Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-07-11

nothing of his long golden eye-lashes,
and his curling silken moustache, he
was very interesting and handsome
young man, and inspiteh ofhis gardener 5
dress and a slavish chain, looked as
proud and noble as a prince.
Zarina thought so, and though she
was very modest and timid, drew hear
to speak few kind words 10 him. He
looked up at the sound of her light step,
and for the first time in many months, he
smiled, gladdened by the sight of her
beautiful innocent face.
The ballad does not tell Just how
these two became acquainted, but 1t Is
certain that they soon grew to be excel
lent friends and managed to meet Of
ten, and have long walks and talks in
The shaded bowers of Mahmoud's gar
dens. They first talked of the flowers,
then of the stars and moonlight, then of
love, and then of God. Gilbert told Ia
rina of the Christians blessed faith, and
related all the beautiful and marvellous
stories of our Lord Jesus, and Zarina
wondered, and wept, and believed.
Gilbert had learned the Saracen Ian
guage and spoke it very well, but Zarina
did moi understand English at all. The
first word that she ever spoke was eyes, ="
which Gilbert had taught her to say
when he asked her if she would be his
wife, whenever he could gain his free;
dom. But month after month, a whole
year went by, and Gilbert was still cap
tive.
One day, when Zarina met her lover
in shady garden walk, she said in a
low, gentle voice, and with her tender
eyes cast down, "I am a Christian now,
dear Gilbert l pray TO God morning
and night. Thou knowest l am an or.
phan. l love no one in all the world
but thee; then why should l stay here?
Why wouldst thou linger longer in bon
dage? Let us fly to England God
will guide us safely over the wide dark
waters, for we are Christians, and need
not fear anything. l will meet thee to-
night on the sea-shore, and bring gold
and jewels enough. to purchase vessel
and a skillful crew, and when, Q my
Gilbert, we are ahoat on the broad blue
sea, sailing towards thy home, thou wilt
bless me and love me-wilt thou not ?''
The merchant kissed the maiden's
hand, and promised to meet her on the
fstrand at the appointed hour, and he did
not fail-but long he walked the lonely
shore, and no light footed Zarina came
fitting through the deep night.shadows
and stealing 10 his side. North, south,
east and west he looked-but all in vaitf
The night was clear, the winds whis.
pered low, the little waves slid on the
shining shore, and seemed to invite him
to sail away over them to the great seas
beyond-but the stars overhead twinkled
SO merrily and winked so knowingly,
that be had almost fancied they had be-
trayed the story Of his and Zarina's love
and intended fight. At length he heard
quick light step, and sprung for
ward with joyful cry. Alas it was
not Zarina, but her faithful nurse, Safe,
who came to tell him that Zarina's love
had been discovered, and that her kins-
man had confined her in strong guard
ed tower, and that he must escape
alone. She sent him casket of gold
and gems, with promise that as soon
as possible she would make her escape
and come to him in London.
There was nothing for Gilbert A. Bee
ket to do, but to accept Zarina's casket
of Jewels and follow her advice SO, after
sending her many loving farewell ines
sages by Safe, he went.
He had a prosperous voyage, and
reached London in safety, where he
gave his friends joyful surprise, for
they had given him up for dead.
Year after year went by, and he saw
nothing, heard nothing, of his noble
Saraceu love, Zarina, and at last he
grew to think of her very sorrowfully
and tenderly as one dead. But Zarina
lived, and lived for him whom she loved,
and who had taught her to love God
For years she was kept imprisoned in
that lonel y guarded tower near the sea
where she could only put her sorrow
into mournfnl songs and sigh her love
out on the wind that blew towards Eng.
land, and gaze up at the bright kindly
stars, and pray for Gilbert. But ono
night, whi.e the guard slept, the brave
Zarina stole out on the parapet, and
leaped down many feet to the ground
below. She soon sprang up unharmed,
and made her way to the strand when she
took passage on foreign vessel for
S;amboul. Now, all the English that
this poor girl remembered were the words
-'Gilbert" and london" These she
said in sad, pleading, inquiring tone to
every one she met-but no one knew
what she meant.
From Stamboul she went on her wea-
ry, wandering way from port to port,
and from city 10 city, till she had jour
neyed through many strange countries,