Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1891-02-07

how it was that MS nea0 nAd not YET
fallen from its trunk. In silence the
old woman listened, and when the prin-
cess ceased spoke not word. After q
time she said:
II must ponder this alone and search
the stars tonight. The law is too So
we're, but as it seems to me its right in
terpretation has not yet been reached
Tomorrow win 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"
So saying she slowly left the room.
and the princess wept to see her go.
At length the fatal day arrived which
brought with it Hamassar's final DOOM
Again the audience hall was thronged.
The emperor looked old and i'll as he
slowly mounted to his throne and smiled
sadly on his people. Ramek was there.
the light of triumph in his eyes and q
flush upon his thin and sunken cheeks.
The crowd was restless, and guards well
armed were scattered through the hall.
Rumors had reached the king that GER
tain 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 was echoed back from the very CEN
ter of the city. The emperor turned
pale, but his mouth was firm and his
eyes glowed with stern. mistaken pur-
pose.
"Silence," he cried, land let the outer
door be closedr Then he arose and
said: "a woman's voice pleads for a
hearing before the doom of Prince Ha-
massar shall be known. Reluctantly my
royal promise | have given that my
daughter should address the court"
There was a buzz of excitement in the
hall. Ramek looked surprised, and Ha-
massar's gloomy face betokened pass
ing interest in 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 mur-
mur Of admiration broke from the mo-
bile throng. Rarnek sprang forward
and offered her his arm, but she haugh-
tily 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
i.a Loe,,c h;,,, e,,,;1n<1 S1~~r,v, v,V,<,v, hoo
with affection. "She is every inch a
queen" he said to himself. even if
Ramek had not made his speech week
ago it would have been a shame to wed
her to a man without nose"
Standing alone upon the dais from
which orators addressed the court the
princess gazed calmly before her. There
was not q 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 l am
allowed to stand here for moment to
speak few words in defense Of Prince
Hamassar. Well do l know that the
greatest lawyers of the realm have pro-
nounced his case defenseless. Well do
| know that his sentence, once pro-
nounced, is now again to ba affirmed.
Why come | then to raise woman's
voice where men whose tongues are
bold refuse to stand? Why do l lay
aside the modesty of sex and reverse
the customs of our land? Because
love Hainassar. do you says No. be-
cause | 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 patience 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 egotist and
boaster may have no place? Has Ha-
massar. until the moment Of his un-
lucky speech, been given to the habits Of
q 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 He
was IN egntist 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 tho
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 ex-
ample to the people of this land? No, ten
thousand times! The spirit of this de-
cree 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 of
his wine. neither his nose nor head. So
much for that. Now, let me say word
to those who talk of precedent and in
sist upon the letter of the law" Here
she looked at Ramek. prince Ha-
massar 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 oil question, that before
he left his board he had lost his head.