The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-12-06


er hue than was that OF Eastern beau
ties, and her hair was of a rich golden
shade.
Higher and higher rose the bids for
her, one of those DESTROYS of winning
so much beauty being huge Arab of
most forbidEng visage. Again the girl
turned her eyes upon st. Varnham, and
the tears rolled down her cheeks, as she
stretched forth her hands pityingly.
Instantly he wheeled and doubled the
last offer of the Arab, who was just
about to possess her. and all other bid
ders had stopped on account of the high
price.
The Arab scowled and offered large
sum, which st. Varnham again doubled,
and the beautiful captive became his
property. Carrying her to his cara
vansera, he became more deeply inter
ested in her, and still more SO when
she spoke to him in English, and with
an accent that was irresistibly sweet.
But of her past she would say but lit
tie. Her parents home had been at.
tackled by rowing band of Arabs, her
mother killed, and she borne into cap
tivity, to be rescued by band of Per
slams, and brought on and offered for
sale in the market, she having been in
tended 10y her master for the Sid, but
fearful of trouble she being Persian,
he determined TO sell her in the mar"
ket.
where did you learn English 2"
asked st. Varnham.
"My mother taught me.
"And where did your mother learn
to speak IT,"
From my father"
"And your father-who was hep"
"A Sheik, and my mother Princess. "
"And your name is"
"Thekla."
"And you wish to live with me now
as my daughter?"
Eyes, forever-I love you.
This was all that st. Varnham could
learn of Thekla, but he found her a
lovely companion, true as steel in
character, and willing TO learn all he
could teach her. A few months after
his adoption of Thekla as his daughter,
st. Narnham was summoned to the
Sidi, for the great robber, Shiek Alvah,
had been captured by the Persian
cavalry. The Sid turned him over to
st. Varnham to be put to death by
torture, and he at once visited the
prisoner.
Beverly ST. Varnham
eyes. Arnold Ormsby, have logged
your steps for twenty years. | came to
Persia to entrap you, and / have done
So"
"And you will have your revenge?"
eyes; the Sid has given you into my
hands for execution. You shall die by
the worst torture / can invent.
Arnold Ormsby turned deadly pale,
and one word broke from his lips
Mercy"
"Such mercy as you showed 10 poor
Ella, whose sin was in loving you, l will
show to you. You have twenty-four
hours to prepare for death, Arnold
Ormsby, betrayer, murderer, outcast
and robber that you are"
And st. Varnham left the prison.
At the door of his home Thekla met
him. They tell me that Alvah, the
desert Sheik is taken?" she said calmly.
Eyes"
"And his DOOM"
"To die by torture tomorrow at sun
set"
"Ah. mighty friend, he must not die"
"Why, what mean you, Thekla?"
Spare him, spare him, for Thekla's
sake!" and the beautiful girl dropped
on her knees before st. Varnham
Never He shall die for l have
vowed it"
take Thekla's life and spare Alvah."
why, girl, what is this man to you
that you thus plead for him?"
"My father"
Beverley St Varnham staggered
back and sunk into chair, wholly IN
manned by what he had heard.
Arnold Ormsby your father?"
"Yes, he is my father. Thekla's
mother was Princess, and he rescued
her from captivity, and then became
Persian; but he had an evil heart, and
left her and little Thekla alone; but he
must not die-you will spare him?"
st. Varnham was silent and deeply
moved, for he had tracked Arnold
Ormsby for twenty years to kill him.
Now he had him in his power at last,
and one whom he loved better than all
else in the world asked him to spare
him--and that one whom he loved the
daughter of the man he hated.
"You will save him for Thekla's sake?"
entreated the girl.
Then his vow, his sisters wrongs
and his own were all forgotten, and,
rising to his feet, he said:
ayes, for Thekla's sake!"
Ten minutes after he was at the
prsion.
Have you come to torture me so
soon?"
mo, have come to release you. L
can never forgive nor forget, but spare
your life. Here, slave, take this man
to the outer gates and bid Kaid Abek
give him horses and escort to the
mountains.
"Do L dream?"
"No, Arnold, you are free, and the
daughter whom you deserted saved
your life"
"My daughter, Thekla! Where is
she?"
"Safe and happy. Go"
The man bowed his head and turned
away without word, and then those
two parted forever.