Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1864-08-31

are at an end; you will call your father
guards, and I shall die
No, no-you shall not die-=hot i
| Ada can save you; 1 will not call them
no, I dread their cUhing.
Then you forgive my boldness p
'Yes-Only begOne-save ycursslf'
'Shall we meet againP'
'NevefE
Then I viii stay and die; better to
die here, at yOHf command, in your pres
ence, than TO go hence and linger out a
life of hopeless love, never beholding
you again.
Poor Ada had never been bBf6rs ad-
dressed in loves own language. Her
hand had been sought by princes and
mobiles, who, secure in her fathers sahb-
ton, had addressed her in terms of admi-
ration, but whose looks and accents were
cold and spiritless when compared with
the ardor of the youthful lover who
knelt before her.
For my sake, ifnot for your own, go,
she cried.
Then we may meet again ?
Yes, only leave me now; you know
not half your peril. Tomorrow is the
annual festival in honor of Vishnu; I
shall be there, and contrivs to speak to
you-harkP
She pointed to the orange trees. A
f5ot8tep vas heard at a distance. The
Moor graspsd her hand, pressed it to his
lips, and was lost among the orange
blossoms just as the chief officer of the
rajah entered the bower to inform Ada
that her father desired Het presence. =
She cast one anxious glance around her,
brgathed more freely when she found
that her lover lay unsupported in his
fragrant ambush, and followed by her
attendant, returned to the palaee. There
was no festival in HindOostah 50 splen-
did as that celebrated annually in honor
of Vishnu in the province over which
the rajah governed. The gardens en- the
banks of the Jumma were splendidly
decorated for the occasion, and at noon
were filed by crowds of persons, all ca
ger in their various situations either to
see or be seen; to pay due reverence to
Vishnue, or to be duly revcrenced.
Kettle=drums sounded, golden armor
glistened; downy feathers waved in cost
ly turbahs) cavaliers bearing silver bat
tle.a&ss rode proudly Oh their prancing
milk-wnite steeds, and Princely ladies
were borne in glittering palankeehs On
the backs of elephants:
Ada was there, pale and sad ]; hef sto-
len, mysterious interview With her un-
known lover was so recent, unexpected,
so unlikely to end happily, that she lay
on her rose-colored cushions, famed by
her fayOrite slave, without taking the
trouble to draw aside the curtains to look
upon the festivities which surrounded
her.
Toward evening the gardens were illu-
minated with thousands of many-col6red
lamps; she raised herself and looked
around her, but glancing over bright
vistas and radiant bowers, her eyes rest
ed on a wide-spreading tree beneath
whose overshadowiug branches a eompar-
atively dark space remained. She there
saw the form of hef unknown lover he
was leaning against the tree, with his
eyes fixed upon her; she told her slave
with assumed le4ity that she had vowed
to gather cluster of the blossoms of
that tree, alone to gather them, and de
string her to await her return, she has
tened beneath the canopy formed by its
bodghs.
Selim was indeed there.
Speak not, she earnestly whispered.
Il must not stay for an Instant dare
not listen to you-but mark nay words,
and if you love me obey then. I do not
doubt your love. 1 do nobsdoubt your
cOnstanOy, but I shall appear to doubt
both when you hear my request
Speak, lady, I will ob5y you, said
the Moor.
Co. whispered hdaj buy the swift
test of Arabian steeds, ride him across
your plain three times in every day-in
the morning, at noon, and in the even
ing; and every time you ride him, swim
the Jumna on his back
Is that alp" said Selim; it shall be
done
1T is all, replied Ada, to prove your
love you will I know readily DO it, but
to prove your constancy, or rather to en-
sure our safety, it must be done three
times every day for the space of one
year,
"A yearP
Yes, and at the expiration Of the year,
at this festival, On this very day, if nei-
thef courage nor constancy have been
wanting, meet me again on this spot. I
can wait for no reply-bless you, bless
YOU
Ada, with few leaves of the tree in.
s.-.---ssH