Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-10-16
TIE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS.

TIE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS
An Exchange Of C0urtesies Between the
Yelled Prophet and tho knights Tenn
plar.
The shades of evening were closing
around st. Louis yesterday when pair
of horsemen, clad In the Arabic fashion,
with turbens in which sparkled crescents
of diamonds upon their heads and silver
hilted scimitars at their saddle-bows,
might have been seen making their way
amid curious throng down Olive street.
One of them bore guidon on his lance,
the other held with much reverence tn
cornered packet in his hands. The
shields of either were without device
save for some Arabic letters in the chief
point. They were evidently arrayed for
peace, and they pushed their way with
much caution, and courtesy through the
crowd, asking now end then in the ingua
Franco for directions.
1--WE are Saracens on mission Of peace
to the most noble commander of the
order of the Temple" said the elder,
land we pray you to lead us to his
priory."
Some of the soldiers of the Cross who
had mixed with the throng, looked rather
darkly at the paynims as though estima-
ting the thews and sinews covered by
the sur Drowned skin of the children of the
east, and counting the value of the spoil
which would come 70 him who led them
captivity to his tent. The flag of truce,
however. was sacred, and q young
knight who was passing by reined in his
destrier and offered his services to the
Saracens.
So through the crowded streets they
passed, until they reached the hospice,
where Sir Charles Roome, the grand
commander, was taking his ease amid
his attendant knights and the grand Of
fcers of the most noble order.
A page announced the strangers:
1.-TWO enemies of the Saracens crave en-
trance to your presence"
A look Of surprise passed over the
face of tie commander, but with ges-
ture of assent he babe the visitors be
brought before him.
Saluting respectfully, but proudly, the
emir who bore the triangular letter laid
his mission before the knight.
'Come ye for peace or war;" demand
ed the latter as he cut the silken cords Of
the letter with jewelled dagger which
he drew from his girdle.
"Your eminence will find from the
epistle in your hands that our august
master, the Yelled Prophet of Khorasson,
on whose name be blessings, bids you to
come in peace and security and honor to
the high revels which he will soon hold
in his royal city Of st. Louis. The val
or of your most noble order and its glo-.
rious history has been told in Arabic a.
we'll as in the tongues of the west.
Our master greets You well, in love and
in kindness, and would have you hence
forward his friend and ally be-"
Then rose the venerable commander,
and, with smile of welcome to the Sar-
aoens, he said; "Pilgrim warriors, right
shall you be received and
right royalty entertained. Persian
splendor scattered as though by the pro-
fuse hand of Darins shall be youn, and
your seats at the broad tables of plenty
shall be az high a. though either Of you
were Zerubbsbel himself. To your su-
gust master when you go ont beyond
the border You shall bear q loving mes
sage Of peace. True, I soldier of
the cross, caunot make pledges Of friend
ship and love with an unbeliever, but
you shall assure him for N that among
the knights of the Temple the Yelled
Prophet win hereafter find stanch friends
and stout-hearted defenders Say to
him that We shall accept the honor Of
bis hospitality"
The emirs salaamed, and after light
reflection withdrew, and as they left the
priory almost with one voice the words
God speed thee, noble Saracens," came
10 them from the assembled knights a
down the bosom of the wind.
The grand commander, greatly touch
ed by the ohivalrous courtesy Of the
Yelled Prophet, seems to have accepted
The reconciliation of the cross and the
crescent a. happy omen for the begin
ming Of his reign over the order. The
nights viii experience that hospitality
which, after al, none but his highneGs
II Khorasson knows how to extend 70 the
oilgrims who journey within his gsts&
Alssgus has bsen organissd q G6lt
Lake, Utsh. to oppose HoEmonism a
uvarv inune fhav NAV 49,