The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1902-10-16

garments weres soiled where b, had
slipped and fallen. 7 rerhap e FELL
upon the hillside and he climbed ia
get it; do not know. But he was
not guilty of the. charge, my lord.
thesking. Thou wilt spare him?" shs
pleaded, with unsteady voice.
How didst thou get the jewel
when the guards were at the door
They swore that nons had passed
Il walked to the edge of the wall
and entered by the window. 0eber
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 I know the way. I 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
|salone, and I will gladly suffer the
penalty il thou wilt, set him free.aHe
has served thee well, and am use.
less, and have none to- care."'s5
rssAnd dostk thou love- him well
enough to pay the penalty if I set
! him: free2pIs MI EIs3M
AYE, my lord" she answered,
softly. b..
"Then thou must take that punish.
nent 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 a foot forward and his face
l-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 thu
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 fea,
against the couch.
ruth! Dost thou not know me-
Thou shalt not suffer for met"
| Like bird she nestled close tt
him, raising soft hands to caress the
face she could not see, murmurine
words Of love and radiant happiness
David! Thou hefe-and safe
did not know-the jewell
Twas long before the king spoke
his eyes watching the two who stood
there forgetting all but their great
love and happiness, while his lip.
smiled as if well pleased. When al
last they turned, he only laughed ane
pointed to q doorway. i
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 truly
! thine?" asked the king.
"Yea, my lord, for she gave it tt
me when she was but child. Ny
wife had given it to her with othel
things which should have been the
boys. And at his death I took then
for my own, as was but just" TIL.
old man leaned heavily on his stat
and glared angrily at the king from
beneath his heavy brows.
/ .9sAnd thou, too, dost claim the jew
I eli for thou sayst it was promised
thee in payment for her freedom
The king looked searchingly at tn.
thin, sharp face and restless black
eyes Of the other man.
aye, my lord" he whined, as h.
tanxionsly eclasped and unclasped hi.
Ehands. Surely twas but right. tina,
Ishe should do what she wished will
her own"
The two old men grew pale as tn,
curtains parted and two Others CAM
in, a man and girl, who shranl
against him as she heard the voices
The king turned. sternly to the TIVE
/ old men,.
II have heard, the truth from hei
and somewhat else from thee. Geber
thy daughter has toldrme ALL and
cleared herself from Blame MI e.ssl Abneri
thy son, was taken prisoner, charged
Of the theft, which thou hast lef
him to bear without help from thee
Thou dost claim the jewel thou
and I say that when two men shall
claim q treasure, the son of the on,
shall marry the daughter Of the othel
and they two shall hold it safe" Will
a quick motion the king bent for
ward, and, taking the hand of tn,
girl, he held it out, then laid upol
it a cleaning spot of crimson boun.
with gold. Still holding it there, h,
looked at her with little smile.
''Tis thine. So I have decreed. Sc,
that thou keep it safe.'
Slowly she turned it in her fingers
as if to assure herself that it wa
truly the Great Ruby that she knew
SO well. For a moment she hesitated
then she held it out with a smile.
IF. then. tits mine, my lord TIN
king, wilt thou not take it from M
as token Of my gratitude for tn,
great happiness that thou hast give1
me?" she asked, softly. . 3
The kings ewes rested on the lew