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

half timidly, as though fearing lest tn
corpse of the murdered man would ris
up from the low couch to rebuke her fo
breaking the death-like stiffness tha
reigned around
Haftz remained silent, and a shad,
passed over the fair girls features. Th,
rain now came down in sweeping torrents
and the wind howled with ali its might.
Where think you Iaeo is. on this wild
/! Dight, dear father 2" asked the maiden
taking his coarse rough hand in hers, and
glancing half-timidly up into his face.
The astrologer gazed earnestly into the
uptnrned face of his daughter. and smile
/ lit up her features; but the smile soon
/ passed away. and with sober look he
! brushed back the long, dark tresses from
/ her white brow
Zelia," he at length said, in mild
tone fear not for Iago he is safe"
| +" Allah be prais, ] :" uttered the maid
/ en. in more cheerful tone, for she was
/ too young to read the quiYering signs that
dwelt upon Haftz's face
/ :" Yet, father, is Iago-n now with Hafed ~
/ Ere the astrologer lad time to reply.
heavy blows we're heard on the onter door
Of the tower. causing even Haftz to shud-
/ der and hesitate; but it was only for a
moment, for taking torch, he descended
the narrow flight of stone steps, and soon
Zelia heard him returning with the stran-
ger
He was tall man, with a visage that
had been roughened by the storms of near
ly sixty winters, while his dark olive-col-
ored complexion showed that Arab blood
flowed In his veins, and his features, which
were anything but noble, wore a sinister
expression.
BY the beard of Omar. worthy Raftz.
I if | may call thee by that name, this storm
and the fend | dealt so timely with. we'll
nigh sped the soul of Ludn to the land
of shades, said the stranger, throwing off
his outer garments, that had become sat
urated with the rain.
The astrologer made no reply, but an
uneartbly frown settled on his features, as
the name of Ludin fell upon his ear.
Methinks this is wild night for the
kings vizier to be out in" he at length re-
piled. in a cold. sarcastic tone
True, noble Haftz, and sorry place
is this for one to find shelter for himself
and steedn
"Thcre is many safe retreat among
the mountains where one may find good
cheer"
'' The homes Of brigands /"
The homes of men who have suffered
injustice, and have been banished by Per-
sias tyrant'
Aha-the eonspirators !"
Were they conspirators?" Heshan Lu-
din asked the stranger, in a bitter tone,
while his neither lip quivercd with some
strange emotion /" They formed con-
spiracy to slay their king"
IHeir king Heshan Tudin," uttered
Haftz. in a deep mcaniag tone
Mean you that Ashrad is not shah of
Persia ?"
Nay for lie bears that tide yet how
came Ashraff king Of Persia ?"
Ludin quailed before tie iron glance of
his interrogator a cold tremor shook his
frame, and he leaned against the walls for
support
Now that re are alone, I would ask of
you one question, said Haftz.
Say on easped the Eizier
"Ludin. didst thou ever have broth
er ?' asked the astologer, in strange.
calm tone, while deep meaning smile
played over his features"
6 4 brother r.
Ay Ludin, brother !"
had a brother. Iaftz p"
Ard what became of him ?"
He fed to Arabia ~
Why did lie f6rsake his home 2"
He was exiled by the king"
8 For what was be exiled 2" and as the
L. l. IL,
the trembling vizier.
For freeing the captive II Had"
Yet know you his fate}"
He died in Arabia"
And yop slave to the murderer Of
your brother 2" uttered the astrologer,
while a scornful smile wreathcd his lips
a slave. Haftz cried the vizer
while bis hand saught the Lilt of his sa-
bTe
'Ay. slave to one who is too base to
live, and yet unfit to die; yet, Ludin.
from whence came this blood upon your
clothes q asked the astrologer in hur
ried tone. as the vizier sank upon . couch
in the room next 20 that in which the
corpse lay.
Aha there is blood upon my clothes.
vet 1t flowed not from nay veins. it Is the
/ life-blood Of some one who attacked me
on the mountains
Then he did not even wound you, Lu-
din 2
Nay, he did not, for | am unharmed,
as von see
Yet you look ashy pale and your form
trembles.'
Pale strange that should look pale
yet it is the journey 1t had near worn
me ont and I feel not myself tonight
Was there but one who attacked you
sir stranger2' p asked Zelia, glancing earn
estly into the dark visage of Ludin.
Nay, there was but one, fair lady; and
/ l dealt kindly with him, and his black
soul. perchaDce, is now in the land Of
shades replied be, forcing smile; but il
was with a sickly effort
I Could you make out his features 2 ask
ed the astrologer.