The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-05-11

guard will seek you at the appointed
time"
Goodwin bowed and walked away
with a steady step, while Saladin,
looking after him, muttered:
1.-The world could i'll spare SO brave
and good a man"
Two hours later guards summoned
Goodwin from the place where he was
prisoned, and, accompanied by the old
bishop who had shriven him, he passed
its door with happy countenance, such
as bridegroom might have worn.
They took him to a vault Of the great
house where Saladin was lodged, a
large, rough place, lit with torches, in
which waited the headsman and his
assistants. Presently Saladin entered,
and, looking at him curiously, said:
Are you still of the same mind, Sir
Goodwin"
Il am"
Good. Yet 1 have changed mine.
You shall say farewell to your cousin,
as you desired"
Sire" pleaded Goodwin, spare her
such a sight
But he pleaded in vain. while
passed, and Goodwin. hearing the sweep
of robes. looked up and saw the tall
shape of a yelled woman standing in
the corner Of the vault where the shad-
ow was so deep that the torchlight only
glimmered family upon her royal orna-
ments.
"They told me that you were sick,
princess, sick with sorrow, as we'll you
may be, because the man you love was
about to die for you" said Saladin in a
slow voice. Now l have had pity on
your grief, and his life has been bought
with another life, that Of the knight
who stands yonder.'
The yelled form started wildly, then
sank back against the wall.
"Rosamund,'' broke in Goodwin,
speaking III French, Il beseech you, be
silent and do not unman me with
words or tears. 1t is best thus, and
you know that it is best. Wulf you
love as he loves you, and | believe that
in time you will be brought together
Ne you do not love, save as a friend,
and never have. Moreover, | tell you
this that it may ease your pain and my
conscience. | no longer seek you as
my wife, whose bride is death. pray
you, give to Wulf my love and bless
ing, and to Masouda. that truest and
most sweet woman, say, or write, that
1 offer her the homage of my heart;
that l thought of her in my last mo-
ts, thot ic Y,
meet again where all crooked paths
are Strengthened. Rosamund, farewell,
peace and joy go with you through
many years-aye. and with your chill
dren's children. OF Goodwin I only ask
you to remember this, that he lived
serving you and so died"
She heard and stretched out her
arms, and, none forbidding him, God
win walked to where she stood. With
out lifting her veil she bent forward
and kissed him. first upon the brow
and next upon the lips, then with a
low, moaning cry she turned and fed
from that gloomy place, nor did Sala-
din seek to stay her. Only to himself
the sultan wondered how it came about
that if it was Wulf whom Rosamund
loved she still kissed Goodwin thus
upon the lips.
As he walked back to the death place
Goodwin wondered also, first that Rosa
mund should have spoken no single
word and secondly because she had
kissed him thus, even in that hour.
With a sigh, he knelt down before the
headsman and, turning to the bishop,
said:
"Bless me, father, and bid them
strike"
Then 1t was that he heard a well
known footstep and looked up to see
Wulf staring at him.
what do you here, Godwin?' asked
Wulf. Has yonder fox shared both
Of us?" and he nodded at Saladin.
''Let the fox speak," said the sultan,
with smile. Know, Sir Wulf, that
your brother was about to die in your
place and of his own wish. But re-
fuse such sacrifice who yet have made
use Of it to teach my niece, the prin-
cess, that should she continue in her
continue in them certainly it will bring
you to your deaths and, if need be, her
also. knights, you are brave nen
whom | prefer to kill in war. Good
horses stand without; take them as nv
gift and ride with these foolish citizens
of Jerusalem. We may meet again
within its streets. Nay. thank me not.
I thank you who have taught Salah-ed-
din how perfect a thing can be the
Love of brothers"
(To be Continued.)