Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-10-31
A Story Of
the EAst...
By
SYLVANUS
COBB. JR.


had gone, Abba remarked:
THE more l see of that man, the
more do | love and honor him. He
is no common man, my lady"
i shall always remember him with
gratitude" returned Ulin, gazing down
as she spoke.
And l." added the bondmaiden,
earnestly. should Like to remain with
him. and serve him always"
You are generous, Abba"
Because am but poor slave, and
can only pay such debts with grateful
service"
mo, no, Albia--a slave no more.
When We left my fathers house you
stepped forth free. You are my COM
panion-not my slave"
The girl caught the hand of her mis-
tress, and bathed it with tears.
Erect" she murmured "Aye--free
to serve you now and evermore! Still,
dear lady, there is holy satisfaction
in feeling that the servile badge is
stricken off. Your poor slave loved
you truly, and you may be assured
that she will love you none the less
now that she is slave no mere"
Shortly after this, and while yet AL
bia was drying her eyes, Julian called
up the horses, and made ready for an
other start.
Late in the evening they reached the
bank of the Pharphar, and once more
stopped to rest. The cave of the her
NIT was only few leagues distant.
and could be easily reached by mid
night. For himself the chieftain did
not care. He wished the princess to
act her own pleasure.
The cave OF Ben Hadad was in a
deep valley, where the river wound
between two long, high hIiis; and
thick woods shut 1t out from the heat
of the MONDAY sun and from the gaze
Of the stranger. A good path led to
1t from the plain. though a person
needed acquaintance with the way in
order safely to follow it. Julian was
surely used to the path, for he thread
| ed its various windings without any
hesitation, and at length drew up be-
| fore bold face, Of rock, beneath an
overhanging shelf on which was the
entrance to Ben Hadad's cave. It was
too dark now to see all this plainly,
but those who had been there before
knew very well where they were. A
loud call from Hobaddan soon brought
lighted torch from the cave, borne
by black slave.
What no. ortok; where is your
master?" demanded the lieutenant.
"Ho, holt is Hobaddan.'
Eyes, you grinning rascal, it is I;
and it is also Julian; and, further
more, others are with US. Where is
Ben Hadad "
He is In his bed, sir, sound asleep"
And where is anywhere is Eza-
bel?"
"She is also asleep, SIR"
Then call them at once. But hold
lead US into the cave first"
The negro came out with his torch,
and while Hobaddan stopped a few
moments with the slaves to look after
the horses, Julian led Ulin and Abba
into the cave. 1t was a broad, high
chamber in the solid rock, and the
light of the torch revealed the fact
that there must be other chambers be-
yond.
In little while tall, broad-shoul-
dered old man, with hair and beard as
white as the breast Of a swan, came
forth from distant passage. and al
most at the same time an aged woman
came from another direction. Julin
quickly approached them, and spoke
a few words in private and then said,
aloud:
These ladies. good father and moth
er, seek your aid and protection. Ask
them no questions tonight, for they
are worn and weary. and need repose.
On the morrow they will tell you their
story" He then approached the prin-
cess.
The old woman, when she saw Al
bias face, recognized her at once; and
as she gazed upon the beautiful fea-
lures of the princess, the latter said:
lures Of The princess, she said:
Good mother" replied Ulin, II shall
eem you Inc who're truth anu tnen you
win AnoW just now mucn protection
we neea.
ana .neieupon she went on. ana re-
iated al tnat mad transpired TO the
present. one toid now she had con-
scented to be the wife OF the king-she
.oid Oh tne aeatn OF ner motner-and
tnen she toid now IN ner bereavement,
sne pgean 10 areaa ana rear the man
sne nad promised 70 marry.
Inc woman look UIlnS hand, and