The San Francisco call., 1905-02-05

%NAAS III ltlOy CdHlc 10 ltlt
merry on the sacred Via Dolorosa,
which Wulf had seen when Cod
WIN and he were IN Jerusalem
aIter they had been dismissed by
Saladin from Damascus It's door
stood in the shadow of that arch where
the Roman PLATE had uttered to all
generations the words Behold the
man Here the porter told him that
ine nuns were at prayer in their chapel.
ulI replied that he must see the lady
apoess upon matter that would not
delay, and they were shown into cool
and lofty room. Presently the door
opened and through it came the abbess
IN her white robes-a tall and stately
English woman, of middle age, who
looked at them curiously.
Lady Abbess," said Wulf, bowling
low, my name is Wuf darcy. Do
you remember me?"
Yes. We met in Jerusalem, before
the battle Of Hattin," she answered
Also, l know something Of your story
in this land-a very strange one.
This lady" went on Wulf. lis the
daughter and heiress of Sir Andrew
darcy, my dead uncle, and in Syria
the Princess of Baalbec and the niece
of Saladin."
The abbess started. and asked:
us she. then. of their accursed faith,
as her garb would seem TO show?
Nay. mother" said Rosamund Il
am a Christian, if a sinful one, and L
come here to seek sanctuary. lest wnen
they know who / am and he clamors
at their gates, my fellow Christians
may surrender me to my uncle me
Sultan"
Tell me the story" said the abbess;
and they told her briefly, while she
listened amazed. When they had i'm
iShed she said:
Alas my daughter, how can we
save YOU whose own lives are at stake:
That belongs to God alone. Still, what
we can we will do gladly. and here, at
least, you may rest fer some short
while At the most holy altar of our
chapel you shall be given sanctuary,
after which TO Christian man dare lay
a hand upon you, since TO do so is a
sacrilege that would cost him his soul.
Moreover. [ counsel that you be en-
rolled upon our books as q novice, and
don our garb. Nay she added with a
smile, noting the look of alarm on the
face of Wulf, the lady Rosamund need
not wear it always, unless sue should
be her wish. Not every novice proceeds
to the final VOWS.
Long have l been decked in gold
embroidered silks and priceless gems,
answered RosamIrnd, and now | seem
to desire that while robe of yours more
IMAM anything on ea1tn.
So they led Rosamund to the chapel,
and in sight of all their order and of
priests who had -been summoned, at
the altar there. upon that holy spot
where they said that once Christ had
answered PLATE, they placed her hand
and gave her sanctuary, and threw
over her fired head the white veil of a
novice. There too. Wulf left her, and
riding away, reported himself to Ba-
liam of Ibelin, the elected commander
of the city, who was glad enough to
welcome so stout a knight where
knights were few.
OH weary. weary was that ride of
GOdwin's beneath the sun, beneath the
stars. Behind him, the brother who
had been his companion and closest
friend, and the woman whom he had
loved in vain; and in front he knew
not what. What went he forth to seek?
Another woman. who had risked her
life for them all because she loved him.
And if he found her, what then? Must
he wed her, and did he wish this? Nay,
he desired no woman on the earth; yet
what was right that he would do. And
if he found her not, what then? Well,
at least he would give himself up to
Saladin. who must think i'll of them by
whom he had dealt well, and tell him
that of this plot fhey had no knowl-
edge. Indeed TO him he would go first,
if il were but to beg forgiveness for
Masouda should she still be in his
hands, Then-for ne could not hope to
be believed or pardoned a second time
then let death come, and he would well
come it, who greatly longed for peace
1t was evening and Godwin's's tired
horse stumbled slowly through the
great camp of the Saracens without
the walls of fallen Ascalon. None him
dered him, for having been so long a
prisoner he was known by many, while
others thought that he was but one of
the surrendered Christian knights. So
he came TO the great house where Sal
adm lodged, and bade the guard take
his name to the Sultan, saying that he
craVed an audience of him. Presently
he was admitted and found Saladin
seated in council among his ministers.
Sir Goodwin" he said sternly, see
ing how you have dealt by me, what
brings you back into my camp? l gave
your brethren your lives, and you have
robbed me of one whom 1 would not
lose"
We did not rob you, sire" answered
Goodwin, who knew nothing of the plot
Nevertheless, as l was sure that YOU
would think thus, I am come from
Jerusalem leaving the princess and
my brother there, to tell the truth and
10 SuITtuOeE myself TO you, Inat may
bear in her place any punishment
which you think fit to inf1ict upon the
woman Masouda-"
Why should you bear it?" asked Sa-
ladin.
Because, Sultan" answered Goodwin
sadly, and with bent head, whatever
she did. she did for love of me, though
without my knowledge. Tell me, is she
still here, or has she fied?"
She is still here" answered Saladin
shortly. Would you wish to see her?''
Goodwin breathed a sigh of relief. At
least, Masouda still lived, and the ter
ror that had struck him in the night
was but an evil dream born of his own
fears and sufferings.
II do" he answered, "once, if no
more. I have words to say to her"
Doubtless she will be glad to learn
how her plot prospered," said Saladin,
with a grim smile. I'm truth it was
well laid and boldly executed"
Calling to one of his council, that
same old imaum who had planned the
casting of the lots, the Sultan spoke
with him aside. Then he said:
Let this knight be led to the woman
Masouda. Tomorrow we will judge
him."
Taking a silver lamp from the wall.