Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-04-04

inspired me with hope and conn
dence."
Whisne~nr some last farewell in
her ear Juan turned from her, but
stiI she chung to him.
Don Giovanni, beholding this from
an embrasure in the tower, OWNED
ut once from Ginevra's tears and at
titude that something very unusual
had occurred.
"The children seem to be in trou-
BILE" he said to old Juan Velasquez,
who was by his side. "Run down
quickly and see what has befallen
them"
The soldier obeyed, but he only
reached ;he spot in time to support
Ginevra's fainting form, and 10 per-
ceive his son Juan already past the
drawbrIdge and disappearing from
sioht under the trees of the neighbor-
ing forest.
"Run away has hep" said Don Clio
vanni, when this was told him On
to some foreign war, l doubt not. [
always thought the life in this old
castle would be too quiet for the lad
as he grew older. The soldier spirit
will break out, for it is in the blood.
But l lid not think my girl was SO
much attached to him. he added.
And whittier did young Juan wend
his way? Speeding through the for
est and traversing the mountain
paths, ne got far and far from the
old castle and his fathers humble hut.
At night he would seek a passing
shelter. and the peasants received
him kindly when they heard he was
bent on a pious pilgrimage to the
far-distant land of Palestine. Across
the Pyrcnees and into fair France;
among the Alpine SHOWS, where pious
monks welcomed the young traveller;
across the beautiful land of Italy;
along The coast of the Mediterranean;
bv the shores of the Dead sea; and
so. after his long, long journey, ar
irving ut last at the Holy Sepulchre
of Jerusalem.
PROSTATE before that shrine, Juan
poured out his soul in tears and sup
plicatiOn.
Day followed day, and he wearied
not. but knelt hour after hour, max
ing his petitions known to God.
One night a man, clad in the black
habit of a monk, came silently in and
knelt down by the young pilgrim
side
81 see you here often" he said, land
from your features | conclude that
YOU are of some far-distant country;
and. therefore, the motive which has
inspired you to such a journey must
be sincere. What is your mission
Tell me, pilgrim, why do you weeE
and pray?'
Then Juan told of Ginevra. How
from her birth she had been blind;
how they were born upon the same
night: how even from his earliest
childhood he had been set to guide
and protect her; and so, despite theil
different rank in life, they hac
learned to love each other. Finally
he told of her fathers promise, or
his honor as a soldier, to bestOw hel
in marriage to him who should bring
her the greatest gift.
''But why should that bring yor
hither?" was the reply.
u am here" said Juan, "to ask o.
Heaven that Ginevra may receive hel
eyesight. If my prayer finds accept
ance of God, / shall return to hel
with the very greatest of gifts, ant
claim her as my bride. Think no
tightly of our love, good monk, for i
has been given us by God, and in the
future life it will but be perfected.
you have spoken we'll and truly,
replied he who wore the outward
senblance of a monk. Il have oh
tanned the answer ~ your prayer
your petition is granted, but upol
one condition"
Tell me it, 1 pray" cried thu
young Spaniard.
; "That in order to prove your SINGER
ity still further, you remain here TO
some time, taking Ginevra's afaictiol
= upon yourself"
Juan raised his face in gratitude t.
; Heaven. "Willingly, most willingly,
5 he cried, edo l accept that condition
! will De blind that Ginevra may see.
r Then total darkness fell upon tn
: beautiful eyes of the young Spaniard
and the monk led him by the hand tt
= a cell n the adjoining monastery
: and housed and cOmforted him, ant
t conducted him daily to pray befor
the shrine as his habit was.
< 1t might have been a month only
yet it seemed long to Juan, although
! he was quite patient and cheerful ant
4 resigned. when the monk said 20 him
S Your faith and your love are stroni
and sincere Receive back your sight.
n Immediately the light broke upol
= this Youths vision, and he saw be
lore him, not a man dressed in tn
= black habit of a monk, but bein
t of another world, clad in the glitter
n ing raiment of the blessed.
q "Return at once to SPAIN" said IL
angel, for your presence is needle
: there The country is overrun by IL
Moors, and Don Giovanni d'Aquila
. besieged and kept shut up within h
t, castle. Fear not, for in your journe
ing and in all that you do [ shall
- near you as your guardian"
?. With that the angel disappeare
r vanishing as the mist sometimes va
~ ishes before the sun, for even
!, Juan's eyes rested on the mcssenS
IS he was gone.
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