The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-10-05
The Bell of Zanora.
A SPANISH TALE.

The rudy sun was setting behind the Muir
clan hills,
The fields were warmed to splendor and gold
en- flowed the rills.
Across the little valley where lay the Spanish
town,
The dying suns last blessing-a glory fioated
down.
Amid the fields the peasants drove In the graz
ing kline,
And family came a tinkling as trudged the
peaceful line.
Upon the height the convent, a ruin old and
gray.
lowered upward, and its shadow across the
valley lay,
Before the crumbling ruin, prone on the
scented grass
boy Of twenty summers watched days bright
glory pass.
The lad was there on duty. and oft about hin,
zanora feared the coming of robber Gomez
band;
OF Gomez, fierce and he~--'----
whose name made women shudder and bravest
men grow pate-
And sack the peaceful hamlet struck stoutest
hearts all dumb.
The peasants cleaned their frelocks tl,o wo-
men watched, and prayed
The band of robber Gomez upon its path be
stayed.
Yet time wore on and scathless still stood the
little town,
But from the ancient convent watcher still
looked down;
For clear from meath its portals each roadway
might be scanned.
And there from morn till twilight they watched
for Gomez band.
The Old bell of the convent within its tower
still hung;
Its rope in curves low dangling seemed wait
ing to be rung;
For if a sight of Gomez came to the watcher
there,
He straight would let the old bell with warning
fill the air:
Unto the town signal to rally fast and stand,
And ready for the onslaught, beat back the
robber band.
This day was Ruy watcher until the sun hung
low,
And then, with watching wearied, he lay and
gaZed below,
He saw the home of Carmen, his heart beat
quick and warm;
He tried TO pierce the doorway and see the
falr mald form, =
He watched the smoke that floated above his
mothers cot:
To him the plodding cattle seemed each a
| Faint from the bustling village came murmurs
low and 1eep;
The bells afar did dnkle-the lad lay fast
asleep
Asleep he lay. but not for long-he woke, a
grirny hand
| Pressed his mouth, his wrists were bound,
around him Gomez band!
| They dragged him to the convent; cried Gomez,
| Rope this fooli''
Then meath the rope they placed him upon
| kneeling-stool
| Around his neck so tender the snaky bell
| ropes fold
| They fastened, and, cried Gomez, ''That bell
| won't soon be tolled!
| Come on, lads, there's work below; this fool
! amt to be hung,
| BY the saints, yet hang he will before that bell
| is rung!"
The robbers laughed and vanished, and Ruy
| was alone,
| With one thought ever stinging-he must his
| fault atone.
The rope his throat was CALLING, his corded
| wrists were numb,
| Ruy's burning thoughts alone could freely go
| and come.
| The helpless souls, the bell above, the black
| band creeping down!
Ger his brow the drops rolled fast-he must
| arouse the town.
That rope he well remembered his strength
had often tried,
And all his weight to move it he knew must
| be applied.
He thought of home and mother, of Carmen
| sweet and fair,
| Then with one sob of anguish he sprang into
The robber band was creeping adown the steep
With Chieftain Gomez leading the dark exult-
| ing line.
They're oursr' the bandit chuckled; sits
| time to make the Charge
| And then the robbers halted upon the hilltop
| marge.
Red Gomez drew his sabre, and then-what was
| that sound?
| Bonn! boml the convent tocsin it fairly shook
| the ground.
| BON! bonn pale grew the robbers, yet Gomez
! cried "AdvanceP
| Too late, the town was rousing-and lost the
| bandits chance.
| Some scatring shots, the bandits fled DER the
hill-top's crown,
| The convent bell tolled fainter-saved was the
| little town
Straight upward strode the peasants, up to the
convent tower;
| Before them swings a something-from which
| the bravest COVER.
| Bomi 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 wailing, and bitter
| tears were shed,
! For he who saved Zanora, mute as the bell
was dead!
-IW. Il. Rose. in Our Continent.