Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-09-20

III hNN" w $500 1919 WIZ uDOD
you both and upon that great heart.
Masouda. I say, Wulf, I would that I
were dead" said Rosamund.
like enough the wish will be full.
filed before all is done" answered
| wulf YEARLY, "only then I pray that I
may be dead with you, for now, Rosa.
mund, Goodwin has gone forever ms |
fear, and you alone arc left to me.
| Come. let us cease complaining. since
to dwell upon these griefs cannot help
us, and be thankful that for awhile at
least we are free. Follow me, Rosa
mund, and we will ride to this hummer
to find you shelter II we may"
go they rode on through the narrow
| streets that were crowded with scared
people. for now the news was spread
that the embassy had rejected the
terms of Saladin. He had offered TO
give the city food md to suffer its in.
habitants to fortify the walls md to
| hold them till the following Whitsun-
| tide If. should no help reach them. they
would swear to surrender then. But
they had answered that while they had
life they would lever abandon the
| place where their God had died.
So now war was before them-war to
the end. And who were they that must
bear It's brunt? Their leaders were
slain or captive, their king a prisoner.
! their soldiers skeletons on the field Of
| Hattin. Only the women and children,
the sick. the old and the wounded re.
mained. perhaps 10000 souls I'm all. but
few of whom could bear arms. Yet
these few must defend Jerusalem
against the might Of the victorious
Snracen. Little wonder that they
walled in the streets till the cry OF
their despair wont up to heaven.
|. Pushing their path through this sad
multitude, who took little note OF them.
at length they came to the nunnery on
the sacred Via Dolorosa.
Here the porter told him that the
nuns were at prayer in their chapel.
Wulf replied that he must see the lady
abbess upon n matter which would not
! delay, and they were shown into n cool
and lofty room. Presently the door
opened. and through # came the alb.
hess in her white robes. ii tail and
stately .Englishwoman OF middle age.
who looked at them curiously.
Lady Abbess." said Wulf. bowling
low, "this lady is the daughter and
heiress of Sir Andrew Darcy. my
dead uncle. and in Syria the Princess
Of Baalbec and the niece of Saladin.''
The nbhess started and asked:
as she. then. of their accursed faith.
as her garb would seem to show"
NAY. mother said Rosamund; 81
am a Christian. II a sinful one, and
come here to seek sanctuary lest when
they know who | am ana he clamors at
their gates my fellow Christians may
surrender me to my uncle. the sultan"
Tell me the storN' said the abbess.
And they told her briefly. while she lis.
tened. amazed. When they had finished
she said:
"Alas, my daughter, how can we
save you, whose own lives are at
stake? That belongs 10 God alone.
Still. what we can we will do gladly.
and here. at least. YOU may rcst foi
some short while. At the most holy
altar Of our chapel you shall be given
sanctuary. after which no Christian
man dare lay n hand upon you. since
to do so is Il sacrilegc that would cost
him his soul. Moreover. | counsel that
you be enrolled upon our books as a
novice and don our garb. Nay she
added. with Il smile. noting the look of
alarm on the face Of Wulf, 1.-THE Lady
Itosamund need not wear it always un.
less such should he her wish. Not
every novice proceeds to the final
vows"
Long have 7 been deckcd in gold
embroidered silks and priceless gems
answered Rosamund, land now ! seem
to desire that white robe of yours more
than anything on earth"
There Wulf left her and, riding away,
reported himself to Balian of Ibelin,
the elected commander Of the city. who
was glad enough to welcome so stout n
knight where knights were few.
1t was evening. and GOdEin's tired
horse stumbled slowly through the
great camp of the Saracens without the
walls OF fallen AScalon. None hindcrcd
him. for, having been SO long Il pris
oner, 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 Sala-
din lodged and babe the guard take his
name. to the sultan, saying that he
craved audience of him. Presently he
vas admitted and found Snladin seat
ed in council amtng his ministers.
'Sir Goodwin he said sternly, "sec-
ing how you have dealt by me. what
brings you back into my camp? l gave
you brethren your lives, and you have
robbed me of one whom | would not
lose.'
I'VE did not rob You, sire" answered
Goodwin. who knew nothing of this plot.
Nevertheless. as ! was sure that you
would think thus | am come from Jc-
rusalem. leaving the princess and my
brother there, to tell the truth and to
surrender myself to You that | may
bear In her place any punishment
! which you think fit to infict upon the
woman Masouda."
"Why should you bear IT," asked Sal
adm.
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
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