San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-02

on her stick. awaited the words Of Bru.
"You come from far, good mother.
Accept my thanks. You mist 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.
81 cannot tell, my child. What do
my mountains know about Hamassar2
AS l came hither heard that he had
disobeyed your fathers late decree"
"'Tis true: but is there no escape? /
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 a word. After
time she said:
81 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
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 il 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 a
flush upon his thin and sunken cheeks.
The crowd was restless, and guards well
armed were scattered through the hall
Rnmors 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 a 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 .
hearing before the doom of Prince Ha-
NASSAU shall be known. Reluctantly my
royal promise ! 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
moment q 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 a muir
muir 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 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 q
Queen" he said to himself "Even II
Ramek had not made his speech week
ago it would have been a shame to wed
her to man without a nose"
Standing alone upon the dais from
which orators addressed the court the
princess gazed calmly before her. There
was not 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 a few words in defense Of Prince
Hamassar. Well do | know that the
greatest lawyers of the realm have pro-
LS,Er.ccti his cUs3 defenseless Well do
7 knew thGt he Gr1:n.cCI once pro-
nounced, is now again to be affirmed.
Why come | then to raise woman's
voice where men whose tongues are
bold refuse to stand? Why do ! lay
aside the modcsty of sex and reverse
the customs of our land3 Because
love Hamassar, do you say? 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