The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-05-16

1.-The novice Rosamund." answered
the abbess, ''prays by the holy altar in
the chapel" taE@. s.s
Now one murmured, "She has taken
sanctuary" but the patriarch said:
Tell us. daughter, does she pray
alone"
"a knight guards her prayers" was
the answer.
"Ah, as I thought. He has been be-
forehand with US. Also, daughter, sure
~ your discipline is somewhat lax if
you suffer knights thus to invade your
chapel. But lead us thither."
Presently they were in the great, dim
place where the lamps burned day and
night. There by the altar, built, it was
said, upon the spot where the Lord
stood to receive judgment, they saw a
kneeling woman who, clad in the robe
of novice, grasped the stonework with
her hands. Without the rails, also
kreeling, was the knight Wulf, still as
q statue on a sepulcher. Hearing them,
he rose, turned him about and drew his
great sword.
"Sheathe that swordv' commanded
Heraclius.
when became knight" answered
Wulf, Il swore to defend the innocent
from harm and the affairs Of God from
sacrilege at the hands of wicked men.
Therefore l sheathe not my sword
Take no need of him." said one, anG
Heraclius, standing back in the aisle
addressed Rosamund.
Daughter" he cried, with bite.
grief we are come to ask of you a sac
rifce-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"
II risked my life and believe an
other gave her life" Rosamund said,
that 1 might escape from the power
of the Moslems. will not come forth
to return to them"
'Then, our need being sore, we must
take you" answered Heraclius suilenly.
"Whatr' she cried. You, the patri-
arch Of this sacred city, would tear me
from the sanctuary of it's 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, pray you,"
said the patriarch, "since we would not
take you by force"
Then the abbess spoke.
"Sirs, will you commit so great a
crime? Then 1 tell you that it cannot
go without it's punishment. With this
lady 1 say" and she drew up her tall
shape, that 1t shall be paid for in
your blood and mayhap in the blood Of
all of u.s.
Il absolve you from the SIM" shout
ed the patriarch, "if sin it is.'
"Absolve yourself" broke in Wulf
sternly, land know this: I am but one
man, but l have some strength and
skill If you seek but to lay a 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 Wulf
down from q distance.
and thus" broke in Rosamund,
"add murder to sacrilege! Oh, sirs,
bethink what you do-aye, and remem-
Der this, that you do it all in vain!
Saladin has promised you nothing, ex-
cept that il 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 tie background heard
what passed there, stepped forward
and said:
My lord patriarch, l pray you let
this thing be, since from such crime
no good could come to any of US.
That altar is the hottest and the
most noted place of sanctuary in all
Jerusalem. Sir Wulf, put up your
sword and fear nothing. If there is
any safety in Jerusalem. your lady is
safe. Abbess, lead her to her CELL
NAY" answered the abbess, with
fine sarcasm, lit is not fitting that we
should leave this place before his holt