The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-11-22

new relation; but finally dark cloud
arose to obscure the heaven OF my
lady's Joy. Her husband became jeal-
GUS OF her-became so jealous that his
soul was fraught with deadly ven
geance. He fancied that his wlfe's.
guilt had been proved, and he resolved
to put her away from him forever.
Her protestations availed nothing. He
would not listen to her-he would not
even allow her to approach him; but
he gave her into the hands Of his ex-
ecutioners, and babe them drown her
in the waters of the Pharphar. l dis
covered what was to be done. and
slipped away from the home Of the
cruel husband, and sought my son.
who had then become stout youth.
Hobaddan and | hid ourselves near
the gates of the city, and when the
executioners came out, we followed
them. They had with them a large
sack, and | knew that my mistress
was in it. We saw them sink that
sack in the river-they sank 1t where
the water was dark and deep-sank
it in the middle of the highland then
went away. AS soon as they were gone
we hurried to the shore, and my son
plunged into the stream, and succeed
ed in bringing the sack to the land.
We opened 1t, and my sweet mistress
was taken forth, cold and senseless;
but she was not dead. Her heart still
had motion. and after much labor we
succeeded in bringing her back to con-
seriousness. The next need was to find
a safe shelter for her. We dared not
take her back to the city. | thought
| of the hermit, Ben Hadad. | had
heard that he was a benevolent man.
and resolved to seek him. We found
his cave; and when he had heard my
story, he promised to give us shelter,
and to protect the unfortunate lady.
my mistress so far recovered as to
be able to sit up; but she could not
get well. Her system had received too
great a shock, and her poor heart was
broken. In two weeks from the time
when she entered the cave she gave
birth to a son, and shortly afterwards
she died. She died as pure and true
as heaven itself, and her child was the
offspring Of an honor which no temp
tation could have furnished She died;
but the child lived and thrived-lived,
and grew strong, and noble, and bold.
We told him how his mother had been
wronged; but we did not tell him all.
We did not tell him who his father
was; only we told him that he owed
his orphanage to the king of Damas-
GUS When he grew up he resolved
that the king should suffer for the deed
he had done, and subsequent events
have proved that his resolution was
not vain.
This sire, is the son of the woman
who was my mistress. Julian, the
Scourge of Damascus is the child
have reared. Would you know more?"
Koran sat in his great chair, with
his hands cmtched tightly upon the
golden arms, and>his whole frame quiv
ering.
co." he gasped, "the secret is nigh
to the surface! What shall ask?"
The king Of Aleppo moved to Ho-
rams side, and whispered in his ear.
aye" exclaimed the quaking mon
arch, when he had listened to the
words of his brother, ut shall be so.
What no! Benoni-clear this chamber
of all save this old man and woman,
and his-this-Julian! Lead them out
| quickly, and remain with them to
watch them"
In few moments the two kings
were alone with the three prisoners
who had been designated.
"Now-nOw-speak!
king of Damascus" said the aged
hermit, taking step forward, "allow
me to tell you the rest. The suns of
almost hundred years have rolled
over my head, and not yet have will
| lingly deceived a fellow creature to
his injury. What this woman has told
you is true. The lady who was
brought to my cave three-and-twenty
years ago-who gave birth to a child
there-and who died in Ezabel's arms,
was Helena, Queen of Damascus! And
| the son which she bore was the son
of the king-I swear 1t; and in sup
port thereof, I pledge my souls SAL
vation."
(To be continued)
|