The Holly chieftain., 1901-09-06

from her, he continued:
Lady Ulin, you have spoken Of Ju-
liam. and / see that you fear him. DID
You ever see hint"
Ulin shuddered as she answered in
the negative.
Did you ever hear his story!.
"No. sir. Abba has told me sons
thing but not much"
Il can tell you the whole. II you
would hear It"
X should like to hear 1t, fair SIR"
"Believe me, lady, when you have
heard what shall tell you, you will
not regard Julian with 20 much Of alb
horrence. But Of one thing give you
warning: In telling the story Of Ju-
liam must speak harsh words against
your afhanced husband"
observation-disclosures" repeated
Ulin. with troubled pause between
her words.
IT mean Horam. King of Damas-
Gus" said the stranger. regarding the
beautiful maiden as though he read
her every thought.
II am not keeper over the character
Of Horam. The truth, spoken In true
cause. will net offend me-"
Then. lady. let me hrst assure you
that Julian is mot the monster your
fears have painted. He has never done
wrong to any, save the powerful of
Damascus. Go to the forests and
mountains Of Lebanon, and you shall
find thousand poor peasants whose
families he has befriended. He has
taken gold and jewels. and precious
stuffs Of silk and linen. from the stores
Of Horam: but he hath not made him
self rich therefrom. He and his fol-
lowers have lived, and beyond this the
booty has been bestowed upon the poor
and needy. Julian hath also waylald
/, and broken up caravans: and turned
back many expeditions which the king
had sent out. He may be Just what
hath been said-he may be the Scourge
OF Damascus,e but he has no wish to
trouble honest men. His aim has been,
vengeance upon the king"
"And why should he seek such ven-
geance upon the king?" asked Ulin.
Il will tell you, lady. But for the
king OF Damascus Julian might be now
one Of the most free and happy men
living; but ~ It Is. he IL stranger and
an outcast upon the face Of the earth.
He is wanderer. without home. and
with only such friends a. are bound
to him In his adventurous and danger
ous course. Once many years ago-he
had parents and the prospect OF life
was bright before him; but in an un-
happy hour the gloom and the dark
ness came. Koran, in wicked. jealous
wrath, swept away all that was bright
and promising from the path OF Julian
and shut out the star Of hope forever.
o, sweet lady, ! dare not pain your ear
with all that Horam did. Were I to
tell you all, you would regard the
king as such monster that your
heart would close against him. and
your very soul would shrink at the
sound of his name. As true as the
heavens are above US. 30 true u 1t that
the heart OF Julian IL not evil. When
he looks back upon the utter .desola-
ton OF his young life, and realizes that
the king of Damascus Indignantly
! and cruelty brought the curse upon
him can you wonder that his soul 10
fraught with vengeance"
Il never heard this story before"
said Ulin, her voice trembling with
deep emotion. III 1t is true, a. you
have told me. cannot blame Julian
20 much"
''And yet you fear him. lady7"
II cannot help It. He hath come
hither In battle array, and made war
against me-"
MAY, nay, sweet lsdy. You do much
mistake his intent. ! lean tell you why
hp came hither. He heard from mes
ssngsr whom he met upon the plains Of
Marthal. that fair damsel was shut
up here-a maiden whom the king in
tended 70 marry. It might have pleas
ed him to deprive Horam Of Wife;
but II pleased him more to release q
gentle Lady from such enslavement. He
knows what the king Of Damascus has,
ers this.- done unto his wives. He
has heard that the dark waters of the
Pharpor ars but short span from the
royal bed. And hence he came to
ut frss osae. whom he feared might
msst . worse fate than the encounter
Ing of the seourge Of Damascus. Did
lh1 commit y ssisvous sin Il this
lady?" "a
Al. uruA~Aa ~Asitr r~o- ~nA