The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-13
GREAT LOVE
STORIES
of HISTORY
A.becket and the Emir'S
Dau6hter
By Albert Payson Terhuns
Copyright. by the Author.I

Early in the twelfth century a young
Londoner named Gilbert a-Becket
went to the Holy Land to take part in
the second crusade lone of the series
of religious wars whereby European
nations were trying in vain to win
back Palestine from the Mahometans).
Although he was q merchant and not
by trade a fighting man, a-Becket be-
came infected by the pious zeal that
swept England and joined in the great
enterprise.
His adventure met with as little
success as did the Crusades them
selves. For he was taken prisoner in
battle and became the slave of the
Syrian emir (prince) who captured
him. There was a scant hope of free
dom in those days for the luckless
European who CHANGED to be sold into
slavery in Palestine. In rare cases
such men were ransomed by wealthy
friends. Far oftener they lived and
died as slaves. The latter fate seemed
certain for a-Becket For he lacked
influence to secure his freedom. He
was apparently doomed to life OF
servitude among the infidels, far from
his native land Indeed, those who had
known him deemed him forever lost.
But the emir, Gilbert's master. had
a daughter who became interested in
the young English captive. Gilbert
doubtless saw that it was to his ad-
vantage to make
the most of this
SO0IuSy. ipforosf He
so to such good effect that the girl
speedily fell in love with him. She
asked him questions about the won
derful creed that could lure men
across the world to battle for the pos
session OF the holy land. Full of re-
hgious fervor. a-Becket taught her the
precepts of Christianity, and even in
duced her to forswear the Moslem
faith and become a Christian. He also
begged her to set him free.
The emir's daughter consented to
aid him in this project Biding her
time, she planned for Gilbert's escape.
The emir lived near Tyre. Occasion
al European ships touched at that
port. BY the girls aid, a-Becket was
struggled aboard one of these vessels.
and in time reached London in safety.
Before leaving Tyre he vowed eternal
constancy to the woman who had
saved him. Then he seems quite to
have forgotten her existence. She had
served her turn.
But the emir's daughter had utter
faith in her lovers vows. She could
not imagine him otherwise than faith
full to his rescuer. So she sought
some means Of GLIDING her fathers
vigilance and following him to Eng
land. At length she was able to es-
cape from Palestine and to set forth
on her quest. She had provided her
self with money and jewels. but she
had absolutely no idea how to find
a-Becket. The only two English words
she knew were Gilbert" and Lon
don" She did not know in what d.
rection England lay. Her task seemed
hopeless. In those rude times all
travel was fraught with danger. 1t
was more difficult and perilous to
cross the continent of Europe than it
now is to go around the whole globe.
But by liberal use of her wealth and
by forever repeating to all persons
she met those two words, Gilbert"
and London" she finally landed in
England. Finding her way in the
same manner to London. she began to
search that city for her lover Her
money and jewels were gone; her
clothes were in rags. The sight Of the
ragged travel-stcined, swarthy beauty
wandering through the streets, cry
ing GILBERT" attracted a curious
crowd. BY chance
e,.. a-Becket heard Of
her and of the
crowds she collected. He came out
into the street for a look at her, and
recognized her at once. She rushed
into his arms. Guided by blind love.
she had crossed the world unaided
and had found the man she adored.
Gilbert a-Becket had prospered since
his return from Palestine. He is even
said to have been on the point OF
marrying a wealthy London woman
But the faithful devotion of the emir's
daughter touched him so deeply as to
awaken in his heart a somewhat be-
lated sense of love and gratitude. To
the wonder and scandal of his friends.
he at once made the Syrian girl his
wife. With her for helpmeet he rose
to high civic honors. becoming at last
sheriff Of London. The couple had q
son, Thomas a-Becket, who became
the greatest man in all England and
who after his death was canonized as
a saint.