Year: 1859

The civil wars which have distracted
Spain so long have often given rise to
some of the most romantic incidents and
scenes in real life that have received the
sanction of history. Its sons, generally
bred to the use of arms, seemed never
content unless welding the implements Of
warfare, and never more happily situated
than when engaged in foreign or civil
wars. The events of our story occurred
during this period of Spanish history,
while her people were often arrayed one
against the other.


Ii was just nightfall in the district of
Arragon. when a way-worn and weary
soldier, with only his good and well tried
Toledo blade by his side, sank down be-
fore the door of a PEASANTS cot, too much
exhausted even to ask for the refresh
ments he so much needed Scarcely "a
moment elapsed, however, before the in
habitants of the cottage discovering his
condition, were busy. in administering to
his wants. The peasant who was
master of the q cup of wine to
his lips, while a = e and tender girl,
not quite bloomed to womanhood, swathed
q bandage about the bleeding arm, and
bathed his temples with cool spring
water.


The soldier could only look his thanks
smiling languidly upon those who were
tending him. His wound was deep; and
it bled so profusely that the cottayer was
obliged to raise him in his sturdy arms
and bear him inside the cottage, for he
coald no longer support himself The
little household was all a-bustle and con-
fusion to prepare proper aid and comfort
for the wounded soldier. The matron was
busy here, the father there, and the
daughter in another place. He was care
j fully watched that night, but ere the next
sun had set the soldier had become deliri-
Gus, and his wound presented to the eyes
: of the inexperienced cottagers the most
fearful appearance, and reasoning from
this they feared that it must prove fatal
But the truth was that the fever that now
ragged in his veins was more from fatigue
loss of blood and consequent suffering
than from the immediate character of the
sword-wound that had disabled his arm


Day after day passed, and still the
soldier lay in half dormant state Of
lethargy, the fever struggling with his
constitution, one day seeming as though
it must conquer him, and the next per.
haps growing more feeble in its influence
Imorene, the daughter of the cottager
lie was untiring in her delicate attention tC
/ the stranger; smoothed his pillow, batheC
his brow, or moistened his parched lips
True, he seemed scarcely to realize thes,
r kindnesses, yet a smile some times lit VI
his pale and haggard features Will
70 Imorene was by his side.


A strong constitution and youth a
length prevailed over the fever, and da,
. by day the soldier gradually improved
until at last he was able once more to G
abroad And now, attended by tina
Il gentle, child-like form that had watche
ly him through a tedious fever, the soldie
wandered through the shady grove, an


over hill-sides and through dells, music'
with bubbling fountains and fragrau
flowers and here they would sit dow
RI together, and he would tell her such storie


of true love, and misfortune, and blis
he that poor Imorene was lost in wildermer


at his eloquence, and dwelt with rapture


upon the melody of his fine voice.


Through all his character there ran


tender melancholy, and he half scorne


the very words he often himself uttere
but she knew little of human nature, an
nothing OF the world and could not ST


this, A discriminating observer wou
or have thought him. man disguised vii
IA Ia the world, and yet he was seemingly, e


young for such conclusion. He mig


be twenty five or twenty -six-not older


There was some singular reason why


should still remain at the cottage, nc


that he had been well enough to ha


walked dozen leagues if necessary.


was not love that kept him there,
' though Imorene loved him so dearly th


every look and motion betrayed the Ian
- uage of the heart yet the soldier, thou


uniformly most gentle, considerate, a
and attentive to her, never spoke Of love.
@sa Nsp1s had PISSED since the wound