The Red Cloud chief., 1901-10-18
Ole SEQ urge
@DamAscu
A Story Of
the EaSt...
sYLvRxsvs
COBB. JR.

", mercy, sire-spare my child"
That Is not the answer to my ques-
ton. About. l asked you what you
discovered"
Il discovered" returned the minis
ter, In tones Of deepest dread, that
her love had been turned from you"
"Aye-and upon whom"
Upon julian, SIRE"
That is 1t. About" cried the king.
again starting up. THAT Is the thing
that enters most deeply into my soul.
And now I will tell you what the girls
punishment shall be. She shall wit
ness the death Of her robber lover; she
shall see his head severed from his
body--and then she shall be shut up,
to lead a solitary life. through the rest
OF her days! None OF her own sex
shall attend upon her; but black
guards shall be her sole companions.
What say you to THAR"
The executioners were not long In
obeying the order. A large mat was
brought in and spread upon the floor,
and three stout baskets of palm-leaf
were placed upon IL. The mat and the
baskets were darkly stained, and even
Omar, used as he was to such scenes,
shuddered when he bcheld the prepa-
rations. When all was ready, Koran
turned to his captain and ordered that
all the prisoners should be brought in.
At length they came. Julian and
lOsmir and Selim came first. Then fol-
lowed Ben Hadad and Ezabel, with
AShubal and Ortok. And lastly came
lUlin and Abba.
The robber chieftain was led up to
1.-THE block. His arms were folded upon
his broad bosom. with the heavy
chains hanging almost to his feet.
and his head was borne erect. There
was a deep pain-mark in his face, but
it was not Of fear for himself.
Outlaw" spoke Horam. through
his shut teeth, and with his thin hands
clenched. "the hour has come in which
You are to close your career OF rapine
and robbery; and these people who
have been friends to you, and who
have given you protection in your
crime, are to see your head fall. Per-
haps you would ask for mercy"
mol" said the chieftain. Il ask no
mercy at the hand OF Koran OF Da-
mascus. Let the work be finished as
quickly as possible, and thus shall one
more be added to the list of thy bloody
deeds. l could wish to live that ]
might take more vengeance on thee
And Is there not n thing for
which you would live?" asked the king
bending a searching. burning glance
upon him.
Julian started, and struggled; but
made no reply. And in a moment more
Horam turned to his chief executioner
BEL Dara. go now to your work
Let this mans head fall first. Youl
arm Is strong, and your hand Is sure
Bend him upon his knees, and watch
for my signal"
There was a low, wild cry breaking
upon the air; and as Julian turned his
head. he saw Ulin, white and faint, in
the arms of her attendant.
Before the grim ~executioners coult
bend the robber chieftain to his knee:
there was an interruption in the pro-
ceedings. The voice Of Ben Hadad
stern and authoritative. sounded above
all else:
King of Damascus, ere you stair
your hands with that mans blood,
must reveal to you a secret which i
Is fitting you should know"
"Old man." he said, you speak 8
secret. DO you think to trifle with
me?"
II have to cause n simple story Il
be unfOlded to your majesty" replied
Ben Hadad; "and IL you will gram
this woman speech, she will give YOU
light"
!, The king looked hard into the fac,
OF Ezabel, and for the first time HI
seemed to be struck by something IA
miliar In her features. A iaoment h,
sat as II irresolute, and then he said
starting up as though his mind wer,
fixed:
> LET the woman approach"
, Ezabel came near to the throne, Bel
Hadad walking close behind her.
woman. what Is 1t that you hav'
, to tell? Speak. and let not the word
| lag upon your lips"
II speak by the request OF Ben Ha
dad" replied Ezabel; "and the stor!
D which l shall tell you is known onl.
to the old hermit and myself. EveI
Julian himself knows not the secret
: have to impart. and were he now upoi
the verge Of death, no persuasion
should draw 1t from me. 1t may b
Q that the disclosure will consign me 4
your executioner; but ! care not.
2 shall waste no words. ! was born u
this city, and was married at an earl,
age. One son was born to me, an
n then my husband died. Shortly afte
: this bereavement I was called to nurs
a sick child-a girl, some three year
q old-who was suffering from an acci
4 dent. The child recovered under m,
care, and as l had formed a stronI
n attachment for her, and as she ha'
also conceived the same for me, wa
a retained to attend upon her. Her par
i ents were of the wealthiest OF Damas