Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-04-29
A THRILLING TALE.
THE FAIR CAPTIVE OF CAsrEL NroRE.' ~

THE FAIR CAPTIVE OF CAsrEL NEGRE. y
The following romance Is the work of a
Portland grammar school girl, TO whom was
assigned the task of writing compost
ton" which should contain the words, Di-
urnal, nocturnal, slnguinary, auxiliaries,
lachrymOse, perspiration, gustatory, som
nolent, ndefatigable, timidity, oleaginous,
farinaceOus.
CHAPTER I.
II was a gorgeous day in the middle of
August 1880. The sun shone with
dazzling splendor, The trees rustled
with the gentle breeze that foated past
bearing the scent of magnolia and orange
blossoms. The brook carolled harmoni-
ously, as it wandered through the long
grass. The Southern birds with their
brilliant plumage, sung vociferously. But
alas, this dulcet, bucolical landscape was
marred by huge black castle which
loomed up into the azure sky, with tur-
rets piercing the vault of heaven-but
enough let US proceed with our tale.
CHATTER II.
Although the outside of the castle was
gloomy and forbidding the interior was
furnished with all the newest styles of
drapery, lambrequins and ceramics.
Within the innermost receSses of the
east centre wing Of the Castel de Negre,
was beautiful boudoir furnished after
the latest Eastlake samples-it would be
useless TO describe the beautiful things
in this apartment.
The walls were covered with japanese
fans, plaques, and rich drapery of dull
reds and gendarme blues, olive greens
with slight dashes of dandelion greens in
the high lights, all mixed harmoniously
together.
In the depths of luxuriant divan sat
our heroine, Juanita the fair-she was an
artistic creation-her face was of the
Spanish type, with the full crimson lips,
retrousse nose and irridescent eyes which
glowed with all the latest tones of shades /;
her hair was the wonder of the age-it
was of a golden yellow hue, shading in
to the latest fashionable tints of old
gold, it rippled and curved in undulating
billowy masses as it fell on the Persian
rug which she had worked with her own
fair hands-a yellow dog reclining on a
bed of roses. From the color of her
hair, she might have been Russian, a
French, Turk or Prussian or perhaps
Italian. But no-diSpel these low
thoughts-she was Spanish senorita,
daughter of an Hidalgo of the sangre
azul.
CHAPTER III.
During all the diurnal and nocturnal
hours of this month, Juanita had been
confined in this gloomy castle by her tyr
annical padre pa for short for the SIM
pie reason that she had made stern re-
solve to elope with Don Alphonzo de Cas-
sa Blanca. A moon before, her father,
after having been announced by her du-
emma, entered her apartment and thus
addressed her: MY lovely daughter, my
liege the King summons me to engage
in sanguinary conflict. shall leave
you in charge of the auxiliaries-your
customary repast of bread and water
shall be served to you on golden salvers
eat then and be nourishcd. With
these words he imprinted loving kiss
upon her forehead, and in iachrymose
tones exclaimed, while the perspiration
gathered upon his noble brow: "Fare-
well, my own, au revoir.
Her gustatory exercise had been so
alight that her physical strength collapsed,
snd she swooned in a graceful manner
among her bric-a-brac.
CHAPTER ".
But to our tale-the month was now
drawing to a close, the sun had silently
melted, like gumdrop, into the western
forests. The silver moon rose in cloud
less majesty and Juanita stood upon the
battlement. All nature was somnolent.
Juanita sighed and murmured. "Padre
me, padre meo, ere thou returnest as
thou saidst thou wouldst, | shall be far
hence, the bride of thy indefatigable
enemy, Don Alphonso de Casa Blanca
even now | listen with eager timidity for
the sound of his dear whistle.
CHAPTER V.
| Ru+ let ne return IN our narrative
And even as she mused the clatter OF
horses hoofs was heard along the labyrin-
THAN avenues of the outspreading park
1t was Juanita's Alphonso de Casa
Blanca and his retainers. Refining in
his prancing steed beneath her easement
window he cried in oleaginous and fari-
naceous tones, "Juanita, appear"
A soft, sweet voice from within the
easement murmured "If what" ''Ifyou
please" returned the noble knight obse-
quiously. "As thou sayest those word:
know thee for my own Alphonso, she
murmured.
Softly back came the strain
| Nv steed's by the tower
| My bark's on the sea,
| And sweetest Juanita
Pm waiting for thee.
She leaned over the battlement
looked at the dizzy depth below, anc