Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/61

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
50
50

EiO A WOMAN'S INFLUENCE, yl civiliza,l^on reached by the followers of him who nade the Koran possible, all one has to do is to view the extraordinary, marvelous building erected about the late of this story at Agra, India. All who have seen the structure declare Taj Mahal to be the most beautiful bildihg they ever saw. It took twenty-two /ears to erect, costing millions of dollars; and, mind you, it was built by a husband for the last resting jlace of his beloved queen, Moomtaza Zumanee. But let us endeavor to read the mind of Alonso md apply psychology practically. He knows the breadth of her mind. He is cognizant how much more considerate she is of others than his own peo- ple are; all of which makes hifli reach a height of ration- alism rarely known in those dark days following the Inquisition. So he resolves to appear to accede to uhe demands of the Church, his parents and friends, 3ut he and she pledge each tp the other for ever and 3ver; it being agreed that he shall go to the New World and carve out a reputation and fortune for 'aimself , and when the time comes she is to follow. Were it possible to see what was inscribed upon his brain plate, it would disclose the resolve to be true AuA. faithful to her, not only in thought but in acts. At the date when Alonso was preparing to em- bark upon the enterprise to New Spain, the magnif- icent, yea wondei ful, conquest of Mexico by Cortes had been reported evea among thQ ignorant peasantry, Mtd every youth of noble birLn was wild to become the peer of the great conqueror, and so it was with our hero. It mnst be borne in mind that Alonso's father