ters, and he could sclrcely credit his
eyes at the wonderful change which that
small space of time lad made in their
appearance. During the interval they
bad passed that wondrous boundary line
in female life which separates the crude,
uniformed, aud thouGhtIess girl from
the blooming, blushing, meditativo wo-
man.
He prepared for his return by sending
hcraIds before him, commanding evcIy-
one to keep out of the road by which ho
was to pass; and that all doors and
windows should be closed at the APP
proach Of tho princasaes, He then set
ont, accompanied by hiSprecious charge,
on three bcautiful whitc palfreys, and
escorted ny IL bJlOuS BH'IN'
The cayalcado was drawing near TO
Granada, when it overlook, ON the banks
of Xenil, Il small boly of Moorish sol
diers, with n convoy of prisoners. 1t
was too late for the soldiers to get ont
of the way, 20 they threw themselves
on their faces on the earth, ordering
their cap.iyes to do the snmo. Among
the prisoners wore the three identical
ctvalcrs whom the prncc5ses had seen
from the pavilion. They either did not
understand, or were too hauGhty to
obey thc order, and remained standing
and gazing upon the cayalcade as it ap-
prorched.
Tho ire of the monarch was kindled
at this fragrant defiance of his order.
Drawing his scimitar and pressing for
ward, he was about to deal a lcft-hnndcl
blow that would have been fatal to at
least one of the gazers, when the prin-
cesse3 crowded round hin, an1 implored
mercy for the offenders. Mohammcd
paused with upliftcd scimitar, whcE tho
captain Of the guard threw himself at
his feet ord exclaimed: "I9t not
your majesty do deed that may cause
| great scandal throughout The kingdom,
| These are three brave and noble Span
ish knights, who have been taken IN
battle, lighting like lions " Enough y
anid the king, I" [ will spare thcir lives,
but punish their aIdacity let them he
taken to the NcrmIon tJwors, and put
10 hard labor" While MOhammed had
been making this barnPuc, the yei!3 of
the three pripcosscs had been thro yn
back, and the radiance Of their BENNY
revealed. It's effect upon the three cav
alters was instantaneous and complete.
Quick as was this victory, not less singu-
lar was the fact that each of the love
vanunishcd cavaliers was enraptnrod
with q special beauty. The clya'cnie
resumed its march and reached the Al
hambra the Spanish captiYcs werO con
lucted to theIr allotted prison III the
Vermilon towers in the same fortress.
Tho memory Of tho n0hlo cavaliers
filed the fair charges of kadiga with
pensive and melancholy thoughts. In
spite of all the luxury with which
they were surrounded, they pincd and
faded, In vain did the anxious Moham-
med ransack the Xacatn Of Granada for
the richest silks and most precious jew
els. He gave it up as hopeless affair,
and rave carte b'nnchc to the discreet
Ka1iga, in whom his confidence was mn,
bounded. Tho wise duenna was skilled
in diseases of tho heart, and knew the
best medicine for her pining charge.
The day before sho had discovered the
i0cale If the Christian cnptives, and go
iur priyatpIy 10 lIusaieu Bnbn, the big
whiEkcrcd, brpad-ahoulderad renegade,
in whose charge they we're, and slipping
broad piece of gold ir'o his itch'og
palm, thus eigujliod her wishes: " Ny
misfrCegos nave heard of the musical
talents of the three Spanish cavaliers,
and arc desirous Of hearing a specimen
Of their skill. / am sure you are too
kind.hcartcd to refuse them so innocent
a qualification. The cautious Hnsslen
was about to suggest obstacles and dau-
gers, but they were removed hy the
Golden logic OF Kalign, aud it was ar
ranged thai tho cavaliers shonid bG
placed to work in q rWine mt The bot
tom OF tho princcasea tower. The w.
riOus scenes in tho interesting drama
which followed need not be detailed.
BY the generous connlynnce OF IiuHSioh
Bnba. tho lovers held converse by song
and flowers. Days and weeks flew 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
rnce; for several days the cavaliers
ceased to make their Appearance in the
glen. The three beautiful princesse6
looked ont from the tower in vain. In
vain they stretched out their swan-like
necks from the balcony; in vain they
sang like captive nightingaIes in their
,,,.,, ,,,y.,;n, u,u a.. Ina gnpu of tbgir |