Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-08

reached the King that certain lawless spirits
had sworn to save the Prince.
When the culprit, still in chains, was brought
before the throne, cheer rang out which
reached the crowd outside, and echoed Dack
from the very center of the city. The Emperor
turned pale, but his mouth was frm and MS
eyes glowed with q stern, mistaken purpose.
"Silence," he cried. "and let the outer doors
be closed" Then he arose and said: "a
woman's voice pleads for a hearing before the
doom of Prince Hamassar shall be known.
Reluctantly my royal promise have given that
my daughter should address the Court"
There was a buzz of excitement in the hail.
Ramek looked surprised, and Hamassar's S
gloomy face betokened passing interest m
these words. After a moment a side door
opened, and the Princess Bru, surrounded by
her court, entered the hall. She looked superb
Rich robes and jewels added to the beauty of
her face and form, and murmur of admira-
ton broke from the mobile throng Ramek
sprang forward and offered her his arm but she
haughtily waved him aside. One glance she
cast upon Hamassar full of love and cheer,
then proudly advanced toward the throne.
Never before had the Princess carried herself
so well in her fathers sight He looked upon
her with pride, and as she bowed before him
smiled down upon her with affection. "She is
every inch Queen" he said to himself.
Even if Ramek had not made his speech
week ago it would have been shame to wed
her to man without nose"
Standing alone upon the dals from which
orators addressed the court, the Princess
gazed calmly before her. There was not a
tremor in her face, and she awaited patiently
the cessation of the noise her appearance had
produced. At length she spoke:
by the kindness of my King am allowed to
stand here for moment to speak few words
of defense of Prince Hamassar. Well do 1
know that the greatest lawyers of the realm
have pronounced his case defenseless, Well do
l know that his sentence once pronounced is
now again to be affirmed. Why come 1,
then, to raise woman's voice. where
men whose tongues are bold refuse to
stand? Why do l lay aside the
modsty of sex and reverse the customs Of
our lands? Because love Hamassar, do you
say? No, because love the right and would
not see my King and name disgraced. For
know You all that the execution Of the Prince
would be in full defiance of all law. Your pa
tence for a moment and I'll explain. What is
the purpose of the decree against which Prince
Hamassar erred? Is it not that in this mighty
Empire the egotisI and boaster may have no
place? Has Hamassar, until the moment of
his unlucky speech. been given to the habits OF
a braggart? You who know him least know
that his modesty has been famed even in the
distant corners of the earth. What then? His
sudden exhibition of conceit had some peculiar
cause. Hew an egotist by chance, not by
habit, and when he spoke that night the gam
bols of his tongue were due to
wine. Now, follow me close. The spirit
of tie law is said to be the guidance of our
courts. Does this decree in spirit urge the
death of one whose modesty and rank have
joined to make him an example to the people
OF this land? No, ten thousand times. The
spirit of this decree calls out for the removal OF
that which caused the Princes fall. If he is
modest when himself, deprive him. then, of all
intoxicants. and his humility will still be as a
star to guide our youth. Cut off his wine,
neither his nose nor head. So much TOR that.
Now, let me say word to those who talk of
precedent and insist upon the letter of the
law" Here she looked at Ramek. "Prince
Hamassar has already fulfilled the harsh de-
mands of this decree. What do mean? you
ask. Just this. Did he remember one word of
what he said? Can he now recall his boastful
speech? No. This proves, beyond all ques-
ton, that before he left his board he had lost
his head. Now, man cannot be punished
twice for a single crime Having once lost his
head because of the wine he drank, the state
has now no claim upon his person. Thus do
hold that if he takes a pledge to abstain from
peace. The letter of the same. as l have
shown, is now forever dead SO far as Prince
Hamassar is concerned"
Surprised applause, which had broken out
now and then during the young woman's
speech, became mighty roar as she ceased
Cheer after cheer arose. and, had it not been
for the guards, the people would have raised
straightway from the hall.
The game is lost" muttered Ramek to him
self. as he skunk from the palace and fought
his way through the crowd outside. 81 wonder
where that woman got her points?"
There is little more TO tell. The Emperor
overJoyed to hear his daughters words. re-
leased the Prince at once. and in month pos
sessed son-inlaw whose nose remained in its
accustomed place. And to this day the de-
scendants of Hamassar. still mighty men in
the East, abstain from wine. "Hamassars
never SMILE is an Oriental proverb, the origin
of.which you have just read
THE END.