The San Francisco call., 1905-02-05

see little difference between it"
said ROsamund, and the stretching out
or cur necks to the swords of friends.
4et, although for others cannot Judge
Tor myself / do Judge who am bound
py no final vows 1 tell you that rath-
er than fall into the hands of the Pay
nims, L will dare that sin and leave
tnem nothing but the vile mold which
once held the spirit of a woman
And she laid her hand upon the dag
ger hllt that was hidden in her robe.
Ihen again the abbess spoke.
To you. daughter. 1 cannot forbid
the deed. but TO those who have fully
sworn 10 obey me / do forbid it and
to them / show another If more pit
eouS way or escape from the last shame
OF Womanhood- Some of US are old and
witnered and have naught to fear but
death. but others are still young and
Idir. 10 these / say. when the end is
niSn, let them take steel and score face
ana bosom and seat themselves here in
TINS chapel, red with their own blood
and made loathsome to the sight OF
man. Then will the end come upon
them quickly and they will pass hence
unStalned to be the brides of heaven"
Nova great groan of horror went up
from those miserable women, who al
ready saw themselves seated in stained
robes and hideOuS TO behold there in
the carved chairs of their choir. await
ing death by the swords of furious and
savage men, as in a day to come their
sisters in the faith were TO await IL In
the doomed convent Of the Virgins Of
st. Clare at Acres
Yet, one by one, except the aged
among them, they came upto the alb
bess and swore that they would obey
her in this as in everything, while the
aboeSS said that herself she would lead
them down that dreadful road of pain
and mutilation- Yes, save Rosamund.
who declared that she would die un-
dISnSured as God had made her and
two other novices. they swore il one by
one, laying their hands upon the altar.
Then again they got them to their
knees and sang the Miserere.
Presently. above their mournful
ehant. the sound of loud, insistent
knockings echoed down the vaulted
ing:
The Saracens are hear! Give us
knives! Give US knives
Rosamund drew the dagger from its
sheath.
Wait awhile" cried the abbess.
These may be friends, not foes. Sis
ter Ursula, go to the door and seek
tidings.''
The sister, an aged woman. obeyed
with tottering steps, and, reaching the
massive portal. undid the guichet or
lattice. and asked with a quavering
Voice:
who are you that knock?" while
the nuns within held their breath and
strained their ears to catch the an
swer.
Presently it came. in woman's sill
very voice, that sounded strangely
still and small in the spaces at that
tomb-like church
II am the Queen Sybilla. with her
ladies'
sAod ,,-ba+ 1,yo,,Id ,,O,r ,.,itb 80 N
Queen The right of sanctuary"
Nay; 1 bring with me some envCys
from Saladin. who would have speech
with the lady Rosamund darcy, who
is among YOU"
Now at these words Rosamund fled 70
the altar. and stood there. still holding
the naked dagger in her hand.
Let her not fear" Went on the sill
very voice, for no harm shall come to
her against her will. Admit US. holy
abbess. we beseech you in the name OF
Christ"
Then the abbess said. Let US receive
the Queen with such dignity as we
may" Motioning to the nuns to take
their appointed seats in the choir. she
placed herself in the great chair at the
head of them, while behind her at the
raised altar stood RoSamund, the bare
knife in her hand
The door was opened and through IL
the beauteous Queen, wearing her in
sigma of royalty, but with black veil
upon her head Next followed ladies
of the court-twelve of them-trembling
with fright. but splendidly apparaled.
and after them three stern and tur-
baned Saracens clad in mail. their jew
eled scimitars at their Sides After
these again appeared a procession Of
women, most of them draped in
mourning, and leading scared children
by the hand: the wives. sisters and
widows of noble. knights and burgesses
of Jerusalem. Last of all marched
hundred or more captains and war
riors, among them Wulf, headed by Sir
Balian and ended by the patriarch
Heraclius in his gorgeous robes. with
his attendant priests and acolytes-
On swept the Queen, up the length OF
the long church, and as she came the
abbess and her nuns rose and bowed
to her. while one offered her the chair
of state that was set apart TO be
used by the Bishop in his visitations.
But she would have none Of it.
Nay" said the Queen. mock me
with no honorable seat who come here
as a humble suppliant. and will make
my prayer upon my knees
So down she knelt upon the marble
floor, with all her ladies and the fol-
lowing women, while the solemn Sara
Gems looked at her wondering and the
knights and mobiles massed themselves
behind
What can we give you. o Queen
asked the abbess, who have nothing
left save our treasure, to which you
are most welcome, our honor, and our
lives?"
"Alasr answered the royal lady.
ALAS that / must say It! ! come to
ask the life Of one of YOU"
"Of whom, o Queen?
kAv- av-I ~x.fkT. -
outstretched arm pointed to Rosa
mund, who stood above them all by
the high altar
For a moment Rosamund turned
pale, then spoke in steady voice:
Say. what service can my poor life
to be you. o Queen, and by whom is
il sought?"
Thrice Sybilla strove to answer, then
murmured:
IT cannot. Let the ENJOYS give her
the letter, If she can read their
tongue"
1T can read il" answered Rosa.