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


true believer, | might think we'll of thee,
But thy words are wise and shall be per
formed"
Then. turning TO the old monk who had
been crouched in the stern of the galley
during the whole scene, as if blind and
deaf to all that was passing, he cOntin-
ued loudly:
What, no, there, Awake and hear
what we have decided for thce."
Old Hildebrand turned slowly round
and demanded family:
Who calls n poor lost soulf'
Saphadim stared at him with some sur
prise, as the old man spoke: but. with the
respect for age which all Moslems show,
he told him what had been agreed on.
Thanks to this lady, thou art to he set
free. to go with her to the cities and cas-
ties of the Franks and beg a ransom for
these fools, whom thou hast led away to
destruction. Art thou willing to go with
her and beg for them
Old Hildcbrand listened quietly, and
then rose to his feet with difficulty and
tottered forward to where Stephen was
standing by his sister. There the old man
stopped and eyed the boy tiXedly. He
seemed to be unable to speak for little,
but at last said:
"Ay, it is the same bright young face
that | saw in the market place of Nau-
cluse SO Young and so bright, 1t seem
ed as if a voice from heaven called to
NE: There is the leader that will take the
children to the sepulCher of the Lord >
And yet | was in error. 1t was the voice
of an evil spirit, and it has led them all to
slavery and worse than death. Oh, my
Lord stephen, why did they not kill me
and not leave me to see wha- has come to
thee and all these tender little ones"
Saphadim interrupted him impatiently,
saying:
Enough Of this Thou shouidst have
thought of all that ere thou ditlst lead
away these children. Allah has permitted
thee to live, to see the consequences of
false prophecy. Wilt thou go and beg a
ransom for these prisoners?"
The old monk raised his hands to his
forehead, with wistful look at the chill
dren round him. lie seemed to be dis
traught with the woe that had come on
him
Blanche, seeing his inability to compre-
bend the question clearly. came to his side
and took his hand, saying gently:
Holy father. it is L. They will not let
me buy my brothers freedom. but they
have consented that thou and shall de
part to France to beg ransom for these
poor children. Wilt thou go with me-
Hildebrand shook his head slowly.
1t is impossible" he said, with dreary
look in his eyes. How shall | face them
all, and what shall say when the moth
Il Il.
child, | am accursed forever, and my por-
ton for eternity shall he to look on those
| doomed to death. And yet | was so sure
! was right, 1t seemed as if Il voice from
heaven led me on, when | was preaching,
and that these pure young hearts must
deserve Il miracle. to crown their efforts
And now it is only left to me to die
The girl took him by the arm and looked
in his face, saying:
Father Hildebrand, art thou sure thou
nrt not as wrong now as when my mother
Piled to thee to let her only son go?"
The monk shuddered at her words, and
exclaimed, brokenly:
In mercy let me forget that, Child,
child. doSt thou wish to torture me before
my time?'
Blanche in the same quiet way. not per
hitting him to eyade her eyes, from which
he Shrank. with q shame that even the cal
lous Turk noticed and pited.
Then. as he did not answer, she went
on:
whether is it better, to make amends
or to shrink from punishment
Thus urged, the old monk could but an
swer family:
TO make amends, daughter. But that
is not possible now
And whether" continued the girl in
the same solemn way. lis it better to fall
into the hands of man or into those of
Godf"
This time the old man shuddered VIC
lently, and cast an instructive glance up
ward. as he realized the meaning Of her
question. She saw the effect of her words,
and without insisting on al answer, said:
we all have our punishment to bear.
My brother will bear his and | mine. |.
too. left my mother without her leave. 1t
is fit that | should meet her and bear her
reprOacheS Thou must either bear thy
punishment now or hereafter. Come with
me. and we will weary the ear of France
with our prayers for help and mercy for
these children who have been led lStray
When the last shall have been ransomed
we can say: We are but Improbable ser
wants We have done that which was our
duty to do Wilt thou come with me-
While she was speaking the old monk
seemed to be gradually taking in her
meaning for he began to tremble, as if
oppressed with fear almost too great to
bear.
When she had finished, he faItered
brokenly:
Child. child. anything hut that, Let
them make me a slave; let them torture
me to death. lot them rack these old bones
with pain and burn mo slowly; but not
that. not that
Sarhadim had listened To the coIloouv
between the two with silence and atten-
ton that were remarkable for one Of n
different faith in those days of intoIer
ance and bigotry. Now he came forward
and laid his hand on the old mans shout
der. saving:
Father. thy head is white. and the
prophet hath said: Let the old be held in
honor by the young But if the prophet
himself were here TO judge this thing. he
would say to thee: To every man * given
his punishment. aud he that rebelleth. re
beileth against God Go with the child
and beg the ransoms for the other chill
dren. For every one shall he paid ten
pieces Of gold: and the leader shall he re
deemed last Of all. | have spoken. 20.
and remember that hut for this girl. and
the mercy she showed 10 me, thou wouldst
not be given even this chance. l have
spoken.
And he turned away. leaving the old
mank still trembling. but not daring to
make any further objection to his task.
ITO be continued.i
Copyright.
What Silk Hats Cost Britishers.