The Holly chieftain., 1901-08-30
ODE Scoxlree
ofO0TnAScuS
y Story ~
the EAst... ,
.rlsxsu.
COM. JR-

~AAAA8 oAb a. army 80n 9W0e0 t0A8 t9t.
ribls scourss from oR the face Of tie
EARTH"
He babe sadak 90 and make ready
for the start. and then hs turned TO
Ulin.
you win be safe here. 9weet ons:
and It will not be long befors our hap
spiness shall be complete"
His words OF parting were few, for
he was much excited. and his voice
trsmbled ~ he spoke. He turned hack
once after he had reached the door.
- though he would say something.
but finally went away without giving
the intended speech. From . window
Ulin watched the royal cavalcade until
It had disappeared within the narrow
pass. and when the last man had Zone
from her sight she turned to her COM
paniQn. US ,S-SssA go.
Abba, what is 1t about this terrible,
.yobhsr-this scourse pf Damascus! I
havs heard something about him. I
heard my father once speak Of him;
but my little knowledge of the world
did not lead me to be inquisitive. Do
you know anything about him?"
II have heard a great deal Of him,
my lady. He has been terror to Da-
mascus for a great many years.
How many years, Abba? / was
thinking that my father said he had
not been long known in this section"
Il may be mistaken said Albia.
trying to recollect herself. Il know
that he is terrible Scourge. and that
men fear him: but do not know how
many years he has been so. 1t may
not be so many as l thought"
But who is he? Where did he come
from!"
"Ah.. there is a mystery, my dear
mistress. Nobody knows where he
came from; but 1t is said that he is
one whose family has suffered some
great calamity at the hands Of Horam.
He is alone in the world. 20 far as rela-
tives are concerned, and Horam hath
done it; and so he comes to seek ven
geance. He has a large body of bold
men under him. and twice has he met
and overcome the forces which the
king had sent out to capture him. He
does not rob as common robbers do.
He never troubles the poor. or those
Of the middle class; but the rulera and
princes Of Damascus he causes to suf-
fer" s14
Did you ever see him. Albia?"
Mercy! no., Fwould not see him for
the world. He must be terrible to
look upon. / have heard one Of your
fathers ohlcers say that he could
strike blow with his fist to fell an OK
and that before the lightning of his
eye brave men shrank In terror. o,
l should be afraid to see him.
1T seems to me that should like
to see such a man." said Ulin, in a
musing tone. "Fhave never seen such
men. The man whose arm can strike
down an OK, and whose eye flashes
forth ouch power. could not harm "a
helpless maiden"
Upon my life. you have curious
TASTE" Abba returned.
Because" added Ulin, with smile,
II never had my taste cultivated
Sulk in all seriousness. 1t does seem
to nfe that should love to lean upon
strong, bold man, II l were to love
a man with my Whole heart, should
like him to be so strong and SO power
full and 80 brave, that his very pres
ence would be protection to me. Is
that very stranger
1T is 80 strange" replied the slave.
significantly. that fancy the king
would feel new cause for Jealousy IL he
should hear you say So" i.5ss
When am the kings wife shall
be true to him, and shall honor and
respect him. 1 viii love him IL I can.
But. Albia. there ID NO nSsd of saying
more. We will have our dinner, and
then We will walk out into the gar
den."
Suddenly messenger appears ask
ing for assistance from the guard.
With so stalwart guards he hurries to-
ward the gates.
What can 1t be?" cried the prin-
cess, in alarm.
But Abba could not imagine. She
could only beg Of her mistress to take
courage, and hope for NO evil.
Ere long, however. another messen-
ger came to the palace, who made his
way, to the room where the princess
was sitting. He trembled With Z ex-
element i
"How now, Aswad?" demanded Ulin.
What Is the meaning Of all this dis
turbance"
"Alas, my lady, an enemy 10 Ct our
gates. The terrible ecourge Of Dansas-
Gus demands entrance into the valley"
What does he seek!"