Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-09-27

Rosamund finished reading, and tho
letter futtered from her hand down to
the marble floor. Then the queen said;
Lady, we ask this sacrifice of you
In the name of these and all their fell
lows" And she pointed to the women
and children behind her.
And my lifeT" unused Rosamund
aloud. at Is all have. When / have
paid it away shall be bcggared." And
her eyes wandered to where the tail
shape Of Wulf stood by pillar of tho
church.
"Perchance Saladln will be merci.
full" hazarded the queen.
why should he be merciful," an.
swered Rosamund, who has always
warned me that If escaped from him
and was recnptured certainly I must
die? Nay; he will offer me Islam or
death, which means - death by the
rope or in some worse fashion"
But if you stay here you must die"
pleaded the queen, cor at best fall into
the hands of the soldiers. Oh, lady,
your life Is but one life, and with IL
you can buy those of $4,000 souls"'
as that SO sure?" asked Rosamund.
THE sultan has made no promlse LIZ
says only that If l pray 1t Of him he
will consider the question of sparlna
Jerusalem"
"But--but," went on the queen, 'ha
says also that IL you do not come la
will surely put Jerusalem to the
sword, and to Sir Balian he said that
If you gave yourself up he thought ha
might grant terms which we should be
glad to take. Therefore we dare to ask
of you to give your life in payment for
such n hope. Oh, refuse not our prayer,
but show that you indeed are great
enough to step forward to meet the
death which comes to every one of Va
and thereby earn die blessings Of half
the world and make sure your place in
heaven. nigh to him who also died for
men. Plead with her, my sisters; plead
with her"
Then the women and children threw
themselves down before her, and with
tears and sobbing prayed her that sha
would give up her life for theirs. Rosa
mund looked at them and smiled, then
said in a clear voice: :
what say you, my cousin and be-
trothed. Sir Wulf Darcy? Come hith-
er. and give me your counsel"
So the gray eyed, war worn Wult
strobe up the aisle and. standing ly
the altar rails. saluted her.
"You have heard" said Rosamund.
Your counsel. Would you have ma
die?'
Alas" he answered in hoarsa
voice, it is hard to speak, yet they
are many-you are but one"'
Now there was a murmur OF an.
plause. for it was known that this
knight loved his lady dearly and that
but the other day he had stood there
to defend her TO the death against
those who would give her up to Sala.
din.
Now Rosamund laughed out, and the
sweet sound Of her laughter WAS
strange in that solemn place q nd hour.
"Ah, Wulf," she said. "Wulf, wha
must ever speak the truth, even when
It costs him dear. Well, would not,
have it otherwise. Queen. and all you
foolish people, I did but try your TEN.
pers."
Then Rosamund sheathed the dagger
that all this while she held In her hand.
and, lifting the letter from tho loor,
touched her brow with it in signal Of
obedience.
! Now the ENJOYS bowed before her II
grave admiration. and the ai- grew
! thick with blessings. As Ros2luad
/ stepped down from the altar the queen
/ threw her arms about her neck ard
kissed her, while lords and Knights, vc.
men and children, pressed their lbs
| upon her hands, upon the hem Of he,
white robe and even on her feet, call.
| ing her saint" and "de!iverer."
ALAS" she answered, waving them
! back. "as yet l ON neither OF these
things, though the latter of them
hope to be. Come, let us be going"
Aye echoed Wulf. stepping to hei
side, "let us be going
| Rosamund started at the words. and
all there stared.
Listen, queen, emirs and people,
he went on, Il am this lady's kinsmau
vnd her betrothed knight. sworn to
serve her to the end. II she be guilty
Of crime against the sultan, | am
more guilty. and on me also shall fal!
his vengeance. Let lis be going"
"Wulf. Wulf," she said, lit shall not
! be. One life is asked, not both"
/ Then he whispered in her ear. Sweet
| Rosamund. deny me not lest You
! should drive me to madness and SELF
murder, who will have no more Of
earth without you
/ Now. her eyes full of tears and shin
! ing with love, Rosamund murmured
/ back:
You are too strong for me. Let ii
befall as God Wills
Nor did Tie others attempt TO stay
him any more.
Going To the abbess. Rosamund would
have knelt before her but it was the
! nbhess who knelt and called her bless
ed and kissed her. Then priest was
brousht-not the patriarch, of whom
she would have none, but another,
holy man.
To him apart at the altar first Rosa
mund and then Wulf made confession
of their sins, receiving absolution and
the sacrament In that form In which it