Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-09-27
daughter" said the patriarch, "yo

1.-THE novice Rosamund." answered
the abbcss, "prays by the holy altar in
the chapel"
Now one murmured, "She has taken
sanctuary" but the patriarch said:
"Tell us, daughter, does she pray
nloneY'
"a knight guards her prayers" was
the answer.
"Ah, as I thought He has been be-
forcland with us. Also, daughter, sure
ly your discipline is somewhat lax IL
you suffer knights thus to invade your
chapel. Put lead us thither."
Presently they were in the great, dim
place where the lamps burned day and
night. There by the altar, built, 1t was
said. upon the spot where the Lord
stood to receive Judgment. they saw
knecling woman who, clad in the robe
of novice. grasped the stonework with
her hands. Without the rails, also
kneelng. was the knight Wulf. still as
a statue on a sepulcher. Hearing them.
he rose. turned him about and drew his
great sword.
"Sheathe 0Aat swordr' commanded
Heraclus.
when became n knight" answered
Wulf, 81 swore to defend the innocent
from harm and the affairs of God from
sacrlege at the hands OF wicked men.
Therefore l shcathe not my sword"
Take no need OF him." said one, and
Heracius, standing back in the aisle,
addressed Rosamund.
daughter" he cried. with bitter
grief we are come to ask of you n sac
rifice-that you should give yourself for
the people. as our Master gave himself
for the people. Saladin demands you
as fugitive of his blood and until you
are delivered to him he will not treat
with us for the saving Of the city.
Come forth, then, we pray you"
Il rsked my life and l believe an
other gave her life" Rosamund said,
"that | might escape from the power
of the Moslems. l will not come forth
to return to them"
"Then. our need being sore. we must
take YOU" answered Heraclius sullenly.
What" she cried. You, the patri-
arch of this sacred city, would tear me
from the sanctuary Of Its hottest altar?
Oh, then. indeed shall the curse fall
upon it and your
Now they consulted together. some
taking one side and some the other but
the most Of them declared that she
must be given up to Saladin.
Come Of your own will, l pray you"
said the patriarch. "slnce we would not
take you by force"
Then the abbess spoke.
"Sirs, will you commit so great n
crime? Then 1 tell you that it cannot
go without its punishment With this
lady l say" and she drew up her tall
| shape, that it shall be paid for in
your blood and mayhap in the blood Of
all Of u.s."
II absolve you from the SIM" shout
ed the patriarch, "if sin 1t is!'
"Absolve yourself" broke in Wulf
sternly, land know this: am but one
man, but / have some strength and
skill. If you seek but to lay hand
upon the novice Rosamund to hale her
away to be slain by Saladin, as he has
sworn that he would do should she
dare to fly from him, before die there
are those among you who have looked
the last upon the light"
Now the patriarch raved and storm
ed, and one among them cried that
they would fetch bows and shoot Wuf
down from distance.
And thus" broke in Rosamund,
"add murder to sacrilege. Oh. sirs,
bethnk what you do-aye, and remem-
Der this. that you do it all in vain!
Saladin has promised you nothing. ex-
cept that if you deliver me to him he
will talk with you, and then you may
find that you have sinned for nothing.
Have pity on me and go your ways,
| leaving the issue in the hand of God.
THAT is true" cried some; ''Saladin
made no promises
Now Balian, the guardian of the city,
who had followed them to the chapel
and standing in the background heard
what passed there, stepped forward
and said:
my lord patriarch, l pray you let
this thing be, since from such a crime
no good could come to any Of us
That altar is the hoiest and the
most noted place of sanctuary in all
Jerusalem. Sir Wulf put up your
sword and fear nothing. II there is
any safety IN Jerusalem, your lady is
safe. Abbess, lead her to her cell"
"Nay," answered the abbess, with
fine sarcasm. ut Is not fitting that we
should leave this place before his holi
ness"
"Then you have not long to wait,
shouted the patriarch in fury. II say
that If Saladin asked for half the noble
maidens in the city it would be cheap
to let him have them in payment fol
the blood of $4,000 folk" And he
stalked toward the door.
So they went away, all except Wulf,
who stayed to make sure that they
were gone, and the abbess, who came
to Rosamund and embraced her, say.
ing that for the while the danger was
past and she might rest quiet.
Eyes, mother" answered Rosamund
with sob. But, oh, have done right
Should l not have surrendered myself
to the wrath Of Saladin il the lives OF
30 many hang upon itf'
Daughter" answered the abbess
shat sore choice has not yet been
thrust upon you. When Saladin says
that he sets Won aDainSt the lives Of nj