The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-04
Fair Margaret Castell
ny ". RIDER HAG0ARD,
Copyright. 1907. by n. Rider Hdggnrd.
N'onLmned.l

ing one 81 the iailers came TO suhmon
Margaret and her father TO bc led before
the court. Margaret asked anSiously "
the Senior Bronze was coming too. bpt the
psn replied that he knew nothing OF the
Senior Bronze. Az he was IN one Of tao cells
for dangerous criminals, which he did not
serve.
so forth they went. dressed in their new
clothes, which were as fine as money could
buy and in the latest Seville fashion. and
we're conducted to the courtyard. Here.
to her joy. Margaret saw Peter waiting
for them under guard and dressed also
in the Christian garments which they had
begged might he supplied TO him at their
cost. She sprang TO his side, none hinder
ing her. and forgetting her bashfulness
suffered him to embrace her before them
all. asking him how he had Jared since
they were parted.
None too we'll" answered Peter
gloomily, who did not know IL we shouId
ever meet again: also, my prison is under
ground, where but little light comes
through n grating. and there are rats in 1t
which will not let n man sleep. 80 ] must
be awake the most Of the night thinking
Of you. But where go we now?"
To be put upon our trial before the
Queen. I think. Hold my hand and walk
close beside me, but do not stare at me
90 hard. Il dught wrong with my dress?'
Nothing" answered Peter. Il stare
because you look so beautiful in IL. Could
you not have worn "A veil? Doubtless
there are more Marquises about thisc court
~Only the Moors wear wells. Peter. and
now we are Christians again. Listen-l
think that none of them , 0derstand English.
have seen Inez, who sst.e after You very
tenderly-nay, do not blush. il is unseemly
in "A man. Have you seen her also2 No
we'll. she escaped from Granada az she
planned. and Betty is married TO the
Marquis"
1T will never hold good" answered
Peter, shaking his head, being hut a trick.
and | fear that she will pay for it, poor
woman! Still. she gave us a start, though.
80 far as prisons go. I was better of in
Granada than in that rat trap"
yes" answered Margaret i%nnocently.
you had a garden TO walk in there. had
you not? No. don't be angry with me.
DO you know what Betty did?" And she
told him of how she had lifted her veil and
kissed Morella without being discovered.
That isn't so wonderful" said Peter.
-since if they are painted up women look
very much alike in a half lit room"
"Or gsrden?" suggested Margaret.
what is wonderful" went on Peter,
s~corning to take note of this interruption,
-is that she could consent to kiss the man
at all. The double dealing scoundrel!
Has Inez told you how he treated her?
The very thought Of it makes me ill.,"
well, Peter, he didn't ask you to kiss
him. did hep and az for the wrongs Of Ihez,
though doubtless you know more bout
them than l do, l think she has given him
an orange for his pomegranate. But
look. there is the Alcszar in front OF us.
Ia il not a splendid castle? You know.
it was built by the Moors."
Il don care who il was built by" said
Peter. and it looks to me like any other
castle, only larger. All I know about il
IL that ! am 10 be tried there for knocking
that ruffian on the head and that perhaps
this is the last We shall see Of each other.
as probably they will send me to the gal
leys. if they don't do worse"
"Oh!s say no such thing. l never thought
of il. il il not possible!" answered Mar
garet, her dark eyes filling with tears.
wait till your Marquis appears. pleading
the case against us, and you will zee what
is or is not possible" replied Peter with
conviction. "Stili, we nave come through
VIII bp q uH IipDc IOIs lHt btFls
At. that moment they reached the gate
Of the Alcazar. which they IA approached
from their prison through gardens Of
orange trees, and soldiers came up and
separated them Next they we're led
across a court, where many people hurried
70 and fro into a great marble columned
room glittering with gold, which Was called
the Hall of Justice.
At the far end of this place, seated on a
throne set upon a richly csrpeted dais
and surrounded by lords and counsellors.
sat a msgnificently attired lady Of middle
age. She was blue eyed and red haired,
with a fair skinned. open c~ountenance,
but very reserved and quiet in her de-
meanOr.
"rhe Queen :" muttered the guard, sd
Mting, as did Castell and Peter, while
Margaret courtesied.
A case had just been tried and the Queen
Isabella, after consultation with her as
SCISSORS. was delivering judgment in few
words and a gentle voice. As she spoke
her mild, blue eyes fell upon Margaret
and. held it would seem by her beauty,
rested on her till they wandered Of TO the
tall form of Peter and the dark. Jewish
looking Castell by him. at the sight Of
whom she frowned a little.
That case was finished. and other suitors
stood up in their turn. but the Queen, waving
her hand and still looking at Margaret,
bent down and asked a question of one of
the officers.of the court. then gave an order,
wheron the officer rising summoned John
Castell. Margaret Castell and Peter Bronze,
all of England" TO appear at the bar and
answer to the charge of murder OF one Luiz
Of Basa, a soldier Of the Holy Hermandad.
Al once they were brought forward and
stood in line in front of the dais, while
the officer began 10 read the charge against
them.
Stay. friend" interpcsed the Queen:
these accused are subjects of our good
brother. Henry Of England. though one
OF them. l think"-and she glanced at Cas-
tell--was not born in England. or at any
rate of English blood. and may not under
stand our language. Ask them II they need
an interpreter"
The question was put and all of them
answerei that they could speak Spanish.
,L.,nh Doaor ,JJal .k,t ba IA ~ 49,, 4,