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

In solemn council the highest court was
met The Emperor. looking old and worn,
gazed down upon vast, impatient throng,
while near him his weeping daughter sought
in vain to find Hamassar through her tears.
The audience hall was packed, for Hamas-
sar's case had made great noise, and from
the distant corners of the land the people
came to hear his tate. Perhaps they all
had hopes that if the Emperor gave MIN
pardon the harsh DEGREES would be revoked
and once again their nimble tongues might
chatter Of themselves. Men from the
mountains and men from the plains, quiet
villagers and noisy herdsmen, mobiles high
In rank and beggars from the streets jostled
each other in the shadow OF the throne.
Never before had so large crowd attended
a session of the court.
The Princess Bru was a handsome wo-
man, dark haired, dark eyed and tall. Her
face, clean cut, was somewhat proud, but
her smile, though sad to-day, told of a
kindly heart All hearts went out to her
as she dried her tears and looked about her
nervousy. Poor child" ;" the women said,
and the men felt that Prince Hamassar had
full excuse for having lost his heart, what
ever might vet happen to his head.
Ramek, alone of all that vast assemblage
felt a savage satisfaction at the plight of
The woman he thought he loved The sorrow
in her face testified that Hamassar had her
heart, and Ramek rejoiced that he had made
her suffer. His evil lace wore bitter smile
as he looked about him, and saw in the
eyes of all nought buE love and pity for the
girl.
At length Hamassar, closely guarded,
and with mis- wrist enchained, was led be-
fore the throne He had grown old in a
night His head he carried proudly, and
when he made obeisance to the King he did
SO with a princely grace that made the
strangers friends to him at once.
There was a silence for a time. Then
slowly the Emperor arose, and in voice of
sorrow, said:
"Hamassar, erstwhile Prince and our
prospective son, you are charged with dis
obedience Of our will. Our late decree, tits
said, your foolish tongue has boldly held as
naught If this be true your head is for
felt to the State. :"
A great sigh, as though the wind mur-
INJURED in forest, arose from the crowd, and
the Princess, broken-hearted, sobbed aloud.
Then, one BY one the guests at the
Princes feast told, in subdued tones,
the story of his fall; how he had boasted of
his bride and dubbed his nose unrivaled.
As witness after witness wove about the
neck of the accused a chain of iron, the thin
face of Ramek shown with demoniac joy
while the Bmperor's c0untenance grew con-
stantly more grave. The maidens sur
rounded the Princess; Bru famed her con-
stanty, as though in fear that she would
faint. Eamassar kept his eyes upon the
floor. and seemed determined to conquer all
emotion,
At length sufficient testimony had been
laid before the King to establish the guilt
of the accused. The crowd, pressing for
ward to catch every word, murmured among
themselves, and there was an echo of pity
in their tones. For, doubtless, most of
them knew that wine, when taken in ex-
cess, plays strange pranks with men. And
TO them all it seemed as though Hamassar's
words had not been greatly out of place,
for the beauty of the Princess dazzled them
all, and they had to &C knowledge that
Hamassar's nose was work of art.
Such lenient thoughts as these entered
not the Emperor's head. He sat buried in
contemplation for awhile after the last wit
ness had stepped aside.
'Hamasssr," said the King, "the evil
dence in ali its details lies before me.
What have you to say before tell your
doom?'
"Most gracious Lord, in firm and manly
voice the Prince replied, "the honesty of
these my friends 1 cannot well impeach, for
what they say they say unwillingly. But in
very truth, / remember nothing of the
bOastful words they charge me with. Your
clemency 1 ask not, but let me say that
never in my conscious thoughts have had
wish to disobey your very wise decree"
The fearless manner of the Prince i'm
pressed the throng, and murmur OF ap-
plauSe caused a smile to cross the face of
the Princess Bru. For a moment even the
Emperor looked less stern. But it was only
for moment. His brow again darkened
and he commuDed in silence with himself.
There was not a sound in the hall. Every
one knew that life or death hung upon the
next words of the King, and Ramek gazed
eagerly at the stern face upon which all eyes
were turned.
''Your words, Hamassar" said the En-
peror at length, "are doubtless true, but
they alter not the sentence that must come.
In your own home, before 200 guests, YOU
broke the letter and the spirit oil our law.
Your crime, if 1 forgive you, would corrupt
the land, and once again the egotist and
braggart would meet us at every turn. Ny
word would be but wind to my people, and
they would call their King a man of straw.
The law must be enforced. 1 and nv child
have loved you well, and your sad fate has
filled our hearts with gloom. But though
father, am also King. 1 must be firm, al
though long to grant you mercy" He
paused here, and there were those who
thought they heard him sob. "Hamassar,
your sentence I pronounce. Before to-mor-
rows sun has set behind the hills your head
must iall. May the deities that love our
land be kind to you
A dread silence followed these fatetul
words. Hamassar's face was white, but his
lips trembled not &C all Suddenly upon
the startled air arose shrek and, rushing
forward, the Princess Bru sprang up the
stairway to the throne. Throwing her white
arms around her Iather's neck, she cried:
80, spare himi Spare him! Save him for
my sakel"
''silence, my child" the Emperor sternly
cried, though his hand touched her shoulder
lovingly. Remember, you are the daugh-
ter of King. Guards, remove the pris-
oner."
''Most gracious lord, exclaimed white.
haired man pushing his way through the
throng, permit me word before the pris-
Oner departs"
'Speak," said the Emperor curtly, "but
see 10 it that your words are few and to the
point"
Stepping forward until be stood in full
view of the crowd, the old man said:
q nc han e g.. c.sA a..