The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1901-03-30
THE SPANISH CASTLE.
BY M. cORBET SEYMOUR.
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u known to us as the Pyrenees
there stood in olden times n large
and battlemented castle. The pass
ing centuries have reduced it to a
ruin, grass and weeds replace the
floors of stone; but this is its story,
as told to those who visit those parts:
Don Giovanni D'Aquila, the ownc.
of this mountain stronghold, was one
of the most renowned warriors even
in SPANS most chivalrous days. It is
said that he was utterly without fear,
with the mind and habits of n war
rior; and yet beneath that breast
plate there beat a kindly heart--a
heart whose tenderness of affection
went out to his only and motherless
child, Ginevra.
This maiden was renowned for her
beauty. Minstrels sang of her, and
wandering knights and princely cour-
tiers came to the castle merely in
the hope of catching glimpse of her
sweet face. We hear that he who saw
Ginevra D'Aquila could never forget
her, go where he might. And yet she
was blind! Darkness had fallen upon
her from birth, and those lovely eyes
which looked so luminous had never
beheld the light of the sun.
For this reason, then, the warm
heart of the soldier chung more close
1y to his child than does the heart of
fathers to children who are not af-
flicted by great calamity.
There dwelt in peasants hut quite
near to that lordly castle an old and
time-tried soldier named Juan Velas-
quez, for whom D'Aquila entertained
strong regard. This man had q son
who happened to be born on the same
night and at the same hour as Gil
nevra. The bell in the great tower
of the castle. struck 10 as the son of
the peasant soldier and the daughter
of the warrior lord came into the
world.
AS soon as he was old enough the
boy was received as page at the
castle, and he was permitted to lead
Ginevra wheresoever her fancy
prompted her to wander.
"No harm will come to her." would
her father cry, supposing the little
girl were missing for a while. 81
would wager my right hand that
Juan would not hesitate to cast him
self from the highest cliff in the
mountains, il by that means he could
save her from any danger. A devoted
lad that-just the loyal and dauntlcss
nature of the old Juan, his father"
Linked together, so to say, from
the cradle, the difference in their sta
tions was forgotten by girl and boy.
They considered themselves not as
page and mistress, but as playmatcs
and friends.
Though I cannot see you, dear
JUAN would Ginevra say, II am sure
you must be very handsome"
"Oh, Ginevra," the boy always an
swered, "what would I not do, what
would I not suffer, If you could but
be made to see."
Then the blind girl would speak
words Of consolation, saying that
while he was there to watch over and
protect her she could be happy, even
although deprived of seeing Gods
beautiful world.
Dut u cioul WIS utstineu 10 uaFken
the brightness of their happy days to-
gether.
One morning the young Juan, hap
pening to pass through the great
hall on his way to join Gineyra in
the gardens of the castle, overheard
a conversation which filed his heart
with grief. Don Giovanni D'Aquila,
standing amidst throng of cour-
tiers, exclaimed, just as the young
page fastened by: 1T is absolutely
useless to press your petitions npon
me now. My decision is unalterable,
and i can only repeat it. One year
gone from tomorrow will be the six
teenth birthday of my daughter.
When that day comes I will bestow
her hand upon him who can offer her
the greatest gift. This promise as
an honorable man and a soldier"
Juan few to the gardens where Gil
nevra awaited him, and casting him
self on his knees by her side, began
to shed tears.
"Ginevrai Ginevra!" he cried, "thcy
are going to take you from me-
"No, no, JUAN" she murmurej.
"What strange fancy has possessed
you?"