The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-04-16

WIS ldhEu VIII a biGhuCSB
ing bad water which held him to his
bed for some days, and then Lozelle
found his opportunity. Rosamund
strove to keep her cabin to avoid him.
but the heat OF the summer sun in the
Mediterranean drove her out Of it to
q place beneath an awning on the poop.
Here Lozelle approached her. pretend
ing to bring her food or to inquire after
her comfort, but she would answer
him nothing. Then he said:
Lady, how sorely you misjudge me!
What Is my crime against you?. l am
an Essex man of good lineage, who met
you In Essex and learned to love you
there. Your father said me nay, and you
said me nay. and. stung by my disap-
pointment, / talked as / should not
have done. For this 1 was called to
account with justice, and your cousin,
the young knight Goodwin, who was
then a squire, struck me in the face.
Well, he worsted and wounded me,
fortune favoring him, and I departed
with my vessel to the east, for that Is
my business, to trade between Syria
and England.
"Now, as it = CHANGED, there being
peace at the time between the sultan
and the Christians, visited Damascus
to buy merchandise. While was there
Saladin sent for me and asked If 1t
were true that belonged to part Of
England called Essex. When I an
swered yes he asked IL knew Sir
Andrew Darcy and his daughter.
Again I said yes, whereon he told me
that strange tale Of your kinship to
him, of which 1 had heard already;
also a still stranger tale Of some dream
that he had dreamed concerning you.
In the end he offered to hire my finest
ship for large sum if 1 would sail it
to England to fetch you, but he did
not tell me that any force was to be
used. and I on my part said that I
would lift no hand against you or your
father, nor. indeed, have done So"
WHO remembered the swords Of
Goodwin and Wulf," broke in Rosa
mund scornfully, land preferred that
drawer men should face them"
Lady" answered Lozelle, coioring,
hitherto none has accused me Of u
lack Of courage. OF your courtesy,
listen, l pray you. / did wrong to en-
ter on this business; but, lady, 1t was
love for you that drove me to it."
He looked about him cautiously.
"Within a week from now, II all goes
well, we cast anchor at Limazol, in
Cyprus, to take In food and water be-
fore we run to a secret port near An
tioch, whence you are to be taken over
land to Damascus, avoiding all cities
of the Franks. Now, the Emperor
Isaac of Cyprus is my friend, and over
him Saladin has no power. Once in his
court You would be safe until such time
as you found opportunity to return to
England. This, then, is my plan-that
you should escape from the ship at
night, as can arrange"
And what Is your payment" she
asked, "who are a merchant knight?'
"My payment, lady, is-yourself. In
Cyprus we will be wed. Oh, think be-
fore you answer! At Damascus many
dangers await you. With me you will
find safety and a Christian husband
who loves you we'll"
"Havc DONE" she said coldly. "Soon-
er will trust myself to an honest Sar-
aeon than to you. Yes, sooner would I
take death for my lord than you, for
your own base ends devised the plot
that brought my father to his murder
and me 10 slavery. Have done, l say,
and never dare again to speak Of love
to me-" And, rising, she walked to her
cabin.
But Lozelle, looking after her, NUT
tered to himself. NAY, fair lady. have
but begun. nor will l forget your bit
ter words, for which you shall pay the
merchant knight in KISSES"
From her cabin Rosamund sent
message to Hassan. He came, still
pale with illness, ana asked her will,
wherein she told him what had passed
between Lozelle and herself, demand
ing his protection against this man.
"Yonder he stands" said Hassan,
"alone. VIII you come with me and
speak to himT'
She bowed her head, and he led her
to the poop.
"Sir Captain" he began, addressing
Lozelle, ''the princess here tells me
strange story-that you have dared to
offer your love to her, a niece of Salah-
ed-din."
"What of it, Sir SaracenT answered
Lozelle insolently. us not q Christian
knight fit mate for the blood of an east
ern chief:"
you" answered Hassan, with rage
in his low voice you, huckstering
thief and renegade, who swear by Mo-
manned in Damascus and by your
prophet Jesus in England! You her At
mate? Why, were II not that you must
guide this ship and that my master
babe me not to quarrel with you till
your task was done / would behead
you now" And as he spoke he grip
ped the handle of his scimiter.
Lozelle quailed before his fierce eyes,
for well he knew Hassan and knew
also that II it came to fighting his sail
ors We're no match for the emir and
bis Saracens.
Before Salah-ed-din you shall an
swer for your treacheryr' added Has
san.
"Of what. then, am I accused"
asked Lozelle-"of loving the Lady Ros-
amund. as do all men. perhaps your
self. old and withered as you are,
among them?'
"Aye. and for that crime will repay
L ,,-I lI u