The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-02-19
NORTH YAKIMA WASHINGTON THURSDAY FEBRUARY 49,

did % with princely grace that made
the strangers friends to him At once.
There was silence for o time. Then
slowly the emperor arose and in . voice
Of sorTow said:
"Hamassar. erstwhile prince and our
prospective son, you are charged with
disobedience Of our viii. Cur late de-
cree, It's said, your foolish tongue hal
boldly held a. naught. II this DO true
your head is forfeit to the state"
A great Sigh. - 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 oi
his bride and dubbed his nose unrivaled.
As witness after witness wove about thu
neck Of the accused o chain Of iron the
thin face Of Ramek shone with demoniac
Joy, while the emperor's countenancs
grew constantly more grave. The
maidens surrounding the Princess Bru
famed her constantly, a. though in fear
that she would faint. Hamassar kept
his eyes upon the floor and seemed do
termined TO conquer all emotion.
At length sufficient testimony had
been laid before the iring 70 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 takep In excess plays strange
pranks with men. And to them all Il
seemed as though HAmassar's words had
not been greatly out Of place, for tho
beauty Of the princess dazzled them all
and they had to acknowledge that
Hamassar's nose was . work Of art
Such lenient thoughts as these entered
not the emperor's head he sat buried
in contemplation for q while after tns
last witness had stepped aside.
"Hamassar," said the hrS, "the evi.
dence In all Its details lies before me.
What have you to say before l 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 l remem-
Der nothing Of the boastful words they
charge me with. Your clemency ! ash
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 . amurmur Of ap.
plause caused smile TO cross the face Of
the Princess Bru For Q moment even
the emperor looked less stern. But II
was only for q moment BIS brow again
darkened and ho communed in silence
with himself
There was not Q 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 alte7 not the sentence that must
come. In your own home, 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 the egotist and braggart
would meet us at every turn. Ny word
would be but wind to my people. and
they would call their king . man Of
straw. The law must be enforced. !
and my child have loved you well, and
your sad tate has hlled our hearts
with gloom But though fhther, ! am
also king. Imust be firm. although ]
long to grant you mercy" he paused
here. and there were those who thought
they heard him sob. "Hamsasar, your
sentence | pronounce. Before to-mor.
rows sun has set behind the hills your
head must fall May the deities that
love our land be hind TO you"
A dread silence followed these fateful
wordA Hamassar's face was white, but
his lips trembled not at all. Suddenly
upon the startled air arose . shrek and
rushing forward, the Princess Bru sprang
up the stairway 10 the thrOne. Throw.
ing her white arms about her fathers
neck she criedi "Oh. spare himi Spare
himI Save him for my sAkeI"
Silence. my child," the emperor
Sternly cried, though his hand touched
her shoulder lovingly. Remember you
are the daughter Of . king. Guards, re-
move the prisoner"
Most gracious lord" exclaimed q
white haired man pushing his way
through the throug, permit me q word
before the prisoner departs."