The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1898-11-25
A SPANISH LEGEND.

In heart Ct the capital OF Mexico lies
short block known rs the Gallo de
Don Juan Manuel In this street, I'm.
momrt's walk from tho Plaza Mayor,
Stand, one Of the oldest houses LuiiU ~
the s@FnisA d0us.
1t is of STONE, three stories hiah c--
nantntgd with balconies along the Two
upper stories, and with the Close SIT
stone pinnaolls on the roof that signify
the abode Of Spanish nobility. 1t right
angles with the row of piuuaclcs aid
pointing menacingIy toward tie street
is a battery Of sham cannon carved cat
Of stone that i'll reality are great dra.l
pipes. They project into the air Sc Jar
that they empty the tropical rains be
yond the limits Of the sidewalks into
the cobble paved street. These are ior
utility, Of course, but they chance to be
the most decorative feature CT this
quaint facade.
Inside this noble structure, tho arches
Of the patio, now, alas, divided by dis
figuring walls, span so feet Of stone
paved floor and spring 80 feet upward
into the great quadIangular space. Mas
sive stone stairways, with broad and
shallow step, slope gently upward to the
magnificent living apartments of Don
Juan Manuel. Gayly painted carpets
may still be seen on the deep set rise"
of every step, and tracings linger on the
edges of the depreSsions worn by the
countless footballs Of Don Juan Manuel,
his noble visitors, his vast retinuo Of
servants and his descendants.
Once OH the upper landings Of the
stairway, which was evidently devised
as means to an end, not as feature
of architectural development, one looks
back on region of stony gloom which
now, us it has always been, is used for
servants quarters and storerooms. Even
on the upper floor the windows are Iron
barred, but they are numerous and large
and the apartments are spacious and
we'll proportional. The drawing room,
40 feet square, is reached through an
antesata, that is a study in itself, for
on its high walls is spread i'll black and
white tho story of Paul and Virginia.
Rugged rocks and tossing seas, sylvan
and outrageous woods, depict the
hero and heroine wander arm in arm,
often pausing for a fond embrace,
through devious paths to their sad
doom.
In the midst Of this splendor and the
rick furnishings brought over seas in
Spanish galleons, lived the priceless or
namCnt Of the house Of Don Juan Man,
uel, his young and beautiful wife. Each
day he said to himself, "She is more
beautiful, more charming moro true
and l am unspcakably blessed in her
love" But one day the thought came
TO him that he was growing old. For
long time the devotion of his lovely wife
had deceived him into the belief that
years did not matter. But at last he
was forced to realize that the care OF
his great estates needed younger head.
He would send to Spain for his nephew
and thus give himself more time for do
mestic felicity. Happy thought! Tho
nephew came, met his youthful and
beautiful aunt. devoted himself to col
leCting his uucle's tithes. and staid.
If tho world lacks "a proyurb, it is oEo
applicable TO tie b,iu&as Of tha ,.i
ald dutiug husband and in. a5ruitir--
OF his young and beautiful vile. lat
il time cVCu Don Juan Gnuu.l became
suspicious, and from suspicion To inal- |
ug~y the step is hut short ono. Spend |
ing his evenings tytlo side Of his wife,
Don Juan Manuel suddenly began 10
absent himself night after night "
first &ha Young wifi. woHj red and was