Evening star., 1927-11-21

~ ashlngtoh irving. 1fS3-lSo9. Is the
earlv nineteenth century. His first work
History Of Hew York by DebrGh
ably his best known work is the "Sktch
Book The present story, is Of Spain, of the
Alhambfa, the palace of the Moorish kings.i
Granda had been surrendered by
the Moors, and once more welcomed
royal court of Spain, under Philip
V. And there happened that the
Queens favorite page was Ruyz de
Alarcon. a handsome. upright youth
of IS. And one day when the page
was rambling about groves which
overlook the grounds of the Alhambra
amusing. himself with the Queens
favorite falcon, the bird, in pursuit of
prey. played truant and would not re-
turn in response to the pages cries.
Following the bird, the page finally
saw it alight upon the battlements of
remote and lonely tower, in the
outer wall of the Alhambra, known as
'The Tower of the Princesses"
the residence of the beautiful Moorish
princesses, Zayda, Zorayda and Zorah-
ayda, now long neglected, although
1t was rumored that the spirit of
Zorahayda who had perished in that
tower, was often seen by moonlight
seated beside the fountain in the hall,
and that the notes of her silver lutte
would be heard by wayfarers in the
glen.
Seeking to gain access to the tower,
the page came into a small garden,
and found a closed and bolted door
Peeping through a crack he saw an
alabaster fountain, gilt cage con-
tanning a singing bird, a tortoise-shell
cat. and so on, betokening some fe.
male presence. Ruyz de Alarcon
knocked gently.
A beautiful face appeared at a win.
dow above. but was quickly with
drawn. Again he knocked. and the
face appeared once more-that of a
blooming damsel of Is. She dared not
open the door. she said, for her aunt
had forbidden it-especially against
men of the court. The page urged his
cause of recovering the Queens ia
vorite falcon. Finally the maiden
yielded and the page entered and re.
captured the truant hawk.
The girl was so beautiful that the
page fell in love with her at once. De
parting, he dropped gracefully on one
Knee and imprinted a kiss fervently
on her hand. She blushed with sur
prise, for the experience was new tc
her. The modest page made a thou
sand apologies. assuring her it was
the way at court of expressing the
most profound homage and respect
The page gone, the aunt returned
The girl explained the air of con
fusion in the hall by saying that =
falcon had pursued it's prey there. TIL.
vigilant aunt was wary spinster. and
sought to protect her niece from the
wiles of men, especially while the
court was so near by The girl was
an orphan, and. in her seclusion. had
been given the appelation of "the
Rose of the Alhambra" by the peas
antry Of the neighborhood
The good aunt kept strict watch, bu,
the page contrived to serenade his
loved one. The girl. by name Jacinta
heeded the moonlight music in spite
of her aunt's remonstra noes. for what
maiden Is not susceptible TO love?
I, At length Phillip removed his courr
= from Granada, Jacinta's aunt was re
lieved, and fiattered herself that shr
had kept the girl from evil influences
Imagine her surprise. on the dav ol
the courts departure, to see a hand
some young page. his horse waiting
on bended knee bidding adieu to hel
niece
When the youth had gone. Jacinta
admitted their love 1t was still bu
A plighted troth. however. and the
handsome young man had vowed
eternal allegiance and promised L
come back. Yet days, weeks, months
elapsed. and nothing was heard o
him. Meanwhile. poor little Jacints
grew pale and thoughtful. Her aun
called her silly. and again said tha
men were wicked and Tickle Besides
the youths father would never permi
such marriage, for was not the par
ent a proud noble of the court?
.Iacinta now sought to indulge he
of in NEst4
light sought the fountain in the Towe
0f the Princesses. At midnight tn
fountain bubbled and dubbed. and
female figure finally rose to view
Jacinta fled. but returned the mex
night, for her aunt had told her tn
story of Zayda. Zorayda. and Zora
hayda. These three maidens were I
fv with three Christian cavaliers. bu
only the first two succeeded Zora
hayda remained. and died in the tower
The lover of Zorahayda was Jacinta'
. ancestor; he had long bemoaned hi
Moorish love. but time cured his grie
and he married Spanish lady
Sure enough, the visit of the spir
was repeated. She was young an
beautiful; her dress was rich wit
Jewels and in her hand she held
silver lutte. The spirit asked the re;
son of .Jacinta's sadness and bade ht
lake comfort. for her sorrows migi
vet end Because of her lack of fat
to fv with her Chris ian lover, Zor
hayda said. evil spirits had power ov'
her The spell could be lifted only /
the blessing OF a pure Chrstia
Would .lacinta do this To release h.
troubled spirit so that it might rest
peace? Jacinta readily did as she ";
told and baptized the spirit, who the
sank into a peaceful Slumber and va
ished. dropping her silver lute. Jacin
- left the hall and half thought she h;
dreamed: but no. the next mornir
there lay the silver lutte
Tacinta's aunt at first doubted, b
The lutte convinced her, especially wh'