The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1902-10-11

garments were soiled where he had
slipped and fallen. Perhaps IL fell
upon the hillside and he climbed to
get II; do not know. But he was
not guilty of the charge, my lord.
the king. Thou wilt spare him?" she
pleaded, with unsteady voice.
slow didst thou get the jewel
when the guards were at the door?
They swore that none had passed"
II walked to the edge of the wall
and entered by the window. Geber
sleeps heavily, and my fingers did
not waken him when i felt for the
Jewell" she said.
"Thou walked the WALL And didst
not fear!" exclaimed the king, in
astonishment.
81 am blind, my lord, and have no
fear where know the way. have
entered SO since / was a little child,
and so they did not know" She
knelt and raised her hands plead
ingly. "Wilt thou not spare him, my
lord, the king? Twas my fault
alone, and will gladly suffer the
penalty if thou wilt set him free. He
has served thee well, and l am use
less and have none to care"
"And dost thou love him well
enough to pay the penalty If l set
him free?"
"Aye, my lord" she answered,
softly.
"Then thou must take that punish
ment shall give, and that is" The
king stopped suddenly and looked at
the prisoner, who sprang forward,
as if to speak. Then he bent little
and put foot forward and his face
grew white and set as he strained
every muscle to break his bonds.
Lower he bent, the veins swelled like
great cords, and he swayed as the
rope broke and set him free. He
clutched at the heavy curtains, and,
regardless of the king, he reached
the girl who had covered with fear
against the couch.
Ruth! Dost thou not know me?
Thou shalt not suffer for mel"
Like a bird she nestled close to
him, raising soft hands to caress the
| face she could not see, murmuring
words of love and radiant happiness
David Thou here-and safe
did not know-the jewel"
Twas long before the king spoke
his eyes watching the two who stood
there forgetting all but their great
| love and happiness, while his lips
smiled as if well pleased. When al
last they turned, he only laughed and
pointed to a doorway.
II will need thee soon-to pro
nounce just punishment" he said
"Wait there"
"And thou claim'st the jewel
though thou sayest it was not trul,
thine?" asked the king.
YEA, my lord, for she gave it t.
me when she was but child. NJ,
wife had given it to her with othei
things which should have been thu
boys. And at his death took then
for my own, as was but just" Tn
old man leaned heavily on his stat
and glared angrily at the king from
beneath his heavy brows.
"And thou, too, dost claim the jew
ell, for thou sayst it was promises
thee in payment for her freedom
The king looked searchingly at tn
thin, sharp face and restless blacl
eyes of the other man.
aye, my lord" he whined, as h
anxiously clasped and unclasped hi
hands. Surely twas but right tina
she should do what she wished wit
, her own"
The two old men grew pale as til
, curtains parted and two others cam
, in, man and girl, who shran
against him as she heard the voice
The king turned sternly to the tw
, old men.
I 81 have heard the truth from hi
y and somewhat else from thee. Gebe
I thy daughter has told me all an
, cleared herself from blame. Abne
thy son, was taken prisoner, charge
, of the theft, which thou hast lie,
him to bear without help from the
| Thou dost claim the jewel-and tho,
and l say that when two men sha
claim treasure, the son of the OF
? shall marry the daughter of the oth'
and they two shall hold 1t safe" Wit
E a quick motion the king bent TO
ward, and, taking the hand of II
! girl, he held 1t out, then laid upc
E it a cleaning spot of crimson bour
with gold. Still holding 1t there, !
looked at her with little smile.
I "Tis thine. So have decreed. 81
\ that thou keep it SAFE"
4 Slowly she turned 1t in her finger
\ as IL to assure herself that 1t wa
I truly the Great Ruby that she kne
so well. For a moment she hesitate
Z then she held it out with a smile.
a "If, then, tits mine, my lord Il
king, wilt thou not take 1t from n
h as a token of my gratitude for Il
great happiness that thou hast give
7 me?" she asked, softly.
. The kings eyes rested on the je,
i ell, for twas well known that he love
( it dearly.
d "And what sayest thou? Dost gil
. up the treasure willingly" he aske
n as he turned to David.
O "Tis not mine, my lord; but IL
! had aught to say in the matter, al
thou takest It, twill be but small e
/ fx,- xha praat francnro fhf