Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-05-16
aflisttIlarleous,
THE TRAITOR LOVER.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.


During the siege of Damascus, Derar
was appointed to patrol round the city
and the camp with two thousand horses.
AS party of these was one night going
their rounds near the walls, they heard
sis S,se
ing narrowly around, deserted horseman
coming stealthily from the gate ofsKeisau.
Hating in shadowy place, they waited
until he came close to them, when rushing
forth they made him a prisoner.
He was youthful Surian, richly and
CALAMITY arrayed, and apparently a per-
son of distinction. Scarcely had they
seized him when they beheld another is
suing from the same gate, who, in soft
voice, called upon their captive, by the
name of Jonas. They commanded the
latter to invite his companion to advance.
He seemed to reply, and called out some
thing in Greek Upon hearing which, the
other turned bride and galloped back in
to the city. The Arabs, ignorant Of
Greek, and suspecting the words to be a
warning, would have slain their prisoner
on the spot, but on second thought, con.
Quoted him 10 Khaled.
The youth avowed himself nobleman
of Damascus, and betrothed to beautiful
maiden named Eudocea, but her parents,
for some capricious reason, had withdrawn
their consent to his nuptials ; whereupon
the lovers had secretly agreed to fly from
Damascus. A sum of gold had bribed the
sentinels who kept watch that night at
the gate. The damsel, disguised in male
attire, and accompanied by two domestics,
was following her lover at distance, as
he sailed in advance. His reply in Greek,
when she called upon him. was, /" that the
bird is caught" warning, at the hearing
of which she fed to the city.
Khaled was not man to be moved by
love tale; but he gave the prisoner his
alternative.
Embrace the faith-of Islam," said he,
" and when Damascus falls into our pow
er you shall have your betrothed refuse,
and your head is the forfeit"
The youth paused not between seine
tar and bride. He made immediate pro-
fession of faith between the hands of Kha-
led, andsthenceforth fought zealously for
the capture of the city, since its downfall
was to crown his hopes. When Damas-
Gus yielded to its foes, he sought the
dwelling Of Eudocea, and. learnt new
proof Of her affection. Supposing on his
capture by the Arabs, that he had fallen
martyr to his faith, she renounced the
world, and shut herself up in convent
With throbbing heart he FASTENED te
the convent, but when the lofty minded
maiden beheld him a renegade, she turned
| from him with scorn, retired to her cell
and refused to see him more. She was
among the noble ladies who followed
Thomas and Herbs into exile. Her lover
frantic at the thoughts Of leaving her, re
minded Khaled of his promise to restore
her to him, and entreated that she nigh
be detained but Khaled pleaded tht
convent of Aba Obediah, according tt
which all had free leave to depart.
When Jonas afterwards discovered thai
Khaled meditated pursuit Of the exiles
but was discouraged by the lapse of time
he offered to conduct him by short anc
secret passages through the mountains
4 which would insure his overtaking them
! His offer was accepted. On the fourtl
day Of the departure of the exiles, Khalec
set out in pursuit, with four thousand cho
sen horsemen, who. BY the advice OF 10
mas, were disguised as Christian Arabs
For some time they traced the exiles alonl
the plains, by the numerous footprints o
mules and camels, and by the article
4 thrown away, to enable them to trave
i more expeditiously. At length, the foot
prints turned towards the mountains 0
{ Lebanon, and were lost in their arid an