Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-09-12

llS mo titiI II 4 I'"hH3' yct, H''ihS ho
other resource left, they resolved to put their
periIous adventure to the risk.
Twas the Mussulman hour of prayer
Maggrib; the sun had just disappeared,
and the purple haze of twilight rested on
the hills, darkeuing all the cedar forests,
when the porter Of the gate, keisan, having
been kribed with briba. It's folding leaves
slowly opened, and forth issued a horseman
closely wrapped up in a MANTLE and behind
him, at little space, followed another SIM
iarly clad. Alas for the unluchy fugi-
tiycs, it 50 CHANGED that Dcrar, the captain
Of the night guard, was at that moment
makirg his rounds, and observing what
was going on, he detached a party to throw
themselves between the strangers and the
town. The foremost rider, however, dis
covered their intention. and he called back
to his follower to return. IsNbelle-for it
was she-iustamtly regaiacd the gate which
had not yet closed, but Demetrius fell into
the hands Of the enemy
As wont in those bloody wars, the poor
prisoner was Immediately carried by an eS-
cort into the presence Of the caiph, who
pat The alternative in his power, Of either,
Oh the instant, renouncing his religion, or
submitting to the axe Of the hcadSman
Demetrius told his tale with a noble simplic-
ity: and his youth, his open countcnancc,
and stately bearing, 50 lar gained on the
heart of AbIbcAcr, that, on his refusal to
embrace Alahometan~!n. he begged of him
seriously to consider Of his situation. and
ordered L delay Of the sentence, which he
must otherwise pronounce until the NOR
row.
llcart-broken and miserable, Demctrius
was loaded with chains, and carried to a
gloomy place Of confinement In the soli-
tude Of the night-hours he cursed the hour
OF his birth-bewailcd his miserable Situa-
tion-and feeling that all his schemes of
happiness were thwartcd, almost reioiced
that he had only a few hours to live.
The heavy hours Jagged on toward day
break, and quite exhausted by the intense
agony Of his feelings, he sank down upon
the ground in profound sleep, from which
a band, with cresccnted turbans and crooked
sword blades, awoke him. Still persisting
to reject the prophets filth, he was led
forth to die; bat in passing through the
camp, the Soumchis Of the calph stopped
the band, as he had been commanded, and
Dcmetins was ushcrcd into the tent, where
AbuhcHer, not Yet arisen, law stretched on
his sofa.
For a while the captive remained resoutc,
preferring death to the disgrace of turning
renegade; but the willy caIiph. who had
taken deep and sudden interest in the for-
tunes OF the youth, knew well the spring BY
the touch of which his heart was most likely
to be affected. lie pointed out to Dcmetrius
prospects Of pretermcnt and grandeur,
while he assured him that, in few days.
Damascus must to certain surrender, in
which case his mistress must fail into the
power of a fierce sodiery, and be left to a
fate full Of di,honor, and worse than death
itself, but, if he assumed the turban, he
pledged his royal word, that especial care
should be taken that no harm should aliyht
on her he loved.
Dcmctrius paused, and Abubeker saw
that the heart Of his captive was touched.
lie drew pictures Of power, and afllCence,
and domestic love that dazzed the imagine
ton of his hearer and while the prisoner
thought Of his Isabelle, instead of rejecting
the impious proposal, at first he had done,
with disdain and horror. his soul bent like
iron in the breath of the furnace flame,
and he waycred and became irresolute.
The keen eye of the calph saw the working
of his spirit within him, and allowed him
yet another day to form his resolution.
When the second day was expired, Deme-
triUs craycd a third and on the fourth
morning, miserable man, he ahjured the
faith Of his fathers, and became q Mussul-
man.
Abubcker loved the youth, assigning him
a post Of dignity, and all the mighty host
honored him whom the calph delighted to
honor. He was clad in rich attire, and
maGniicently attended; and, to all eyes,
Demetrius seemed person worthy Of envy;
yet, in the calm of thought, his conscience
upbraided him, and he was far less happy
than he seemed to be.
Eve yet the glow of novelty had entirely
ceased to bcwildcr the understanding of the
renegade, preparations were made for the
assault and, after a fierce but Intellectual
resistance, under their gallant leaders
Thomas and Herbs, the Damasccnes were
obliged to submit to their impcrious con-
queror, on condition of being allowed,
within three days, to leave the city unmo-
lcstcd
When the gates were opened, Dcmetrius,
with a heart overaowing with love and de-
light, was among the first to enter. lie in
quired of every one he met Of the fate of Isa-
belle; but all turned from him with dis
gust. At length he found her out. but
what was his grief and surprisc-in a nun
merry. Firm to the troth she had so solemn
ly plighted, she had rejected the proposition
of her merccnary parent; and, having no
idea but that her lover had shared the fate
of all Christian captiyeS, she had shut her.
self up from the world, and vowed to live
the life Of a ycstal.
The surprise, the anguish, the horror Of