The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-06

| pam on. At last she fell sick from fatigue
and sorrow, and one beautiful morning
she closed her eyes upon the world,
breathing her last words into the ear of
her faithful gentlewoman, who held her
in her arms while her spirit fed.
"When the King returns tell him to
have my little son called Tristram," she
prayed, ''for that means sorrowful birth. !"
And it was done as she asked.
King Meliodas loved Tristram for the
sake of the dead Elizabeth, but when the
child was years old he married again.
The new mother learned to hate the boy,
for in him she saw the rival of her own
children TO the inheritance of the crown.
So bitter did her thoughts become that at
last she laid foul trap for the murder of
Tristram.
The young Princes played together in q
beautiful room in the palace and on a
table there the Queen placed silver cup
containing liquid poison. She hoped
that after playing Tristram would drink
from it in his thirst; but her cruel deed
cost her much suffering, for instead of
Tristram one of the other Princes took the
draught and the unhappy Queen saw her
| own child die from the effect of her deed.
! After this her hatred seemed even
| greater toward the innocent cause of her
anguish, and again she put poison in the
cup with murderous intent But again
| the boy was protected and the Queen was
folled. King Meliodas, coming into the
room to see the Princes at their play, felt
very thirsty after the mornings hunt
and, taking up the silver goblet brimful of
| sd
But the Queen just then entered the room,
and with a cry dashed forward and
snatched the cup away, spilling the con-
tents on the floor. Then in her fright
at what she had done she stood trembling
| before the monarch, and good cause she
had to fear.
Drawing his sword the King stood above
! her and commanded her to speak the
truth and tell what the cup contained, for
| her action had aroused his suspicious and
| the knowledge that his other son had been
| poisoned seemed but to confirm his fear.
The wretched woman confessed her guilt.
but she pleaded for mercy on the ground
| that her love for her own children had
made her do the deed. But the King was
memorable. He called his barons together
and the council confirmed the King de-
cision that the Qusen should be burnt at
the stake.
| When the news of the terrible punish
ment was noised abroad the people came
from far and near to witness the awful
spectacle. The stake was erected in the
courtyard, the fagots piled around it's
base and as the mist lifted in the morning
the Queen was led forth and bound.
! Amidst awful stiffness burning brand
was thrown on the pile and the flames
| Ieaped up.
Just at that moment Tristram, who saw
the whole spectacle from a window in the
castle, rushed down, his face white and
drawn with agony. Falling at the feet Of
the King, he cried:
"a boon, sirel crave boonl
"'Tis thine, my beloved sonl Speakp
'Oh, give me the life of thy Queen. my
motherr' he cried.
Nay, thou shouldst not ask that. 1t is
for thee that l have condemned her. Ask
something esel"
But the boy only cried more loudly:
cts all wishl Spare her for my
saker'
my word is given the King answered
"Take her yourself from the fire. She
is yours to do with as you please
All this took but moment. The flames