Demoine courier., 1855-06-14

Hi5ht. IHoH am an orphan.
love no one in all The world 5u. thee;
then why should ! stay heref why
shoalds, thou linger longer in bondage!
Let us fly TO England! God will guide
US safely over the wide dark waters for
we are Christians, and need no, fear any
thing. | will meet thee tonight on the
sea shore, and bring gold and jewels Q.
nough 10 purchase a vessel and hire a
skilful crew-and when, o, nv Gilbert,
we are afloa, on the broad blue sea. sail
ing towards Thy home. thou viii. bless
me AID love me-.wih thou not?"
The merchant kissed the maiden's
hand, aud promised 10 meet her on The
appointed hour. And hesdid not fail
Lui long he walked the lonely shore and
no light footed Zarina came fitting
through ,h. deep night shadows and
stealing to his side. North. south, east,
and west, he looked-bui all in vain
The night was clear. the wilma whiepsr.
ed low. the li.lle waves slid on the shfa-
ing shore and seemed TO invi,a hin to
sail away over them 10 the great seas
beyond-but The stars overhead twinkled
so merrIly aad winked 50 knowingly
that he had almost fsncie2 they had
betrayed the story of his and Z,rina's
love and intended fight A, length he
heard a quick, light step, and sprang
forward with a joyful crv. Alas! il was
moi Z4rina, bat her faithful nurse. Safe.
who came to tell him that Zarina'e love
had been discovered. and tina, her kins-
man had confined her in a strong. guard
ed lower. and that he must escape alone
She sent him a casketo T gold and gems.
with a promise that as coon as possible
she would make her escape and come to
him in London. ess
| There really vas nothing for Gilbert
a Beckett 10 do but to accept Zarina's
casket of ;e els and follow her advice;
SO, after sending her many loving fare
well messages by Safe. he went.
He had a prosperous voyage and reach.
ed London in safety, where he gave his
friends a joyful surprise, for they had
given him 10 for dead.
Year after year went by, and he saw
nothing, heard nothing, Of his nobleSara-
cen love, Zarina, and al last he grew 10
think of her very ~sorrowfully aad tender
ly as Of one dead. Bat Zarina lived.
and lived for him whom she loved and
who had laugh, her to love God. For
years she was kept imprisoned IN tina,
lonely guarded tower neal lie sea-
where she coald only put her sorrow
into mournful songs and sigh her love
out on the winds that blew toward Eng
land, and gaze up at the bright. kindly
stars and pray for Gilbert. Blu, one
night, while the guard slept, the brave
Zarina stole out on the parape., and
leaped down many feet 10 the ground
below. She sosn sprang up unframed
and made her way 10 the Strand, when
she took passage on a 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 tones 10 eve
ry one she mei!-bu, nobody understood
what she meant by :hem.
From Stamboul she went on her wea-
~ wandering way, from poI, 10 1por,
and from city 10 city. till she had ourn.
eyed through many strange countries re-
pea!ing everywhere these two words or
English but all in vain, for though every
body had heard Of London, none knew
Gilbert. Yer the people were very kiad
and gave her food and shelter, out Of pity
for her sad face and in return for The
sweet songs which she sung.
Al length after many months OF lone
y and ,oilsome wandering she reached
England, and found herself amidst the
busy, hurrying lhrong Of London. She
gazed about her bewildered and almost
~despairing q, snding il SO large a place.
il would be so much harder 10 find him.
Ye. s.il, patiently and YEARLY up and
Gown the long street she wenl-lhrough
market place and square-past churches
and palaces, singing her moLrnfnl songs.
speaking softly and more and more sad
iy the one word-Gi;bert.
One evening as Gilbert a Beckett. the
rich merchant, SAT a. the banquet table in
his splendid London house. entertaining
a gay company of rich and noble guests,
a servant brought him word that a beau
tlful Saracen maiden, pale and sorrow.
fui looking, stood in the square without,
singing sad songs and repeating his name
over and over. In a moment Gilbert,
thought Of his beloved Zarina, and spring.
ing up from the table lie rushed ou, Of
the brilliant hall into the street where
poor Zarina stood, with her long dark
hair g~lisiening with The chill night dew,
and her swee. face looking very while
and teniful in the moonligt.
lie knew her at a glance, though she
was sadly changed from the fai. young
girl he had LEI, in the gardens Of Nah
mould, as gay hearted as The birds and as
blooming as the flowers. He called her
name-hs caught her in his arms-snd
the mex. time she spoke The dear word
Gilbert abe murmnred il against his
heart, while his lips pressed her cheeks
and his eyes dropped happy loving Tears
upon her brow. as
He, took her into his princsly house,
anc il became her home from that hour.
She vas baptized and took the Christian
name of Mallda-but Gilbert always