San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-11-14
KNIGHT OF WHITE ROSE.

saints that have seen so fsir maid with
so true spirit Now therefore do swear
here in the presence of this company to be
faithful to her alone through all my life.
! will serve her and love her and lay down,
IL need be, my life in her defense. And If
so be she will not look kindly upon me.
will call no woman wife while live"
Then ne commanded his knights to kiss
her garment and swear to serve her faith
fully, and they did so. each one kneeling
at her feet.
At this WAS Dona Celestina greatly
moved, and the tears stood in her eyes.
She essayed to speak but could not, so she
gave Don Enrique her hand to kiss.
Then did the don command his men to
bear the body of her father, and they all
rode toward zaragoza, nor did they pause
until he had delivered the maiden and her
fathers treasure and her fathers body to
her mother
When Dona Helena knew what had be-
fallen her daughter she fell on her knees
and besought the don to keep the treasure,
but he would not. He raised her up and
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.
manned 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
a deaf ear, for she was minded to enter the
church, being wholly given to good deeds
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
course as sinful So she gave it all to the
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 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 tierce the next in meditation
and prayer, and the knight tarried with.
out, waiting her gracious pleasure Then
she came unto him and said; 1.-The Dona
Celestina sendeth farewell to thy lord, for
she is minded to join the sisterhood. Nor
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 thesoul 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
sought to turn him But the don rose up
and unbuckled his sword and dashed it to
the floor and set his heel upon it, and said:
"Thus do | set my heel upon my own
life of sin, and ser f. rth to do valiant SER
vice for the king. for the sake Of the Dona
Celestinal''
And at the sound of he- name did the
knights kneel, for so Ind Don Enrique com.
manded.
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 a 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 knight
named Estevanillo Guadana and come unto
Dnpa CalnStina He Caya lOtn his KNIGHTS
hand single white rose and babe him go
unto the dona and tell her of his vow and
say unto her if so be she would renounce