The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-26
CASTLES IN SPAIN.


splendors OF Granada and Of Seville. ev-
erything crowded from my thoughts but
stately Alhambras and gorgeous Alca-
Ears I seated myself on uule-back and
launched out boldly for the mountains in
obedience 10 summary Indications from
/ the gitanos; who assured me that near
the little ruined town of Corduba ]
would ind an ancient Moorish palace.
had not set foot TO the ground be-
fore the landlord and his wife-a viva
cious young couple. with sparkling eyes
and ready gestures, gathering French as
do you or I-came out to greet me with
a warmth of welcome that testified 70
the rarity Of guests il their hosiery. I
made my escape as soon as possible from
their hosptable attentions and had my
self conducted TO the ruins-barely a
stones throw from the inn-of the an
cient Moorish palace. Ny back was
broken from the rough trOtting Of my
mule and I was perishing with hunger,
so 1 did not Enger long in its vast halls
! and galleries and deserted courts. But
1 came back completely fascinated with
the glimpses had had OF arches
At supper, although the single guest
at the long inn table, I could not re
fraiR from giving voice to my admiration.
Ny host and hostess-their names We're
naturally Pedro and Pepita-while serv-
ing me with al that busting activity pc
cuiiar 10 people who are doing moth
ing, famed the fame Of my enthusiasm
by commendatory exclamation. The man
was SO solicitous, the woman so gay and
smiling. that I ate and drank whatever
it was their pleasure TO set before me,
with the result that I rose from the Ia
bic little giddy, must confess. from
wine and praise and raptures. The hus-
band asked me If I intended to return
that evening to the ruins.
Certainly 1 answered; 7 must revel
! in the beauties of that enchanted palace
with the magic of moonlight upon them;
/ can thus better evoke within myself
the full poetic impressions of the tabled
past. Who knows but that I may even
encounter the pale, diaphanous wrath Of
some lovely dead-and-gone sultana?
Master Pedro cast at his pretty wife
a laughing, expressive glance.
DO you hear, Papia2 The senior must
have a lovely sultana with his palace
nothing less.
Yes" I continued. carrying on the
pleasantly, and a yelled and languor-
f. Gus one, who would advance indolently,
rs though to the rhythm of some distant
mysterious music. and who would melt
away inperceptibly so as not to cause
me an abrupt awakening from my bliss
| full dream"
My hosts exclaimed together;
"Oh, how charmingi The senior has
the taste OF a genuine poet"
]
ingly in my ears I set out and pro-
! ceeded slowly on my way to the ruins.
On reaching the ancient pile, after de-
| scending the three steps of it's portal, I
was Immediately seized again by the fas
cination Of this Palace of Sleep. I lost
myself in it as one loses ones self in the
/ may realms Of dream. After much
wandering, came out under an arch sup
ported by marvelously carved pillars into
/ a patio paved with mOsaics, and in its
midst, surrounded by a riotous luxury Of
! roses and orange blossoms and myrtles
and jasmine, rose a stately fountain of
pink granite the alabasteE basing of
which was upheld by the outstretched
wings of seven porphyry griffins. And
lol the dead waters of this fountain had
! quivered into life again; a slender stream
shot up into the air, to fall back onto
! its alabaster bed in finest rain of am
ethysts and opals and to spread its soOth-
ing murmur and its grateful freshness
Trough the silence and the peace of
this oasis. The moonlight, stealing in
through fretted arch and frame and case
ment, drew arabesques of pale gold and
foliage of silver over all the blended,
time-stained tints Of the old majolicas.
Rendered languid by the delicious sensa-
tions that crowded upon me, intoxicated
by a fieeting perfume OF tuberose and
jasmine, of sandalwood and aloes, I was
all at once aroused by a faint sound
floating on the stillness-a soft, velvety
sound as Of gauzes trailing along smooth
tued walks. I started up and looked
about me. Far far down the gallery
facing me, at the end of its vista Of
shadowy columns, I could dimly perceive
a confused whiteness that appeared TO
be slowly coming toward me.
This nebulous apparitiOn, drawing near
er and nearer, took on gradually the sem
blanee Of a woman. and I could plainly
see the supreme Incidence and grace OF
its bearing as it wound in and out
among the sculptured pillars. now
spreading wide its misty draperies in the
full light OF the moon, now effacing them
altogether and melting away into the
gloom of an arch. but always steadily adj
vanSng and caressing my ear with the
soft swish of trailing gauzes. So perfect
~ did this fairy-like figure fit into the
enthralling mystery ana loneliness of its
surroundings. so surprisingly did it en-
body my ideal OF what was needed to
complete the rare witchery OF the place
and hour, that 7 presseD my hands over
my heart to still its beating lest l disturb
the capricious wanderings OF the sui
tana of my dreams She giided up TO the
pink granite fountain and bent her yelled
countenance low down over its alabaster
bowl leaning pensively the while against
the extended wing Of one Of the support
ing griffins. Then she raised her supple
form UP TO its full height and stretched
her slender, graceful arms above her
head as though 70 dissipate, In the clear
light OF the moon, her languor.
The falling OF a myrtle or an orange
tree leaf into the waters of the basin
broke the spell. The figure started. hesi-
tated a second. then fitted from the
moon-illuminated space into the purple
gloom beyond. I watched the vision, as it
receded. fade first to a patch OF misty
nh A., r-saf Nrrrr
up in the increasing density OF shadow
until finally my strained gaze was lost IN
the empty aisle of the forest of marble
columns The stream Of water OF the
fountain, with a little farewell splash.
became at once obliterated, and the last
chords Of the invisible mandolin died out
on the summer night.
The next morning II was late when I
awoke in my little Inn chamber. stin
wrapped in the blissfnines OF the expe-
rience I had passed through 1 dressed
quickly. and. not wishing 70 alternate
the impression Of mystery and magic that
/ hal received by another visit 70 the
ruins IN broad daylight, I ordered my
mule 20 be saGdled and my ban q BE-
presented 10 me. They brouEl- ne an
unitemized statement OF indebtedness /
thai named q sum - exorbitant as II /
quite rob re q breath for moment. /
Quickly / summoned NY hosts 20 appear
before me; then I proceeded 70 dis /
charge upon them al the bitterness ~ I
reproach and invective that a tourist 4
who thinks he has been otitrag eouslY I'm /
posed upon has az his command fFheu 4
I had done Master Pedro replied with his 4
usual suavity
beE you. selor. pay ire bill without 4
King 70 know the items that COMPOSE /
X
Yes feu in the mliiag Peplta, ''eise I
yoa wi1 experience. senior, bat disiliusion 4
anl rnErat-