St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-11-01

and besought the don to keep tne Vredsuie,
but he would not. He raised her up ana
bowed himself before Dona Ceiestina and
rode away.
Then were his knights little pleased that
he would not keep lawful booty and re-
ward them So he gave them from his
own wealth to each man 100 marks in gold.
Nevertheless was my don fearful lest his
men should return and take the booty
again of Dona Helena. So he came and
placed himself opposite the house and re-
NAMED there all night keeping guard, and
when she passed by the window he knelt
and crossed himself, for he felt that she
was holy.
Now was Dona Celestina the most beau
tiful maid in all Zaragoza, and sought
after by many suitors, but to all she turned
deaf ear for she was minded to enter the
and especially blessed of the virgin. So
when it was known that Don Enrique, the
lawless, was her lover also great laughter
was raised in the town that he should try
to win the holy Dona Celestina.
Nevertheless did the don press his suit
most gallantly. All the trophies which he
won did he lay at her feet, but she would
none of them for herself, for she held his
poor.
But naught could dismay my don. He
wooed her ardently with no cause for hope,
for she turned her face from him. She
went her way among the sick and the poor,
doing much good, so that the people bless
ed her in the public streets as she passed
them by.
Her journeyings were often perilous, for
the Moors were in the country, nor did
they hesitate to kill or carry off any whom
they met, nor were any such heard of after.
Don Enrique gave her jeweled
dagger whereby she might defend herself.
Also he or some of his knights kept al
ways near to aid her If so be she should
need them. Even though she did not al
ways see them did she know they were
near, and her heart was touched.
After long time did the don grow i'm
patient with his waiting, for she showed
him no favor, and he sent q messenger to
her to know her heart.
Then did the dona bid him tarry while
she went above to her chamber. She spent
the time from the hour of tierce one day to
hour of fierce the next in meditation
and PRAYER, and the knight tarried with
out, waiting her gracious pleasure Then
she came unto him and said: "The Dona
Celestina sendeth farewell to thy lord, for
she is minded to Join the sisterhood. Nor
would she in any wise dare to call herself
wife to the Don Enrique de Lamarca.
Nevertheless will she from her cloister con
tinuously pray for him."
When the don heard this his heart failed
him, for he loved her nightly. Then did
he wrestle greatly with his own spirit as to
whether or not he should forsake his
course and enlist under the banner of the
king, who sorely needed his aid against the
Moors But the soul of my don loved free
| dom and outlawry more than righteous
| war.
Nevertheless did his love for Dona Celes-
| tina prevail. Therefore did he call his
| knights together and tell them of his pur-
| pose, whereat they all lamented sore and
sough to turn him. But the don rose up
and unbuckled his sword and dashed it to
the floor and set bis heel upon it, and said:
"Thus do l set my heel upon my own
| life of sin, and set ft nth to do valiant ser
vice for the king, for the sake of the Dona
| Celestinal"
And at the sound of her name did the
knights kneel, for so had Don Enrique com
handed.
Then did they yield the point, only be-
seeching him to make one more adventure
with them as his last. Long did the don
resist their appeal, but his soul longed to
yield, for dearly did he love his wild life,
and sore was his grief at leaving it. But
| at length he promised. He ordered great
feast to be spread in his castle when they
should return, and the preparations were
made as if for king.
| Then did the don take with him a knight
named Estevanillo Guadana and come unto
Dona Celestina. He gave unto his knights
hand single white rose and babe him &C
unto the dona and tell her Of his VOW and
say unto her if SO be she would renounce
her intention of entering the church anc
reward his love and faithfulness to come
| on the morrow to her balcony and wear In
her bosom the white rose, and if she would
not to appear and let the rose fall unto
time, for he would be waiting. Then, too
did he caution her against going through
the streets, for the Moors were waxing
holder and strange were the stories atioa1
concerning their daring. Then he blessed
Don Estevanillo and sent him in unto her
Now, this knight, being false and vain
thought to trick Don Kur1que ana VIII
Dona Celestina for himself, for he, too
was of noble birth. Nevertheless he de
livered the message to her even as he hae
been told and gave her the white rose.
Then did he prove false to his lord. H'
told her OF this adventure which they hat
planned and OF the banquet prepared
which was fit for king that they Nigh
make merry over their spoils. Nor did III
say it was the last, but made 1t appear a
If the don would thus break his VOW.
Then did the dona's eyes grow sorrowfu
| "a To- hns ind al met
Enrique, but she forbore to speak. Sh
dismissed Don Estevanillo, saying sh
would do even as his lord had said.
Exceedingly grieved was she at the new
she had heard. She knew from the sorrow
of her heart that If the don had not gon
upon this last adventure she could hav
appeared upon the balcony wearing tn
rose. But she feared man who broke hi
VOW; so she would not consider it.
Nor did she wholly trust Don Estevanille
for she despised man who could be faith
less to his lord, although he had sought t
excuse himself by his VOW. But the dona'
heart was 80 completely given to Don En-
rioue, howbeit she would not marry hin
that she would have counted it NOR
worthy for Don Estevanillo to be faithful
to his lord first. So she despised him, a
all true women would.
Then she called two of her women to he
and they arrayed her in black from hea
TO foot. And Dona Celestina took tn
white rose and wept over 1t, and kissed II
and held it in her hand as she went forth.
She needed not Don Enrique's counsel
but sought to redeem this nights wicked
ness for him by good deeds of her own.
she trusted in God to defend her, and sh
prayed unto the virgin for the safety
DON Enrique And as she prayed she weE
bitterly, for her heart was sore.