The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-26
CHAPTER III.
The Death Dunoeon.

IN AS the archers sped in pursuit OF the
luckless Paulo, the king turned to
Godiva, doffed his plumed hat gallant
ly and said:
Tis no fault OF thine. Godiva. Fear
not for thyself Thou shalt learn that
the king of Urania loves the too we'll
to cause harm to befsll thine own self.
AS for yonder huntsman-'
His majesty shrugged his shoulders
as If to say: "Yonder huntsman
must needs pay the forfeit for his
temerity in striking one so august as
l."
And the king CALAMITY accompanied
Godiva back to the cottage Of Rivarre.
her father, and there waited in gloomy
silence, while Godiva told her parents
what mad befallen Paulo Rivarre and
his family, aside, wept for Paulo. and
prayed that the brave huhtsman would
escape his pursuers.
Paulo, meantime, in fight through
the forest, saw that, despite his feet
ness of foot, his pursuers were gain
ter behind tree. And a moment later
an arrow from his crossbow sped
forth and found its victim-piercing
the heart of the foremost archer. Again
Paulo shot bolt from his bow, and
again the -haft brought an archer to
the ground writhlng in the death
agony. Paulo then turned to fee. But
In an upcropping root of the tree, his
foot caught. He stumbled and fell.
And, before he could rise, the archers
were upon him.
What a fight then took place! Paulo
fought like one suddenly demonized,
fighting for his .lfe, fighting for his
happiness, fighting for love of Godiva.
But what could one lone huutsman do
with fully twenty archers surrounding
+. him? That he was overpowered and
his hands tied behind him was no fault
of Paulo's. Overwhelming numbers
alone had made captive of Godiva's
lover.
Then back they led hinf to the cot
tage of Rivarre, where the king await
ed their coming. At sight of Paulo,
helpless and bound, in the hands of
the archers. Godiva cried out in dis
tress so pitiable that any heart save
kingly one of stone would have been
moved.
But the king wanted Godiva for his
own. And he was sufficiently gifted
18th perspicacity to know that Paulo,
his captive, wa. nothing less to Godiva
than her hearts love The king wished
himself to win the heart of this
maiden And 10 do so he must rid his
kingdom of the handsome huntsman
whom Godiva had already learned to
love. So with his heart of stone
prompting his words, he now an.
nounced to the assembled company:
The law is even greater than the
king. The law says that whose strikes
the king must die. Paulo, the hunts.
man has struck the king. He must
die"
With the cry of a stricken animal
Godiva flung herself on Paulo and
found chance to whisper to him:
"Be brave, my Paulo. Surely a
chance thou shalt find to escape And
when thou art free, fly to the cave of
Hagar, the witch will meet thee
there and We will fly together into the
mountains"
Godiva then turned to the king and
beseeched him to bestow mercy upon
her Paulo. But the king only replied
in mockery of pity:
"A maiden in distress is ever
sight for the gods Chivalry lack
not, but the law is greater even than
chivalry The man Paulo must die"
And, at the kings orders, the arch
ers now dragged Paulo away. The
king with bow in which he swept his
plumed hat to the very earth, bade Go.
diva au revoir, saying:
we shall meet again, fair Godiva,
under happier circumstances. There
are other hearts than thy Paulos
pining for thee. 1t is meet that one so
young should lind consolation thus in
the outpouring of some heart other
than that of the first conner who
chances to meet thy gaze. Be thou
therefore comforted-till we meet
anon"