The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-07-03
{" FOR THE KING"
nonrnrRN MEXICO, l0lOs

10 show the adobe core within
A soul of earth in a whitewashed skin.
And think that the moral OF all. you'll say,
Is the soulptured legend that mods away
On a tomb in the choir: " Por ell Rey."
s'Por el Rey." Wen, the King is gone,
Ages ago, aud the HapEburg one
Shot-but the rock of the Church lives on.
"Por eli Rey." What matters, indeed.
Ii King or President succeed
TO country haggard with soth and greed,
As long as one granary is fat
And youder priest, ia a shovel-hat,
Peeps out from the bin like sleek brown rat
What matters? Naught, If it serves to bring
The legend nearer-no other thing
Well spare the moral, " Live the kingp
Two hundred years ago they say,
The Viceroy, Marquis of Monte-Rey,
Rode with his retinUe, that way.
Grave as beftted SPANS Grandee,
Grave as the substitute should be
OF His Most Catholic Majesty
Yet from his black plumes curving grace
10 his slinl black gauntlet's smaller space,
Exquisite as piece OF lace!
Two hundred years ago-e'en So
The Marquis stopped where the lime-trees blow,
While Lgons Seneschal bent him low
Aud begged that the Marquis would that night take
His humble roof for the roy sake
Ana theu as the custom demanded, spake
The usual wish that his guest would hold
The house, ami all That II might iniold,
AS his-Hith the bride scarce three days OLD.
BE sure that the Marquis, in his place,
Replied TO all with the measured grace
OF chosen speech and unmoNc face,
Nor raised his head till his black plume swept
The hem OF the iady's robe, VINO kept
Her place as her husband backward steps.
And tleu Il know not how nor WHY
subtle flame III the ladys eye
Unseen by the courtiers standing by
Burned through his lace and titled wreath,
Burned through his bOdy's jeweled sheath,
Til it touched the steel OF the man beneath!
(And yet, iucshap no more was meant
Than 50 point Wcll-wOrn compliment,
And Tie lady's beauty, her worse lnteEt.)
Howboit, the Marquis bowed again:
% VINO Icles with awe weu serNeth Spain,
But best whose Law ls love made PLAIN"
BE sure that night no pillow pressed
The Seueschal, but with the rest
Watch td-as WAS due royal guest
Watched from the wall till he saw the square
Fill with the moonlight, white ana bare,
Watched TIL he saw Cwo shadows fare
Out from his garden, where the shade
That the ola cnu1Cn- tower ana Dclry made,
Like benedctOry hand was laid.
Few words spoke the Senescha as he turned
To the nearest bentry These monks have learned
That stolen fruit Is sweetly earned.
"Myself shall punish yon acolyte
Who gathers my garden grapes by night
Meanwhile, wait thou till the morniug-light."
Yet not till the sun was riding high
Did the sentry meet his commanders eye,
iR g. lao hN
TO the lovers of grave formalities
No greeting was ever 50 fine, wis,
AS THIS hosts and guests high cOurtesies
Bhe soncschal feared, as the wind was west,
A blast from MOrenA has chilled his rest!
The Niceroy ianBuld4y confessed
That carcs of Siate-he dared to say
Some fears that the King could not repay
The thoughtful zeal OF his host some way
Had married his rest. Yet he trusted much
None shared his wakeIulness Though such
Indeed might be! Ii lac dared to touch
a theme fiue-the BRIDE perchance,
Still SLEPT? At least, they missed her glance
TO give Tins greeting conHtenauce.
Be sure that the seneschal, in turn
Was ue4IIy bowed with tie grave concern
OF the painful news his guest should learn:
- Last night. to her fathers dying bed
BY priest was the lady summoned;
Nor know We yet nov well che sped,
"But hope for the best" The grave vceroy
(Though 5rieyed Ais visit had such alloy
Must stili wish the SeuescAal great Joy
OF a bride 30 true 10 her flal trust!
Yet now ~ the day waxed on. they must
To horse If cneyd escape the MONDAY dust.
"Nay' said the Senescha "at least
To mend tue news of tins funeral priest,
Myself shall ride AZ yOur escort east
The Yiceroy bowed. Then turned aside
To the nearest follower: q" With me ride
You and Feiipe-on either side.
- And list Should anything me beiall,
Mischance Of ambueh OF musbet-ball,
Cleaye 60 hid saddle yon Seneschal!
d" No more" Then gravely in accents clear
Took formal leave OF his late good cncer;
Whites tie Seneschal Whisperefi Il musketeer,
Carelessiy stroking his pommgi-top,
" II from the saddle ye Zee me drop,
Riddl, me quickly yon solenln fop!
So these. with many a compliment,
Each or uls dark thought intent,
With grave potene r onv ard went.
Riding nigh and in sight of ali,
Viceroy, escort aud Seneschal,
Under the shades of the Amaudral,
Holding their secret hard AMI fast
Silent and grave, they ride at last
Into the dusty -trayeied past
Even like this they passed away
Two hundred years ago to-day.
What Of che lady? Who shall say?
DO the souls of the dying ever yearn
TO some favored spot for the dust's return
For the honey ptCce of the family urn?
know net. Yet did Tho Seneschal,
CHANGING IA after years 20 fail
Pierced ~ Flemish musket-ball,
Call 20 bis side trusty fiar,
And bid lam sNear az his last desire,
TO bear MS Corsc TO San PedrO's choir
At Leon where meath a shield azure
Should his mortal frame find sepulture;
This much for the pains Christ did endure.
Be sure that the iriar Loyalty
Fulfilled hiA crust by land and sea,
Till the spires Of Leon silently
Rose through the green of the Aimandra
AS If to bsckOu the Senescha
10 his kindred dust uUi,s4 s..S ..>'- ''et.
j wot that the saints on either side
Leaned from their inches opcn-eyed,
tt see the door of the church swing wide
That the wounds Of the Savior on either flank,
Dledfresb, as the inourners, ra NIX by rank,
went by with the coffin, clank on clank-