The Holly chieftain., 1901-09-13

e6te0 her. She bAde him be seated,
and then. without intending to b.
heard. she murmured:
so young!"
Aye. lady" he said, catching the
whispered words. Il am young
younger. perhaps. than 1 look. Only
three-and-twenty years have cast their
shadows upon me. AZ that age the
youth Of the city just breaking from
the bonds Of parental restraints a. .
child; but with me 1t has been differ
emit A parent never knew. A kind
generous woman. who was my nurse,
took the place Of a mother during my
earliest childhood; and white-haired
old man. who lived apart from the
world. gave me my drst lessons Of
life. and led me up till could protect
myself. A fathers fostering care l
never knew. A mothers love never
realized. The cruel blow which shat
tered the cup CT my Joys. killed my
poor mother ere my tongue could lisp
her name. AS grew to manhood
knew that was an orphan, and that
my misfortune was the work Of the
King of Damascus. o, how the iron
settled Into my soul. / had grown
strong and resolute, as though heaven
would enable me to work retribution
upon the tyrant. Do you ask me II
enjoy the life have led I answer
l have made enjoyments for myself,
have felt peculiar satisfaction in
knowing that the king feared ME.
When have heard my name spoken
by the rich and powerful with fear
and trembling, l have liked 1t: and
when have known. that Horam dread
cd my approach, ! have felt that my
iabors were not without their result.
But these have not been my joys. In
Damascus the name of Julian is q tef-
ror; but there are other places where
that name is spoken with love and
gratitude. Upon the plains OF Abilene.
and in the mountain passes OF Leban-
on. where the busy craftsmen prepare
timber for Jerusalem-there Julian is
hailed as a friend and benefactor. The
grim satisfaction OF torturing the
cruel King Ct Damascus Is tempered
and softened by the calmer atmos-
phere of these friendly regions"
| Why did Ulin sit SO still and listen
With such rapt attention to the words
Of the speaker? She bent her head az
though soft music were stealing o'er
her senses: and she gaSed upon the
man before her ~ though y grand, In
spring picture had been unfolded to
her vision. His words carried truth in
their very sound. and all her sympa-
thies had been. aroused. She was q
woman whose nature had not been
warped by art; and the avenues to her
soul were guarded only by the pure
instincts of virtue and humanity. Not
always the safest guard; but still the
happiest when surrounding influences
are not evil.
And now. lady" pursued Julian, Il
must tell you why am here; and In
doing this speak only those words
necessary to the truth. On my way
from the plains I met messenger,
who informed me that fair maiden
had bean nsshut up in the Palace OF the
Valley. I could not believe that beau
tiful young virgin had willingly given
herself to the desires OF Horam. I
thought she had been shut up thus
against her own pleasure. With this
belief resolved to release her. The
result you know. have heard your
story from the lips Of the black slave
who attends upon you, and she In
forms me that you are aflanced to the
king by your own consent, and without
any desires on your part to the con-
trary. Is It so!"
The slave told you truly, sir" re-
piled Ulin. bowling her head, and
speaking in very low tone.
And you came hers to this pace Of
your own free will?"
Yes. sir. Ny period Of mourning
was not passed. and the king brought
me hither that I might be more re-
tired
"And but for the death Of your
mother you would have been the
kings wife ere this!"
| Ulin replied In the Affirmative; but
her voice trembled, and she seemed to
shudder at the thought thus presented.
LADY" said Julian, showing some
emotion. which he evidently did not
mean TO show. flor my seeming wrong
most humbly beg your pardon. I had
thought to wrest from the grasp Of the
king one who was An unwilling cap-
tive: but since hnd myself mistaken
l will do all can 10 make amends. A