Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-01-24

! 1et ulo you IeaFe hlm on the noun
tains p
Nay, I did not, for he spurred on hi,
steed, and dashed past me-
Strange
'W hat is strange, Haftz y
'Ah it was cruel blow vet woult
to the gods [ could have been at thy side
and then it would not have been thus.
unused Haftz, gazing vacantly on the stone
floor
Know you VIII the assassin was q gasp
ed Ludin, graspinc Haftz by the arm
Assassin What mean you q cried the
astrologer, springing to his feet
Know you who he was, Haftz p asked
the vizier. regaining his courage
Think you l would know what occur
red on the mountains this wild night. when
am immured in this old tower7'
Yet
Yet what p
Nothing, HAITI, only heard you muir
was musing on the past, Ludin, think
not of that
The vizier spoke not, yet there was a
doubtful shade resting on his features.
and his mind seemed i'll at ease, At this
moment the door was thrown open and
the mask entered the room.
As Ludin met the stern piercing glance
of the stranger, an ashy paleness over
spread his features, aud cold tremor
shook his frame
Aha, it is him. the same form that
twice crossed my path on the mountains,
be murmured with shudder.
seek one Haftz, the astrologer,' spoke
the mask, in the same hollow voice.
Methinks this is sorry place to find
him here, in this old tower returned the
vizier. in harsh tone.
Hishon Ludin. beware. Thy life is
like grain of dust on some crumbling
ruins, which the first stray blast may dis
lodge added the stranger, In a deep.
meaning tone.
Ha. base serf, dare you beard me to
my teeth cried Ludin, spripging from his
couch, aud graspine his sword.
Slave. beware. for the blood Of Hus-
seyn cries to the gods for vengeance
Mark me- sir stranger, cease thy pratt
ing else YOU Will rouse the sleeping lion.
and then you viii feel its power
'Babbler. keep thy tongue between thy
teeth. else Il will fare worse with thee
BY Saint Omar, you speak nobly, SIR
mask, vet take heed to tbyself, and not
rouse the feud within me, else thy life
will not be worth the asking for
III not handy words with thee, thou
hireling, yet L give thee timely warning
not to cross my path
Fret not. sir stranger, tie dawn shall
greet thee a captive
Like the lion springlng upon its prey,
sprane the mask upon the proud vizier
aud lifting him above lis head as though
be had been bat an infant, lie hurled him
to the floor.
By the Black Eagle, he would beard
me to my teeth yet let il pass added the
mask. in bitter tone, for | would now
speak with him Of whom | seek
Haftz, the astrologer ?
All, true, noble sir, it is him whom
I seek
Then you need seek no farther
Is be who stands before me none 9th
er than Haftz, the far famed astrologer of
Isphan.
l am Haftz, sir stranger; is thy bust
ness with me 2
1t is. and I would see thee alone
Does this place not suit thee 2
Nav. ii does not, for | would sec thee
where we may not have listeners
Lead on. then. and | viii follow
This way Haftz. and you shall know
what brought me here on this wild night
Lead on. and I will be with thee. add
ed the astrologer and drawing his robe
around him. they both left tie old tower.
An hour passed ere Haftz returned (;
be was then unaccompanied aud dark
frown had settled upon his features. His
garments were saturated With the rain,
and he looked wild and haggard. while his
manner seemed abstracted and thought
ful and when he smiled it was with q
sickly effort
The fail, Zeiia had restored the vizier
to consciousness. and be stood by one Of
the gothic windows wrapt in thought
At length deafening peal Of thunder
reverberated along the cloud -vanlted heav-
ems. shaking the old tower from turret
peak to foundation stone. and the light
ming glared wildly N at the long, narrow
windows
by Saint Omar, the lightning has
struck the tower, gasped Ludiu, seizing
torch and rushing into the room IN
which the corpse lay
as his glance fell on the coarse seek
cloth that covered the dead, be started
back aghast, but in moment more he
approached the couch, and removing the
sack cloth from those features, cold in
death. he bent over the corpse, and let the
rudy light Of the torch fall foil upon the
face of the murdered man. For mo-
ment be remained motionless, and then
staggering back fell heavily upon the
stone floor beside the couch.
Hours were away ere Ludin was him
self again, aud even then the vision d
/ the murdered man seemed to haunt him
Chapter ITk.-A Tragic Scene as Exer
yaaasb,asg.
DARx night receded before the near az
proach OF dawn. and the storna that has
swept over the Zagrian lad now spent il
force, while the heavy black masses o
clouds rolled back.
Here aud there among the mountain
rrx<'s