The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-05-21
CHAPTER XIV.

- gave them no greeting. Then
~ he spoke:
Woman, you have had my
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
death of faithless women. Is 1t sop
II know all 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 side?"
II come of my own free will, Salah-
e2-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-
sei--and, having given it, 1 accom-
panied her by right Of blood and of
justice, since her offense against you is
mine also. Her fate is my fate"
II have no quarrel against you, whom
forgave; therefore you must take
your own way to follow the path she
goes"
Doubtless" answered Wulf, "being
prophet. it will not be hard to find a
friendly scimiter to help me on that
road. l ask your goodness that her
fate may be my fate"
"Whatw said Saladin. "You are
ready to die with her, although you
are young aud strong and there are SO
many other women in the world?"
Wulf smiled ana nodded his head.
Good. Who am l that should stand
between a 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
and asked:
woman. why have you come here
to brave my vengeance? Speak on IL
you have aught to ask"
Then Rosamund rose from her knees
and. standing before him, said:
II am come, o my mighty lord, to
plead for the people Of Jerusalem, be-
cause 1t 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
J. the niece whom you had never seen,
by some act OF mine should be the
means of saving much life and way
of peace. Behold, your vision Is full
filled-or, at the least, you can fulfill
1t II God should touch your heart with
grace, seeing that of my own will I
am come to prny 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
mercifnl! What will 1t avail you in the
Gay 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 so free. and win thereby the
gratitude Of mankind and the forgive
ness 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 so brave,
blame yonder knights and soldiers be-
cause they fought on against desperate
odds? can say no more; but once
again, most humbly and on my knees,
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
al robe with her hands and pressed 1t
to her forehead.