The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-02-26


as before, awaited eagerly the coming Of
the dame. The sun arose and shone In
splendor on q city plunged In gloom.
For the people loved Hamassar, and felt
that his doom was bard. 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 listlesb from her sor-
row, heard from her woman that the
bag was there.
admit her quickly" said the un-
happy girl. watching the hangings
eagerly.
Ahideous old woman stood before her,
dry as q 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
on 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
gTimly 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
my mountains know about Hamassar7
As came hither l heard that he had
disobeyed your fathers late decree"
"'Tis true; but Is there no escape2 ]
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 II 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 word After q
time she said:
81 Tmust ponder this alone and search
the stars tonight. The law Is too Sc
we're, but as It seems to me its right In
depreciation has not yet been reached
Tomorrow 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"
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 Ill as he
Glowly mounted to is throne and smiled
sadly on his people. Ramek was there,
the light Of triumph in his eyes and .
flush upon his thin and sunken cheekA
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 q 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, unshalEen pur.
pose. ....
''Silence," !" he cried, 'and let the outer
door be closedp Then he arose and
said: "A woman's voice pleads for .
hearing before the doom Of Prince Ha-
massar shall be known. Reluctantly my
royal promise l have given that my
daughter should address the court"
There was buzz Of excitement In the
hall Ramek looked surprised, and Ha-
massar's gloomy face betokened . pass
ing interest in these words After .
Q dde 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 q mur-
mur Of admiration broke from the mo-
bile throng. Ramek 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 90 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 q
queen" he said to himself. Even II
Ramek had not made his speech week
ago It would have been q shame to wed
her to q man without Q 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 q moment to
speak few words in defense Of Prince
Hamassar. Well do l know that the
greatest lawyers Of the realm have pro-
his case defenselesa Well do
know that his sentence, once pro-
Is now again to be affirmed.
Why come ! then to raise woman's
voice where men whose tongues are
bold refuse TO stand2 Why do I lay
Adde the modesty Of sex and reverse
the customs Of our landr Because ]
love Hamassar, do you say? No. b.
cause I love the right, and would not
~ my hing and name disgraced. For
know you an that the execution Of
the prince would be In FUN
defiance Of al law. Your patience for .
and I'll explain. What Il the
purpose Of the decree against which
Prince Hamassar erredi L It mot that
In thIs mighty empire the egotist and