The San Francisco call., 1905-02-05

bring his daughter; and after much
suffering and dangersI fell into your
power. and was treated with great
honor. Still l. who am Christian
aand who grew sick with the sight OF
the daily slaughter and outrage of my
kin, strove to escape from you, al
thoughyyou had warned me that the
price of this crime was death; and in
the ends did escape,
Now / return to pay that price, and
bello1d,syour vision is fulfilled-or. at
thes least, YOU can fulfill it if God
should touch your heart with grace,
seeing that of my own will am come
to pray you to spare the city, and foi
its blood to accept mine as a token
and arSacrifice. a %sOh, my lord, as you
are great, be merciful. What will il
avail you i'll the day of your own
judgment that you have added an
other eighty thousand to the tally OF
your slain, and with them many more
thousands of your own folk, since the
warriors of Jerusalem will not die un-
avenged? Give them their lives and
let them go free, and win thereby the
gratitude of mankind and the forgive
ness Of God above"
So Rosamund spoke. and stretching
out her arms toward him, was silent.
s'These things 1 offered to them, and
they We're refused" answered Saladin.
why should l grant them now that
they are conquered?'
My lord" said Rosamund, do you,
who are so brave, blame yonder
knights and soldiers because they
fought against desperate odds? Would
yon not have called them towards il
they had yielded UP the city where
their Saviour died and struck no blow
to save it? Oh. L am outworn! l can
say no more; but .'once again. most
humbly and on my knees, 1 beseech
you speak the word of mercy, and let
not your triumph be dyed red with the
blood of women and of little children" I"
Then casting herself upon her face,
,Rosamund clasped the hem of his royal
robe with her hands, and pressed it to
her forehead.
So for a while she lay there in the
shirnmering moonlight, while utter sill
ence fell upon all that vast multitude of
armed men as they waited for the de-
cree of fate to be uttered by the con-
fqueror's lips. But Saladin sat still as
a statue, gazing at the domes and
towers of Jerusalem outlined against
the deep blue sky.
Rise" he said at length, '.and know,
niece, that you have played your part
in a fashion worthy Of my race. Know
also that will weigh your prayer as
haze weighed that of none other who
brsathes upon the earth. Now / must
take counsel with my own heart, and
to-iriorrow it shall be granted-or re-
fused. To you, who are doomed to
die. and to the. knight who chooses to
die with you. according to the ancient
law aud custom, / offer the choice of
Islam, and with 1t life and honor"
We refuse them" answered Rosa
mund and Wulf with one voice.
The Sultan bowed his head as though
he expected no otheE answer, and
glanced round, as all thought. to order
the headsmen to do their office. But
he said only to captain of his Name
lukes:
Take them; keep them under guard
and separate them, till my word of
death comes TO you. Your life shall
answer for their safety. Give them
food and drink, and let no harm come
to them till l bid you.
The Mameluke bowed and advanced
with his coEpany of soldiers. As they.
prepared to go with them. Rosamund
asked:
rsss,j., ,Tsil ns 81 es t4Igss gssr gha, es
you will find her beyond the
grave, answered Saladin, whereatl shes
hid her face with her hands and
sighed.
and what of Goodwin. my brother?''
cried Wulf;<but no answer was given
him..
Now Rosamund turned and, stretch
ing out her arms toward Wulf fell.
upon his breast. There then, in the
presence of that countless army, they
kissed their kiss of betrothal and fare
Well. They spoke no word, only ere
she went Rosamund lifted her hand
and pointed upward to the sky.
Then a murmur rose from the null
titude and the sound of it seemed to
shape itself into one word: Mercy"
Still Saladin made no sign, and they
were led away to their prisons.
Among the thousands who watched
this strange and thrilling scene were
two men wrapped in long cloaks, God
win and the Bishop Egbert Thrice
did Goodwin strive to approach the
throne. But it SCENE that the SOL
diers about him had their commands
for they would not suffer him to stir
or speak; and when, as Rosamund
passed, he strove to break a way to
her, they seized and held him. Yet
as she went by he cried:
The blessings of heaven be upon
you, pure saint of God--and on YOU,
true knight.
Catching the tones of that voice
above the tumult, Rosamund stopped
and looked around her. but saw no
one, for the guard hemmed her in. SO
she went on, wondering if perchance
it was Godwin's voice which she had
heard, or whether an angel, or only
some prisoner, had spoken.
Goodwin stood wringing his hands
while the bishop strove to comfort him,
saying that he should not grieve, since
such deaths as those of Rosamund and
Wulf were most glorious, and more to
be desired than a hundred lives.
AYE, aye" answered Goodwin, would
that l could go with them!'
Their work is done, but not yours"
said the bishop gently. Come to our
tent and let us to our knees. God is
more powerful than the Sultan, and
mayhap he will yet find way to save
them. If they are still alive to-mor-
row at the dawn we will seek audience
IF Saladin to plead with him."
So they entered the tent and prayed
there, as the inhabitants of Jerusalem
prayed behind their shattered walls,
that the heart OF Saladin might be
moved to spare them all. While they
xnelt thus the curtain of the tent was
drawn aside, and an emir stood before
hem.
Rise he said, both of you, and
'ollow me. The Sultan commands
your presence"
EcI,arx ond Eodxr;n uyop+ u,oodoc;no