The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-21
The Bell Of Zanora.
A SPANISH TALE.

The ruddy sun was setting behind the Muir
The fields @ 'alS Wers warmed to splendor and gold
Across the little valley where lay the Spanish
town,
The dying suns last bIessing-a glory tioated
Amid the fields the peasants drove in the graz
ing kline,
And family came tinkling as trudged the
Upon the height the convent, ruin old and
gray,
lowered upward, and its shadow across the
Before tho crumbling ruin, prone on the
scented grass,
A boy of twenty summers watched days bright
Tho lad was there on duty. and oft about him
scanned
zanoTa feared the coming of robber Gomez
OF Gomez, fierce and heartless, the terror of
the vale,
Whose name made women shudder and bravest
men grow pale.
Unto the town rumor that Gomez fierce
would come
And sack the peaceful hamlet struck stoutest
hearts all dumb.
The peasants cleaned their flrelocks, the wo-
men watched, and prayed
The band of robber Gomez upon its path be
stayed.
Yet time wore on and scathless still stood the
But from tho ancient convont q watcher still
looked down;
For clear from meath its portals each roadway
And there from morn till twilight they watched
for Gomez band
Tho old bell of the convent within its tower
Its rope in curves low dangling seemed watt
ing to be runs;
there,
He straight would let the old bell with warning
Unto the town a signal to rally fast and stand,
And. ready for the onslaught, beat back the
This day was Ruy watcher until the sun hung
low,
gazed below,
He saw the home of Carmen. his heart beat
He tried to pierce the doorway and see the
fair maids form,
He watched the smoke that fioated above his
To him tho ploddins cattle seemed each
The bells bell s'R afar did tinkle-the lad lay fast
Asleep he lay, but not for long-he woke, a
Pressed bis mouth, his wrists were bound,
around him Gomez band!
They dragged him to the convent; cried Gomez,
"Rope this foolP'
Then meath the rope they placed him upon a
Around his neck so tender the snaky bell
They fastened, and, cried Gomez, s'That bell
won't soon be toledi
Come on, lads. there's work below; this fool
By the saints, yet hang he will before that bell
The robbers laughed and vanished. and Ruy
was alone,
With one thought ever stinging-he must his
The rope his throat was CALLING, his corded
wrists were numb,
Ruy's burning thoughts alone could freely go
and come.
The helpless souls, tho bell above, the black
band creeping down!
Ger bis brow -, the drops rolled fast-he must
That rope he well remembered his strength
had often tried,
be applied.
He thought of home and mother. of Carmen
sweet and fair,
the airl
The robber band was creeping adown the steep
incline
With Chieftatn Gomez leading the dark exult-
ing line.
They're oursi'' the bandit chuckled; 'ft's
time to make the charge"
And then the robbers halted upon the hill-top's
marge
Red Gomez drew his sabre, and then-what was
that sound?
Boml bonn the convent tocsin it fairly shook
the ground.
Boml bomi pale grew the robbers. yet Gomez
cried Advanced"
Too late, the town was rousing-and lost the
bandits chance.
Some scat ring shots, the bandits fed DER the
hfll-top's crown,
The convent bell tolled fainter-sayed was the
little town.
Straight upward strobe the peasants, up to the
convent tower;
Before them swings something-from which
the bravest cover.
Boml changed the bell yet fainter, and with
that passing toll
Its dying sob bore upward the hapless Ruy's
SOUL
They took him down with vaiing, and bitter
tears were shed,
For be who saved Zanora, mute as the bell
vas deadI
NV. r. Rose, in Our Continent.