The Holly chieftain., 1901-09-06
CHAPTER II.
The Terrible Julian,

Tha Terrible Julian.
In fear and trembling sat UIin,
awaiting the coming Of the terrible
rQbber. Half an hour passed. and she
had not been troubled; but during that
time she had witnessed transactions
which were not calculated to allAy her
fears. She had seen over fifty Of tho
kings guards bound and led away. and
she saw that number Of the robbers
had been placed on guard at tho en-
trance OF the rocky passage. They
were wild. savage looking men. ap-
pearing to her fear-wrought vision.
like the evil spirits she had heard her
old black nurse tell about
At length the sound Of fest was
heard near at hand, and very shortly
the door of the apartment was opened,
and = black slave entered. It was 4
woman, and one of those whom the
king had left.
Good lady" she said, trembling IS
she spoke. "the hour Of doom has
come. am slave to new master.
and that master has sent me to tell
you that he wishes to see you"
who IL he?" asked Ulin.
Il don't know. but think he is Ju-
lian, the Scourge. His look Is terrible.
Upon his brow sits the thunderclcud,
and in his eye flashes the forked light
ning!"
will he come up here?"
He said So"
Il have no power to prevent him.
Tell him l am weak and defenceless.
and At his mercy"
The slave bowed and withdrew, and
in little while some one else came. A
heavy football sounded without. and
the door was slowly and carefully
opened.
But. who is this? What spirit has
thus appeared In the palace! A man
had entered the chamber alone. He
was youthful-not more than three or
four-and-twenty-with kindly look,
and Of noble bearing. He was not
larger Of frame than common men;
but the perfect symmetry of form. the
exact correspondence Of all the parts:
the delicate rounding Of the graceful
outline. and the filling up Of all
points whore sources Of strength could
be deposited. gave token OF power
which might lead the careless observer
to pronounce him giant.
He gaxed upon the beautiful maiden
for some moments without speaking,
seeming to drink in new inspiration
from her loveliness, as the student of
nature does when some new and un-
expected scene of grandeur bursts upon
his vision.
Fair lady" he said In softest tones,
permit mo to hope that this intrusion
may bs pardoned. would not give
you pain, and II you have been alarm
Cd, bs assured that you have cause
for 1t no more. Tell me how may
serve you"
He approached her as he spoke, and
she. without hardly realising what. she
did. arose and gave him her hand. II
he hsd gased upon her with admira-
tion, her own feelings had not been en-
tirsly different. Her woman's in
stinct told her that here was man
whom she could trust; and her wo-
mans heart beat with an emotion en-
tnrely new and strange. -tt
"Noble sir" she said, meeting his
gaxs with the strength Of perfect
trustfulness. Heaven has sent you to
save me from the dread man who has
made his way to this place. II you
have the power to do 1t, you will lead
me to bless you forevermore."
'Of what man do you spsak!" asked
The stranger. still holding her hands.
Il speak Of him who ID known - the
ecourge Of Damascus-of the terrible
Julian"
The man was silent for few mo-
msnts. but he did not withdraw his
sass from the maiden's face.
"swset lady he 1t length sGid.
Deaking very lowly and tendsriy II
an infcrmed that the king OF Damxs-
sus has ssnt you hither 70 keep you
safely until he can make you has wife."
"He hath done 70, dr."
"And yet It seems that he dld not
provide % wisely, after Ill. Would
you wish TO b carried to the kingf"
mo, no. sir-not to tho King. I
wusld b carried to my father"
x There could b. NO mistaklns the
sAarartsr cf the emotions under which
the princess spoke. With all tbs king's
powst her hope was not In him. me
stranger marked the changes Of her
ecsatsnance; and. while warmer
hsht sAcns In bis handsoms eyes, hs
sesumsd-