The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-02-28
The Sword of Opis
By TheIma Darby
CHAPTER III


As Princess BemtatZa sat dream
ing she heard a voice say: Royal
Princess thy father bids thee to
come into the castle" She looked
up and beheld very handsome
youth who wore gold band on his
head bearing the royal arms of a
Prince. He was dressed in scarlet
velvet, and his short cape was
trimmed by ermine; on his feet
were sandles of gold like his head
piece and was tied many times
about his bare legs. His hair was
light brown, so were his eyes.
The Princess said in cold voice:
Who sentest thou and who art
thou?"
Most Royal Princess, am thy
own cousin, Prince Kor. Hast
thou forgotten me?" ooh, cousin
Kor. how glad am to see thee"
and the Princess eyes were full
of tears of gladness as the Prince
kissed her cheeks. She had not
seen the Prince since he was a
small lad, so hand in hand went
Princess Bemtatza and Prince Kor
to the two Kings their fathers
when old King kertziel princess
Bamtatza's father) saw them he
said: $50 my daughter didst thou
know this handsome YOUTH" mo
father not at first. 1t has been
many moons since l last saw him."
The two young people were delight
ed with each others company and
Princess Bemtatza showed him all
the castle as she came to the room
where the marble slab was kept,
the Princess did not wish her cous-
in to see that because she was
afraid he might wish to search for
it and never come back, so she
tried to pass by it, but Prince Kor
saw it and leaving the Princess
side went to the tablet and read
the words. When he had finished.
he said: Dearest cousin, who
wrote yon words l ask thee" So
the Princess told him about the
sword of Ops and when she had
finished Prince kor said: Fair
cousin, perchance l should find the
treasure. Wouldn't thou marry
me?" NAY, Nay cousin, | do not
love thee and thou art my cousin.
l will marry only one love and he
must love. me in return" But /
love thee fair cousin, yea thous-
opI t;,Do. ,noro thop on,Ild cpaok
Nay l will not marry thee, Kor."
the Princess said this proudly and
turned to go back but Prince KOr
called back: "Bemtatza, l beseech
thee let us 60 and see thy fathers
Justice Room"
The Princess finally went back
with her cousin to see where her
father held court. This room
known as the Justice Room was the
most beautiful room in the castle.
Its high walls were carved with
gladiators, warriors and prisoners,
the royal seat where the King sat
or throne was covered with dark
purple velvet; also the steps that
led to it were covered by the same
material. but what held ones eyes
were the beautiful green gems or
emeralds set in each arm of the
royal chair. They were beautiful
as they sparkled in the sunlight
which came in through a window.
This window was covered with the
Royal arms and where the bright
coIOrs showed on the seat it made
wonderful colors The floor was
covered by heavy purple velvet
and a little door of white at one
end of the room led to the place
where guilty prisoners were be-
headed. Prince Kor wished to look
in, but Princess Bemtatza forbid
him to, and finally drew him away
from it. Just then they heard a
noise of breaking glass which
made them turn quickly and there
they saw standing in the middle
of the room with the sunlight pour
ing down in through a broken glass
creature that made shivers run
down their spine and rooted them
to the spot.
To be cOntinued)