The San Francisco call., 1905-01-01
CHAPTER Nv.
The Letter of Saladin.

1t was past in the afternoon and
snow clouds were fast covering up the
last gray gleam of the December day
as Goodwin, wishing that his road was
longer. walked to the church across
the meadow. At the door of it he met
the two serving women coming out
with brooms in their hands and bear
ing between them great basket
filled with broken meats and foul
rushes. OF them he asked if the lady
Rosamund was still in the church, to
which they answered, curtseying:
Yes, Sir Godwin,~ and she bade us
desire of you that you would come to
lead her to the hall when she had
finished making her prayers before
the altar"
II wonder" unused Goodwin,
whether / shall ever lead her from the
altar to the hall, or whether-I shall
bide alone by the altar"
Still he thought it good omen that
she had hidden him thus, though
some might have read it otherwise.
He entered the church. walked soft
~; on the rushes with which the nave
was strewn and by the light of the
lamp that burned there always saw
Rosamund kneeling before a little
shrine. her gracious head bowed upon
her hands, praying earnestly. or
what, he wondered--of what?
STILL. she did not hear him; so, COM
ing into the chancel he stood behind
her and waited patiently. At length.
with. a deep sigh, she rose from her
knees and turned, and he noted by the
light of the lamp that there were
tear-stains upon her face. Perhaps
she. too. had spoken with the Prior
John, who was her confessor also. Who
knows? At the least, when her eyes
fell upon Goodwin standing like a
staue before her, she started, and there
broke from her lips the words:
"Oh, how swift an answer." Then,
recovering herself, added, ITO my mes
sage, mean, cousin"
said.
1T is kind of you to come" Rosa
mund went on: but. In truth, since
that day on Death Creek fear to walk
yard alone or in the company of
women only. With you 1 feel safe"
"Or with Wulf''
YES, or. with Wulf," she repeated !;
that is. when he is not thinking of
wars and adventures far away
BY now they had reached the porch
of the church, to find that the snow
was falling fast.
Let us bide here a minute" he said;
":t is but passing cloud"
So they stayed there In the gloom,
and for while there was silence. Then
he spoke.
"Rosamund, my cousin and lady.
come to put a question to you, but
first-why you will Understandable is
my duty to ask that you will give me
no answer to that question until full
day Is passed"
Surely, Goodwin. that is easy to
promise. But what is this wonderful
question that may not be answered."
"One short and simple. Will you
promise yourself to me in marriage?"
She leaned back against the wall of
the porch.
MY father she began.
'Rosamund, have his leave
How can answer since you your
self forbid it %
It'll this time tomorrow only
Meanwhile, l pray you hear me. Rosa
mund. / am your cousin, and we
were brought UP ogether-indeed. ex-
cept when / was away at the Scottish
war, we have never been apart. There
fore, we know each other well, as well
as any may who are not welded.
Therefore, too. you will know that l
have always loved you. first as a
brother loves his sister. and now as a
man loves woman"
Nay, Goodwin. knew it not; in
deed, l thought that, as it used to be,
your heart was other where
Other where? What LADY,
Nay, no lady; but in your dreams" /"
Dreams? Dreams of what?''
Il cannot say. Perchance of things
that are not here-things higher than
the person of poor maid"
Cousin, in part you are right, for it
is not only the maid whom / love, but
her spirit also. Oh, in truth. you are
to me a dream very symbol of all
that is noble. high and pure. In you
and through you. Rosamund. ]
worship the heaven / hope to share
with you.'
"A dream? A symbol? Heaven? !?
Are these glittering garments to hang
about a woman's shape? Why, when
the truth came out you would find her
but a skull in a jeweled mask and
learn to loath her for deceit that was