Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-10-04
CHAPTER XIV,

message. You know that your rank is
taken from you and that with 1t my
promises are at an end. You know
also that you come hither to suffer the
Heath of faithless women. Is it SOP"
II know all these things, great
Ealah-ed-dln," 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 I spared and do not seek, kneel at
your sideT
II 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, II 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 ofrense against you is
mine also Her fate Is my fate"
Il have no quarrel against you. whom
forgave; therefore you must take
your own way to follow the path she
goes"
Doubtless" answered Wulf "being
Christian among many sons of the
prophet, it will not be hard to find
friendly scimlter to help me on that
road. l ask your goodness that her
fate may be my fate
What" said Saladin. You are
ready to die with her, although you
nre young and strong and there are SO
many other women in the worldY"
Wulf smiled and nodded his head
Good. Who am | that should stand
between fool and his folly? l 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 dregs."
Now Saladin looked at Rosamund
md asked:
Woman, why have you come here
to brave my vengeance? Speak on if
you have aught to ask
Then RGsamund rose from her knees
and. standing before him. said
Il am come, O my mighty lord to
plead for the people of Jerusalem, be-
cause it was told me that you would
listen to no other voice than that Of
this your slave. See, many moons ago
you had vision concerning me.
Thrice you dreamed in the night that
!, the niece whom you had never seem
by some act Of mine should be the
means of saving much life and way
of peace. Behold, your vision is full
flled-Or, at the least. you can fulfill
It if God should touch your heart with
grace seeing that of my own will |
am come to pray you, Salah-ed-din. to
spare the city and for its blood to
accept mine AS token and an offer
ing. oh, my lord, as you are great be
merciful! What will 1t avail you in the
d&y OF Your oW!, iL'..:;-"lt tAut YOU
have added another 10000 10 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 go free, and win thereby the
gratitude Of mankind and the forgive
ness of God above"
So Rosamnnd spoke and. stretching
out her arms toward him. was silent.
These things l offered to them, and
they refused" answered Saladin. why
should grant them, now that they are
conqueredY
"My lord, Strong-to-Ad," said Rosa
mund, do you, who are so brave
blame yonder knights and soldiers be-
cause they fought on against desperate
odds? I can say no more; but once
again, most humbly and on my knees
l beseech you speak the word of mercy
and let not your triumph be dyed red
with the blood of women and of little
children"
Then, casting herself upon her face,
Rosamund clasped the hem of his roy
nj robe with her hands and pressed it
to her forehead
So for a while she lay there in the
Shimmering moonlight, while utter 81
lence fell upon all that vast multitude
OF armed men MS they waited for the
decree Of fate to be uttered by the con-
queror's lips. But Saladin sat still as
a statue. gazing at the domes and tow
ers of Jerusalem.
Rise" he said at length, land know,
niece, that you have played your part
in fashion worthy OF my race, and
that I, Salah-ed-din, am proud Of you.
Know also that ! will weigh your pray
err as l have weighed that Of none other
who breathes upon the earth. Now
must take counsel with my own heart,
and tomorrow it shall be granted-or
refused. To you, who are doomed to
die, and to the knight who chooses to
die with you, according to the ancient
law and custom. | offer the choice Of
Islam, and with it life and honor"
1--WE refuse answered Rosamund
and Wulf with one voice. The sultan
bowed his head as though he expected
no other answer and glanced round, as
all thought to order the executioners to
do their Office. But he said only to q
captain of his namelukes:
"Take them keep them under guard
and separate them till my word of
death comes TO you. Your life shall an.
swsr for their safety. Give them food
and drink. and let no harm touch them
until bid you"
The mameluke bowed and advanced
with his company Of soldiers. AS they
prepared to go with them, Rosamund
asked:
sTell mo NJ vour Uroce what NJ Mo-