Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1891-02-07
An EmperOr's Decree.
By Edward S. Van zj|e.
CHAPTER III.

was met. The emperor, looking old and
worn. gazed down upon vast. impatient
throng, while near him his weeping
daughter sought in vain to lind Hamassar
through her tears. The audience hall
waspacked, for Hamassar' case had made
great noise, and from the distant corners
of the land the people came to hear his
fate Perhaps they all had hopes that II
the emperor gave him pardon the harsh
decree 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 30 large q crowd attended q
session Of the court
The Princess Bru was q handsome
woman, dark haired. dark eyed and tall.
Her face, clean cut. was somewhat
proud, but her smile, though sad today.
told of kindly heart All hearts went
out to her as she dried her tears and
looked about her nervously. "Poor
child" the women said, and the men
felt that Prince Hamassar had full ex-
cuse for having lost his heart whatever
might yet happen to his head.
Ramek alone Of all that vast Assem-
blage 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 Ramex
rejoiced that he had made her suffer
His evil face wore bitter smile as he
looked about him and saw in the eyes OF
all naught but love and pity for the girl.
At length Hamassar, closely guarded
and with his wrists enchained. was led
before the throne. He had grown old in
q night His head he carried proudly
and when he made obeisance to the king
did 40 with a pr1ncely grace that made
the strangers friends to him at once.
There was silence for time. Then
slowly the emperor arose and in a voice
Of sorrow said:
"Hamassar. erstwhile prince and our
prospective son. you are charged with
disobedience Of our will. Our late de-
cree, tbs said, your foolish tongue has
your head is forfeit 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 mis- nose unrivaled.
As witness after witness wove about the
neck of the accused chain Of iron the
thin face of Ramek shone with demoniac
joy, while the emperors countenance
grew constantly more grave. The
maidens surrounding the Princess Bru
famed her constantly, as though in fear
that she would faint. Hamassar kept
his eyes upon the floor and seemed de-
termined to conquer all emotion.
At length sufficient testimony had
been laid before the king to establish
the guilt Of the accused. The crowd.
pressing forward 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 excess 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 acknowledge that
Hamassar's nose was work of art
Such ienient thoughts rs these entered
not the emperor's head. He sat buried
in contemplation for while after tie
last witness had stepped aside.
"Hamassar." said the king, 1.-The evi-
dence in all it's details lies before me.
What have you to say before tell your
DOOM"
Most gracious lord, in firm and man
ly voice the prince replied, "the honesty
Of these, my friends. cannot well i'm
peach. for what they say they say un-
willingly But in very truth | remem.
Der nothing of the boastful words they
charge me with. Your clemency ask
not. but let me say that never in my con.
scious thoughts have had wish to dis
obey your very wise decree"
The fearless manner of the prince i'm
pressed the throng, and murmur OF ap-
plause caused smile to cross the face OF
the Princess Bru. For q moment even
the emperor looked less stern. But 1t
was only for a moment. His brow again
darkened and he communed in silence
with himself,
There was not 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 homo. before two
hundred guests, you break the letter and
the spirit Of our law. Your crime, II
forgive you. would corrupt the land. and
once again tho egotist and braggart
would meet us ut every turn. My word
would be but wind to my people, and
they would call their king man Of
straw. The law must be enforced. J