The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-12-22

one hundred yards from where yon ley Nas tsse
headless trunk Of Alexandcrs - knew AZ w
the half-burnt dress, which . snaou!dering ~
was consumfag: near the entrance 70 tee csvo
1 found his head frightfully burnod-tne Isos
moro like o chnrred sticR than . human ceun,l
tenance-and not far from HE body aonna
his hand, the fingers still graphing. as you nay
sec them, these precious stones. You Percese
how firmly tho fingers are clutched inSe ING
palm, az 4 in his death sgony he wS%IE so
quired. And this hand--you must renemeeI
it well, Selim--its snow-like Wilderness ana lCs
crimson-tipped fingers. It 10 the hand Of Aiex
ander; and here arc five precious diamonds
and two rubies grasped between them. IwouId
not part with these FIVE diamonds alone Tor the
territory that gives the title of Prince e. Bone
that when yQu called upon the name OF Alex
ander, he was listening to you-was loboing
me-and he hoped in the darkness to escape
from tho cave with all the spoil. Was he mol
"Oh, a most base villain" cried selim, torl
think Of robbing you-his friend"
time Of casting upon another friend-eyen
either yourself robbed, or aided another in
rObbDg men
robbing you said selim; feeling for the first
time a fear of the magician.
(" Certainly" added the old man, "f9r II, upon
returning to the cave, found that was rob-
bed, and saw you there, and did not see Alex
antler, or did not know of bis being there-as
], in fact knew nothing ofit-what other con
| yourself had either robbed ME, or aided some
| one else in doing soY'
4 ooh, the monstrous villain !" cried Selim,
"to rob one friend and cast unjust suspicion OF
another friend. L am content to suffer the
| agony / am enduring, since that which causes
me pain has rid the earth of such monster as
Alex andsr."
| LET us think of him no MORE" said the old
man, but rather turn our thoughts to your
self. How came you to the cave last nlghtI 1
that you were wasening from sns
seeking an opportunity to assassinate him."
my business at tho cave last night was to
consult with you," replied selim, " as to the
Of sweip., have tried different e1pedients to
pass the line Of sentinsls, but each tirue have
failed. It would appear to me as If Swein and
Florine were aware their lives are in peril from
an attack such as You aud both contemplate
1 can from my habitation perceive that they
walk encompassed with guards, from the mo
mont they pass out of their tents until they
return. 1t is for you now to devise q plan by
| which their precautions r7ay be rendered nu-
gatory. This fact 1 can toll you, for have
I get within their entertainments aud safely out
| Of them--nansely, that they intend to remain
| whore they now for a few days. until mon
| march that they may, on reaching Antioch, DO
in q fit state to take an active part with the
| besiegers." -. ..il
! to thy VOW as am unshaken in my spirit and
| remorseless in M revenge, and Swein will not,
as Florine shall not, live to look upon tho walls
| Of Antioch
| "Give me freedom from pain. and this hand
shall strike a steady and anerring blow" said
F! Selim.
old man; =" now that consciousness has fully
| returned, have balm to assuage thy pain.
Lie down again, good selim. Here, apply this
to thy cheek. Keep it constantly mestened
1 ~ has
slight trace of tho injury thou hast received.
| Mean hile shall leave thee to think on the
means of executing our plan and whilst thy
pioyed in consiguipg to the earth the mangled
and blaokeneti RENAME Of him who was once
known as the handsome and gallant Alexander
| of Constantinople."
-aOb, the viliain-the base, treacherous vii
lain J" said Selim, as he applied tho bslsam to
his check, I" to think of robbing thee. and of
casting upon me the suspicion "f being so vile
as to act rs his accomplish"
Chapter XXIII-The Repeating Sinner.
al have fulfilled my promise to selim. He
has broken his promise to me. He has left me
inquire whittier he was going, and that if he
attempted to deceive me by falsehood, /
should by my interrogatories convict him of
treachery. Whittier can he have gomez With
| what object The motive must have been
strong one that induced him to leave this
bic lady here, unguarded, without questioning
her as TO her ransom, or seeking to despoil her
of the costly ornaments she wears. He knows,
to be sure, that she Is weak and sckly, aud
that am strong aud vigorous, and he eeunts,
without doubt, upon my hdelity-for to him l
have hitherto been but too faithful Bnt he
forgets that he has aided in doing me wrong,
that having the power to repair it, he did not
grant me reparation; and with true Mnssel-
mans contempt for woman, he fancies we
can forget injuries, and will repay personal
wrongs by service to the wrongdosr. Feol
and villain as he is, he will fad himself mis-
takea in SO treating cara. promised to keep
the Lady Gunblda safe until his return. Even
she, to her great agony, aided me in keeping
that promise. 1t has been fulfilled. But there
is another promise not yet redeemed: it is my
promise to her--my promise to her who was
the guardian of my child in sickness and ia
slavery; who gave my daughter back to
health and bestowed upon my child liberty.
| To the Lady GunhidA have said, ransom or
| NO ransom, / would set hrr free; and will do
| go, and this is the opportune moment for so
doiBg when there is mono to watch me, none
| to control me, not one to prevent ME.
LADY Gunhilda shall be free; within an
| hour from this tune che shall be q free woman
in tho camp of her cousin Florine. will