The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-06-25
CHAPTER NNIN.

message You know that your rank is
taken from you and that with it my
promises are at an end. You know
also that you come hitler to suffer the
death of faithleSs women. Is it So"
Il know AL these things, great
Salah- ed din" answered Rosamund
Tell me. then. do you come of your
own free will. enforced by any. and
why does the knight Sir Wulf. whose
life | spared and do not seek, kneel at
your sideT'
Il come of my own free will. Salah-
ed-din. as your emirs can tell you. Ask
them. For the rest. my kinSman must
answer for himself"
Sultan" said Wulf Il counseled
the lady Rosamund that she should
come-not that she needed such coun-
Sel-and. having given it. accom-
panied her by right of blood and of
justice. since her of1enSe against YOU is
mine also. Her fate is my f2te.'
Il hay" no quarrel against You. whom
j forgave; therefore you must take
Your own way TO follow the path she
goes"
DOUBTLESS" answered Wulf. being
a Christian among many sons of the
prophet. it will not he hard 10 find 4
friendly scimiter To help me Oh that
road. | ask your goodness that her
fate may he my fate
What said Saladiu. You are
ready to die with her. although YOU
many other women in the world:'
Wulf smiled and nodded his head.
Good. Who am | that should stand
between a fool and his folly: | grant
the boon. Your fate shall be her fate.
Wulf Darcy, you shall drink of the
cup of my slave Rosamund TO its last
bittereSt drCgS."
Now SaAdin looked at I:csamund
and asked:
Woman. why have you come here
TO brave my vengeance: Speak on il
you have aught 10 ask
Then Ro>Hmumd rose from her knees
end. standing before him. said:
Il am come. - my mighty lord. to
plead for the people of Jerusalem. be-
cause it was told me that You would
listen TO 40 other voice than that Of
this your slave. See, many MOONS ago
you had Il vision concerning me.
Thrice YOU dreamed in the night that
/. the niece whom You had never seen.
by some act of mine should he the
means of saving much life and 4 way
of peace. Behold. your vision is full
filled-Or. at the least. You can fulfill
1t if God should touch Your heart with
grace. seeing that Of my own will l
am come to pray you. Salah-eddin. to
spare the city and for its blood to
accept mine us u token and an offer
Ing. Oh. my lord. as you are great, be
merciful, What will it avail you in the
Day Of your own judgment that you
have added another $4,000 to the tally
of your slain and with them many
more thousands of your own folk. since
the warriors of Jerusalem will not die
unavenged? Give them their lives and
let them 90 free. aud win thereby the
gratitude of mankind aud the forgive
hess of God above"
so Rosamund spoke and. stretching
out her arms toward him, was silent.
These things | offered TO Them and
they refused" answered Saladin. Why
should | grant them. now that they are
conquered:
My lord, Strong-to-Aid." said Rosa
mund. do you. who are 50 brave,
L. nj iat.S
cause they fought on against desperate
odds: | can say no more: but once
again. most humhly and on my knees,
/ beseech you speak the word of mercy
and let not your triumph he dyed red
with the blood of women and of little
children"
Then. casting herself upon her face,
Rosamund clasped the hem of his roy
al robe with her hands ana pressed it
to her forehead
So for while she lay there in the
shimmernG moonlight, while utter 81
lence fell upon all that vast multitude
of armed men as they waited for the
decree Of fate To be uttered by the con-
dueror'S lips But Saiadin sat still us
a statue. gazing at the dompS and tow
erS OF Jerusalem.
Rise" he said at length. 'and know,
niece that You have played Your part
in Il fashion worthy of my race. and
that |. Salah- ed-din. am proud of you.
Know also that | will weigh y0ur pray
er as l have weighed that Of none other
who breathes upon the earth. Now
must take counsel with my own heart,
and tomorrow 1t shall be granted-or