The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-10-17

Snpped ana Iallen. GeTnapS IL Tell
upon the hillside and he climbed to
get it; I do not know. But he was
not guilty of the charge, my lord,
the king. Thou wilt spare him?" she
pleaded, with unsteady voice.
''How didst thou get the jewel
when the guards were at the door?
They swore that none had passed"
81 walked to the edge of the wall
and entered by the window. Geber
sleeps heavily, and my fingers did
not waken him when 1 felt for the
Jewell" she said.
"Thou walked the wall! And didst
not fear!" exclaimed the king, in
astonishment.
ST am blind, my lord, and have no
fear where 1 know the way. I have
entered so since 1 was 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 l will gladly suffer the
penalty if thou wilt set him Free He
has served thee well, and I am use
less and have none to care"
"And dost thou love him well
enough to pay the penalty if 1 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 a 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 met"
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-I
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 at
last they turned, he only laughed and
pointed to doorway.
81 will need thee soon-to pro-
nounce just punishment" he said.
"Wait there"
s'And thou claim'st the jewel,
though thou sayest it was not truly
thine?" asked the king.
''Yea, my lord, for she gave it to
me when she was but a child. My
wife had given it to her with other
things which should have been the
boys. And at his death I took them
for my own, as was but JUST The
old man leaned heavily on his staff
and glared angrily at the king from
beneath his heavy brows.
"And thou, too, dost claim the Jew.
ell, for thou sayst it was promised
thee in payment for her freedom"
The king looked searchingly at the
thin, sharp face and restless black
eyes of the other man.
"Aye, my lord" he whined, as he
anxiously clasped and unclasped his
hands. Surely twas but right that
she should do what she wished with
her own
The two old men grew pale as the
curtains parted and two others came
in, a man and a girl, who shrank
against him as she heard the voices.
The king turned sternly to the two
old men.
81 have heard the truth from her
and somewhat else from thee. Geber,
thy daughter has told me all and
cleared herself from blame. Abner,
thy son, was taken prisoner, charged
of the theft, which thou hast left
him to bear without help from thee.
Thou dost claim the jewel-and thou;
and I say that when two men shall
claim a treasure, the son of the one
shall marry the daughter of the other
and they two shall hold it safe" With
a quick motion the king bent for
ward, and, taking the hand of the
girl, he held it out, then laid upon
it cleaning spot of crimson bound
with gold. Still holding it there, he
looked at her with little smile.
'"Tis thine. So have decreed. See
that thou keep it SAFE"
Slowly she turned it in her fingers
as if to assure herself that it was
truly the Great Ruby that she knew
SO well. For moment she hesitated,
then she held it out with smile.
eff, then, tits mine, my lord the
king, wilt thou not take it from me
as token of my gratitude for the
great happiness that thou hast given
me?" she asked, softly.
The kings eyes rested on the jew
ell, for twas well known that he loved
it dearly.
"And what sayest thou? Dost give
up the treasure willingly?" he asked,
as he turned to David.
'Tis not mine, my lord; but if I
had aught to say in the matter, and
thou takest it, twill be but small ex-
change for the great treasure thou
givest me-"