The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-04-19
LEILA,
the SIEGE or GRENADA.
sY SIR gpwARD BsLwRR LYTroS.
BooK %.
CHAPTER III.--Continns,

with the prince, and fixing his large
and thoughtful eyes upon the dark
orbs OF his companion, "when, in our
younger days, We conyersed together,
do you remember how often that con-
verse turned upon those solemn and
mysterious themes to which the sages
OF our ancestral land directed their
deepest lore; the enigmas Of the stars;
the science OF fate; the wild researches
into the clouded future, which wombs
the destinies OF nations and OF menf
Thou rememberest, Muza, that to
such studies mine own vicissitudes
and sorrows, even in childhood-the
strange fortunes which gave nls in my
cradle the epithet OF El Zogoybi-the
ominous predictions OF santons and
astrologers as to the trials of my
earthly fate, all contributed to incline
mp soul. Thou didst not despise
those earnest musings, nor our ances.
tral love, though, unlike me, ever more
inclined to action than to contempla-
ton, that which thou mightest believe
had little influence upon what thou
didst design. With me it hath been
otherwise; every event OF lie hath
conspired to feed my early proposes
sions; and in this awful crisis OF my
fate 1 have placed myself and my
throne rather under the guardianship
OF spirits than Of men. This alone
has reconciled me to Inaction; to the
80 AZ m n a ~ n
OF my people. l have smiled when
foes surrounded and friends deserted
me, secure of the aid at last--if / bid.
cd but the fortunate hour-of the
charms OF protecting spirits and the
swords OF the visible creation. Thou
wonderest what this should lead to.
ListenI Two nights since" land the
king shuddered) 81 was with the deadl
My iather appeared before me-not
as knew him in lite--gaunt and ter.
rible, full of the vieor OF health, and
the strength OF kingly empire, and Of
fierce passion--but wan, calm, shad-
owy. From lips on which Azrael had
set his livid seal he bade me beware OF
theel" .-..
The king ceased suddenly, and
sought to read, on the face OF Muza,
the effect his words produced. But
the proud and swarthy features OF
the Moor evinced no pang OF con.
science; q slight smile OF pity might
have crossed his lip for q moment,
but it vanished ere the king could de-
tect il. Boabdil continued:
Under the influence Of this warning
issued the order for thy arrest. Let
this pass-I resume my tale. / at.
tempted to throw myself at the spec.
tsr's feet; 1t glided from me, motion
less and impalpable. i asked the
Dead One II he iorRave his unhappy
son the sin ofrepellion-alasl too well
requited even upon earth. And the
voice again came forth, and bads me
keep the crown that ! bad gained as
the sole atonementf for the past. Then
again ] asked whether the hour for
action had arrived, and the specter,
while it faded gradually into air, an
swered, MOI '0h! ] exclaimed, ERE
thou leavest me, be one sign accorded
me that have not dreamed this vi
sion; and give me, ] pray thee, note
and warning when the evil star OF Bo-
abdil shall withhold it's influence, and
he make strike, without resista ance
from the powers above, tor his glory
and his throne The sign and the
warning are bequeathed thee, answer
ed the ghostly image. IL vanished;
thick darkness fell around; and when
once more the light OF the lamps we
bore became visible, behold, there
stood before me u skeleton, in the
regal robe OF the kings OF Grena-
da, and on its grisly head was
the imperial diadsm. With one
hand raised it pointed to the opposite
wall, wherein burned, like an orb oi
gloomy lire, q broad diaEplate, on
which were craven these words, BE
wARE--FEAR NoT-ARM! The finger
of the dial moved rapidly round, and
restel at the word beware. From
that hour TO the one in which / last
beheld it, it hath not moved. Muza,
the tale is done; wilt thou visit with
me this enchanted chamber, and see
ii the hour be conner" -
Commander OF the faithful" said
Muza, ''the story is dread and awful.
But pardon my friend--wert thou
hlOucp OE W6o buu c@hpOh Aiutnulcu
thy companion"
"Why the question:" said Boabdil
evasiveiy, and slightly coloring.
81 fear his truth" answered Muza
''ths Christian king conquers more
foes by craft than torce. and mis- spies
are more deadly than his warriors
Wherefore this caution against me
but (pardon me) for thine owr un
doipgS Were | a traitor, could Ferd
inand himself have endanRered th,
crown so imminentlv as the revenge
OF the leader of thine own armiesi
Why, too, this desire to keep thee in
activef Tor the brave, every hour
hath its chances; but for us, every
noor increases our peril. IL We SEIZE
at the present time, our supplies ar,
cut of. and famine Is foe all our val
or csunot resist. The dervish-- who
is hef q stranger, not Of our race and
blood. But this morning l found him
without the wells, nor far from th'
Spaniard's camp"
"Hal" cried the king quickly; "and
what said he?"
Little but in hints; sheltering him
self, by those hints, under thy name.
''Hei what dared he own? Muza
what were these hints?"
The Moor here recounted the inter
view with Almamen, his detention
his inactivity In the battle, and hii
subsequent capture by the Spaniards
The king listened attentivsly, and re
gained his composure.
sit 10 q strange and awful man..
said he. after O pause. Guards and
chains will not detain him. Ere lonI
he will return. But thou, at least
Muza, art henceforth tree, alike from
the suspicion OF the living and tn,
warnings OF the dead. NO, my friend,
continued BoabdiI, with generoui
warmth, "It Is better TO lose q crown
to lose life itself, then confidence In Q
heart like thine. Come Lee us inspect
this magic tablet; perchance-- land how
my heart bounds as utter the hope
1.-The hour may have arrived"
CHAPTER Nv.