The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-11-02

A hideo,ts old aUomdn stood before her.
Surrounded by her women the Prin-
cess Bru, looking heavy eyed and weary,
reclined upon divan. Two days and
nights her tears had flowed and the
beauty of her face was marred. She re-
allied that her lover had no chance of
escape, and the thought of the dreary
life before her we'll nigh drove her mad.
''Why, oh, why did he touch the treach-
erous wine?" she would cry out in the
still watches of the night. '.Why did
he vaunt my charms and talk of his
darling nose? Hamassar, o Hamassar, I
cannot let you die
J Her women regretted her sad fate, and
ton lay in their power But they made
no impression on her bruised and bleed
ing heart. Their task was fruitless be-
cause the emperor, distrustful of himself,
! refused to see his child, or let her plead
her lovers cause in any way whatever.
! AS Bru reclined that morning listless-
ly upon her couch, and watched the sun
beams chase the brilliant colors on the
rugs, her face wore q hopeless look, as
though she had played her last coin on
the black and the red had won. At last
came forward one of her damsels and
stood near the couch.
weep not. fair princess" first she
said, turning kindly eyes upon the en-
peror's child. There yet may be way
to save the prince"
''What mean you, girl?" asked Bru
coldly, though with some surprise. ''De-
Jude me not with false and feeting
hopes"
Have you not heard" continued the
maiden unabashed, ''of a wise old wo-
man who lives in the mountains many
miles from here, and watches from her
cave the changing stars? From the book
of nature she learns strange secrets that
we know not of l have beard it said
that her mind is quick, although her
face is queer. Perhaps this woman could
advise you we'll"
I'VE catch at straws who drown,
exclaimed the Princess Bru. "Send
straight for this old crone. And tell the
messenger to ride right hard and bring
her back at once"
The day wore on to night, the night
to day and still the princess, sleepless
as before, awaited eagerly the coming of
the dame. The sun arose and shone in
splendor on a city plunged in gloom.
For the people loved Hamassar, and felt
that his doom was hard. In vain they
had sent petitions and petitioners to
plead before the king. His face retained
its sternness, and he refused to hear
their plea.
High noon had come before the
Princess Bru, still hstless from her sor-
row, heard from her woman that the
bag was there.
admit her quickly" said the IN
happy girl, watching the hangings
eagerly.
Ahideous old woman stood before her,
dry as a twig and bent with the weight
of years. In her eyes, however, burned
the light of searching mind, and one
forgot her ugliness when she deigned to
smile. No obeisance made she as she
entered the royal presence, but, leaning
Oh her stick, awaited the words of Bru.
''You come from far, good mother.
Accept my thanks. You must be weary.
Seat yourself upon this couch that you
may talk in comfort
The kind words of the princess seemed
to please the aged crone, for she smiled
grimly and sank down upon the seat.
Must Prince Hamassar die, wise
woman?" asked the emperor's child, her
voice trembling as she felt the import of
her words
II cannot tell, my child. What do
nv mountains know about Hamassar?
As l came hither heard that he had
disobeyed your fathers late decree. )"
"'Tis true; but is there no escape? l
cannot, oh, cannot let him die"
She sobbed aloud, and her maidens
, rushed around her, tanning her devoutly
and pressing her to drink. She touched
her lips to the cooling water and seemed
refreshed. Then calmly to her guest she
: told the story of Hamassar's fall, and
how it was that his head had not yet
fallen from its trunk. In silence the
old woman listened, and when the prin-
cess ceased spoke not q word. After a
time she said:
Il must ponder this alone and search
, the stars tonight The law IS too Sc
we're. but as it seems to me its right IN
terpretation has not yet been reached.
Tomorrow I will come to you and may
have words to say worthy your royal
ears. Till then have hope, for woman's
wit is often potent even where men have
failed"
t So saving she slowly left the room,
and the princess wept to see her go.
At length the fatal day arrived which
t brought with it Hamassars final doom.
Again the audience hail was thronged.
The emperor looked old and i'll as he
: slowly mounted to his throne and smiled
5 sadly ON his people. Ramek was there,
| the light of triumph in his eyes and a
t finish upon his thin and sunken cheeks.
2 The crowd was restless, and guards well
3 armed were scattered through the hall.
3 Rumors had reached the king that Ger.
5 tain lawless spirits had sworn to save
=, the prince.
r When the culprit, still in chains, was
3 brought before the throne cheer rang
f ont which reached the crowd outside
5 and was echoed back from the very cen
l fer of the city. The emperor turned
pale, but his mouth was firm and his
], ewes glowed with a stern, mistaken pur
pOse
s Silence" he cried, 'sand let the outer
z door be closedr" Then he arose ani
said. ga woman's voice pleads for s