Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-02-28

uaEhHtss. Dathlng tue pEoud spires and
domes of Ispahan in silvery food ot
moonlight.
Chapter xvT.-Thc ,Eether's Grave.
! NEAR the dark waters of the Zunde,
rood, in the suburbs of the city. stood a
small grove of cypress trees enclosed by
a low wall, while around a low mound in
the centre grew flowers OF nearly every
hue. This lovely spot was the last rest
ing place of Zelia Irem, the shepherd 5
daughter
She had been torn from her mountain
home by Persia's tyrant On the night
in which he was forced to seek shelter
from tue storm beneath the hospitabl
roof of the brave mountain hunter, he be-
came eaamored by her beauty, aud ere
but a few days had flown By, Zelia was a
captive within his palace hallA
Yet hers was a nature not to be tanned
by cruelty Nurtured among the noun
tain wilds. with spirit free and fearless,
shs could Ill brook Ashraff S tyranny, and
day by day that fair flower faded.
!. Ii vain did the monarch try to win her
affections from her mountain lover, and
by his costly gifts alleviate her sorrows,
but they failed by accomplishing his OBJ
| ject she still pined for her childhood home,
and soon her step became less elastic
her dark orbs lost their wonted brilliancy,
and the deep yermili. "A faded from her
1 cheeks
| Yet years few by, and the injured Zelia
still lived, yet she now lived for her child
the fair Ella, and the captive And
many prisoner was freed By her plead
ings in their behalf
1t was night, clear aud beautiful The
broad spread arch above was spangled by
myriads Of stars, while the white marble
walls of the palace lay sparkling in the
moonlight like the trembling waves Of the
sea
Within one of the gorgeousiy furnished
halls of the palace, reclining on divan
lay the injured Zelia.
Upon her once fair features grief had
left its deep traces, while the deep blush
that rested on her cheek told of the worm
that was gnawing at her heart-striugs.
Her solitude was soon broken By the
presence of a young girl. who sprang for
ward and knelt at her feet
O will you not plead with the king for
my aged father uttered the maiden. glauc
ing inp!oringly into the pensiye features
OF the captive queen.
Then is your father to die so soon
sweet one ? kindly asked Zella
He is sentenced to die on the morrow
vet will you not iutercede in his behalf -
Oh, if you viii, Allah will smile upon
you
our fathers name, fair one 2
Hafed 2
Then if it be the will of Allah he shall
be with you on the morrow, fair one, until
then, adieu
The young girl caught the hand Of her
benefactress in hers, aud pressing it to
her lips with grateful smile, turned
from her presence.
Alone within his private chamber, sat
Ashraff, Persia's king. \ frown that now
aud then made his countenance so forbid
ding, rested upon his brow, and his head
was bent in thought The heavy folds Of
the drapery was thrown aside, and Zelia
entered his presence
/ The frown upon the shall's brow dark
ened as his glance fell upon her whom he
/ had injured, and he moved restlessly in
( his seat.
Aha, will you ever keep yourself in
/ nv presence he mutterei. in bitter
tone, while his hand rested nervously on
the ieweled hilt of his sabre.
Ever All, monster, may the curse of
/ Omar rest upon thy black heart. Have
you so soon forgotten the shepherd :
/ daughter? There was time when you
/ in vain tried to win my love and Danish
I my sorrows, but now, when you have made
1 me what | am-an oHteast-when you
have ruined nay happiness and deseerated
/ my childhood home by your wanton acts
of cruelty-now you would spurn me from
/ your presence.
I As Zelia thus spoke, she drew herself
Zap to her full height, and a wild, malig-
nant fire shone from her flashing eyes,
while the king trembled beneath her
Threatening glance.
sAvaunt. fend approach me not cried
the king, starting from his seat, and draw
ing his sabre.
..Fiend, ba, beware; for horrid is the
retribution that is meted out for thee,
cried zelia, still keeping her gaze fixed on
the king
/ Helds hold, your words have set my
1 brain on IRE
! Ha, base one, thy lifeless form viii ere
long be Consigned to the dark waters OF
tie Zur serood, where the mouldering
csrpses Of your victims await to greet
thee
! Hda, enough May thy blood rest
! unan thy own head vociferated the mon
arehsgaising his sabre.
But the injured one moved not before
his threatening glance, aud the next mo
menc the marble foor was dyed with the
life blood of saeEherd's daughter
A tesr wet the swarthy cheek of The
menarch as be bent over the dying Zelia
for his hard heart was melted.
Well may thou weep, proud Ashrah.-
Well may thy frame tremble like the agi
tated leaf of the aspen, as thy gaze rest:
on the CORY frxn of thy victim for in
stead of dealing kindly With her whom
thou hast so foully wronged, thou hast be
come her murderer.
A sbratr' p,urmured the diving one FIX