The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-05

tered herself that her vigilance had
been successful.
1t is true that Fredegonda was now
and then disturbed by the sounds which
came,> from the moonlit groves be-
meath the tower--the tinkling of gui
tars and the singing of love ditties by
those frivolous people the courtiers.
But whenever such sounds were heard
she would admonish Jacinta to shut
her ears against such unholy and idle
minstrelsy telling her that it was one
of the best known arts of that aban-
doned portion of humanity, The OPP
posite Sex, used by them to lure sim
pie maidens to their undoing. But in
spite of all her aunt said Jacinta could
not shut her ears entirely to the delici-
Gus SOUNDS which floated up from the
moonlit groves and especially after the
visit of the handsome page.
| So in spite of high walls and locked
| doors and watchful duenna love found
out way to the heart OF the Rose of
the Alhambra. And now the day came
when the court was to leave the royal
| palace and Granada, Philip departing
suddenly with all his train. 1t was with
the most intense satisfaction that Frede-
gonda watched the splendid procession
! file out of the Gate of Justice and de-
scend the hill, and when the last banner
| had disappeared under the trees which
shaded the avenue leading to the city
below she took her way back to the Tow
| err of the Princesses with an exultant
smile. Had she not triumphed against
| Al
her charge safe, even with court estab-
lished in the palace?
As Fredegonda approached the tower
she saw to her amazement light Ara
bian steed richly caparsoned, paving
| the ground before the garden wicket
She peeked though the hedge of roses and
saw a sight which froze her with horror
There, amid the roses, stood Jacinta, and
at her feet kneeled youth in Splendid
court apparel. At the sound of the foot
steps of the duenna the youth sprang to
his feet, saluted Jacnta with a tender
kiss of farewell and, leaping lightly tc
the back of his steed, rode away. Frede-
gonda at first could not speak, so great
were her establishment and Indignation
But the tender Jacinta, forgetting In her
grief even the wrath of her aunt, threw
herself upon the old lady's bosom ant
broke forth in sobs and tears.
"Oh, he is gone" she cried, ''ay di me
he is gone-and I shall never see him
again." "Gone.' gasped Fredegonda
"Who is kone? What-who was the youth
that saw at your feet? Speak. unhap-
by child-speak-wha means this? WhC
WAS he? the viperN' "a Queens mage
aunt" sobbed Jacinta, "who came to say
goodbye to me-" "A Queens page!
cried the aunt, "a Queens page. AND
how in the name of all that is reasona
BILE did you become acquainted with q
1 Queens pager" "Oh," replied the grief
stricken girl. you know that morning
vixen the gerfalcon few into the tower
it was his gerfalcon-or rather it was the
| Quen's-and he came to recapture It,"
/ "Oh, silly girl, oh, unfortunate child
walled the old woman. do you no
know there is no gerfalcon half sc
dangerous as one Of those same prank.
ing young pages? And 1t Is precisely
such simple little birds as thee thai
they pounce upon. Alas. have 1 not
warned you? Alas! alasr'
The aunt and the niece had Ions
talk together and though Fredegonds
was indignant at the presumption OF
Ruyz de Alarcon and chagrined that hel
vigilance had not been sufficient te
keep her Jacinta from meeting any OF
the gallants of the court yet wher
she found that her little niece had
come forth unscathed from the fiery