The National tribune., 1899-05-25

uedcs, and is fatally wounded by his own
people. A mysterious priestess appears
among the Mexicans, and Don Amador
sees in her the likeness Of a Moorish
maiden whom he had loved. Don ANA
dor accompanies a reconnoitering party,
becomes separated from his friend and
while struggling with dozen armed Mex
leans is struck down by Abdalla he Moor.
He recovered consciousness to find him
self in another part of the city, where he
is cared for by Jacinto and his father.
While Don Amador still pOndered, in
perplexity, over the words OF Abdalla, the
curtain OF his apartment was drawn aside
and Jacinto entered, bearing a little baS-
ket OF fruits and Indian confections.
"Dost thou" inquired the cavalier, after
thrusting aside the food almost untasted;
"snow aught of a certain supernatural
priestess that goes about the streets OF
this town in pagan professions, followed
by countless herds of mobiles and war
riOrs'"
81 have indeed heard of such
creature" the page replied, "and. l may
say. | rave seen her"
"For my part" said the novice, with a
deep sigh and troubled aspect, 81 think
she is the spirit OF Leila; and her ap-
pearance in the guise of a pagan god
dess, or pagan priestess, the one or the
other,-shows me, that she whom loved
dwells not with angels. This IS q
thought" continued the cavalier, mourn
fully, "that burns my heart as with a
coal; and if God spare my life, and re-
turn me to mine own land, | will devote
my estates to buy masses Tor her soul I;
for surely she cannot have fallen from sin
into irreparable wO. but only into pun
ishment for some hereSy, the fault OF bao
instruction, which may be expIated
Jacinto regarded the distressed vlSage
OF his patron with concern, and with in
decision, as if impelled, and yet afraid, to
speak what might remove his anguish
Then, at last, moved by affection, and
looking up with arch confidence to Don
Amador. he said.
"Sen0r, | can relieve you OF this un-
happiness. This is no spirit, but a
woman as know full we'll, for ! am in
the secret am not sure that IT Will not
offend my father, to divulge such secret
to any Spaniard. yet can its revealment
prejudice none. Know, senor, and use
not this confession TO my fathers injury,
that all this interlude Of the prophecies,
devised by the Mexican mobiles and
priests, with my fathers counsel and
aid, is scheme 10 intiame the people
with fresh devotion and fury against the
Spaniards, your cOuntrymen. For, being
very superStitiOus and credulous, the com
mon people are easily persuaded that
their gods have sent them Il messenger, to
encourage and observe their valOr; as, 1t
is faDled they have done in former days
The prophecies is but puppet IN their
hands"
"AIy lord seems 10 me TO have an evil
spirit troubling him." continued Jacinto,
'and, perhaps, if he will let me, ! can
sing it away with the ballad Of the Knight
and the Page"
'"The Knight and the Pager ] have
never heard thee sing that" said Don
AmadOr, somewhat indiiferently. What
is il about"
at is about a brave cavalier, that loved
Il noble lady, who loved him; but being
made to believe her false 10 her VOWS, he
went TO the wars To die, followed by a
little page, whom he thought the only
true friend he had left in the world"
"By my faith" said Don Amador, re-
garding the boy kindly, "in this respect,
methinks, ] am, at present, somewhat
like that knight; for thou, that art, like
wise, little page, seemest TO be the only
friend ] have left in the rld,-that is,
in this city,-that is TO say, in this part Of
il: for ! have much confidence in the
love of several at the palace, notwith-
standing that think some others were a
little backward in supporting me, when
beset that evil day, by e;sc barbarians.-
Was he Spanish knight and OF what
parts'"
"Of the Sierra Morena, at some place
where the Jucar washes its foot"
IN SODI uUtn, cTitU tne cavalier IItt
is the very river that rolls by CuenZa
and herein, again, is there another paral-
tel.-But | should inform thee that, VIXEN
the mountain reaches so far as the JUG al, ,
and runs up along its course it is then
called the Sierra Of CuenZa, and not
MOrcna. But this is a small matter
shall be as glad 10 hear Of the knight of
Jucar as Of one Of my ancestors"
He resembled my lord still more" said
the page, 'for he had fallen, fighting the
iEfiiel, very grievously wounded; and
his little page remained AT his side, TO
share his fate"
''That have. in manner, fallen, and
as may say, fighting the infidel is true;
but by no means can il be said that am
gricvously wounded. These cuts, that
have on NV body, are but such scratches
as one might make with thorn"
at was the resemblance Of my lords
situation TO the knight Of Jucar's, that
reminded me Of the roundelay," said ia
cinto, taking up his lutte, and stringing
II into accord; and now your Worship
shall represent the wounded knight, and