The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-04-29
CHAPTER NII.-CContinued.)


As he spoke he made a signal, at which
two stalwart Turks rushed at Stephen.
and were about to drag him off. when
Blanche. with a shrek she could not re
strain. dartcd forward and chung round
the knees of the young Turkish prince.
crying:
My lord, my lord. it my brother.
Give him to me and will bless thy name
forever. We are the only children Of our
parents, and they are old. Forgiveness of
injuries is blessed, but revenge never
ends. Give me my brother.
Prince Saphadim seemed to be aston
ishcd as he listened to her, for he echoed
amazcdly:
Thy brother. This. But l thought
this was thy brother"
He pointed, as he spoke, to the dead
body OF Peter, which had not yet been re
moved.
Then. as Blanche began to explain, he
waved her off, saying:
'But that is all one. Five years have
suffered in the prisons of the Christians,
aud they must be avenged. This alone
give thee: If thy brother serve me faith
fully for FIVE years, | will set him free
after that time. and he shall be my own
slave: but the rest shall be sold in the
market"
Blanche heard him, and answered.
Then. if he stays. so do |. | came on
this ship to he nigh him, and | would not
90 back to my father aud mother without
him. Give us both our freedom or Meth
er'
The Young Turk seemed to be amazed
ut her speech. for he said:
Nay, nay: consider that this is but a
foolish thing thou sayest. 1t is good to be
free, but a slave is lower than Il dog.
Take thy freedom and 80 home in happi-
ness"
"a will stay 10y my brother" said the un-
daunted girl steadily. land nothing shall
tear me from him"
And as if to show him that she meant
what She said she went and put her arms
around stephen. who only hung his head
lower than before. his face assuming an
expression Of deeper contrition than it had
yet worn.
The Turkish prince and Dragut con
tcmplated the two in silence and stephen
muttcred. fochly:
Take thy freedom. Blanche. while thou
canSt. Thou canst do us no good by stay
ing. and it will be but one more to make
miserable
''Rrothcr," she answered, quietly,
wien thou didSt take the cross ! refused
to follow thee, for our Lord never meant
men TO kill each other for the sake of an
empty tomb: but now that thou art i'll suf-
fcring, and can help thee, | am ready to
share thy lot i'll adversely, though | would
not take the cross
ItrGt ut hot
who seemed to have been considering how
he could discharge his obligation of graft
tudc to Blanche about which he was evil
IDENTIFY supcrstitiouS, without letting 20 his
vengeance on the rest, spoke again.
Girl" he said to Blanche, Il have of
fcrcd thee liberty, and thou hast refused
il. | have said that thy brother shall have
but five years slavery. after which he
shall bc free. Ask of me the life and lib
crty of any of these in exchange for thine
own and thou shalt have it. The prophet
saith that gratitude is like the seed of
wheat that is scattered OH fertile ground ::
1t incrcaseth forever"
Blanche wns surprised ut the way he
spoke. but shook her head. saying, quietly:
IF thou COuldSt grant me the lives of
All here in return for my own. then would
! gladly give it up; but what profit would
il be to the rest Of these poor creatures if
ono were 10 he released? II would but
make the bitterness of slavery the more
bitter for those who remained in chains. :"
Nevertheless persisted the Young
Turk. ask the liberty of one of these
here, and thou shalt have it freely"
The girl hcsitatcd moment, and then
said: