The Lamar register., 1901-11-20

brought up the rear.
A few hours past noon they stopped
in pleasant grove. where pure fresh
water bubbled forth from a basin of
white sand, and here they made a din
ner of bread and fruit while the horses
rested. Julian spoke with the princess
and asked her how she bore the fatigue
of the journey; but his manner was
free from any shade of familiarity.
She in turn asked concerning his
wound, and expressed the hope that it
might not prove serious. When he
had gone, Abba remarked:
THE more l see Of that man, the
more do l love and honor him. He
is no common man, my lady"
Il shall always remember him with
gratitude" returned Ulin, gazing down
as she spoke.
And L." added the bondmaiden.
earnestly, Should like to remain with
him. and serve him always"
You are generous, Abba"
Because l am but poor slave, and
can only pay such debts with grateful
service
NO. no. Albia-a slave no more.
When We left my fathers house you
stepped forth free. You are my COM
panion-not my slave"
The girl caught the hand of her mis-
tress, and bathed it with tears.
"Free!" she murmured. "Aye-free
to serve you now and evermore! Still.
dear lady. there is holy satisfaction
in feeling that the servile badge Is
stricken off. Your poor slave loved
you truly. and you may be assured
that she will love you none the less
now that she is slave no more"
Shortly after this. and while yet AL
bia was drying her eyes. Julian called
up the horses. and made ready for an
other start.
Late in the evening they reached the
bank of the Pharphar, and once more
stopped to rest. The cave of the her.
NIT was only few leagues distant,
and could be easily reached by mid
night. For himself the chieftain did
not care. He wished the princess to
act her own pleasure.
deep valley. where the river wound
between two long. high hills; and
thick woods shut 1t out from the heat
of the moo day sun and from the gaze
of the stranger. A good path led to
IL from the plain, though a person
-~sisd acquaintance with the way III
order safely to follow it. Julian was
surely used to the path, for he thread
ed its various windings without any
hesitation, and at length drew up be-
fore bold face of rock, beneath an
overhanging shelf on which was the
entrance to Ben Hadad's cave. It.was
too dark now to see all this plailly,
but those who had been there before
knew very well where they were. A
loud call from Hobaddan soon brought
lighted torch from the cave, borne
by black slave.
What no. Ortok; where is your
master?" demanded the lieutenant.
"Ho, holt is Hobaddan."
"Yes. you grinning rascal. it is 1;
and 1t is also Julian; and, further
more. others are with us. Where is
Ben Hadad
He is in his bed. sir, sound asleep"
And where is my-where is Eza-
bel?"
"She is also asleep. sir
Then call them at once. But hold
lead us into the cave first"
The negro came out with his torch,
and while Hobaddan stopped a few
moments with the slaves to look after
the horses, Julian led Ulin and Abba
into the cave. 1t was a broad, high
chamber in the solid rock, and the
light of the torch revealed the fnct
that there must be other chambers be-
yond.
In little while a tall, broad-shcul-
dered old man, with hair and beard as
white as the breast of a swan, came
forth from distant passage. and al
most at the same time an aged woman
came from another direction. Julin
quickly approached them, and spoke
few words in private and then said,
aloud:
These ladies. good father and moth
er, seek your aid and protection. Ask
them no questions tonight. for they
are worn and weary, and need repose.
On the morrow they will tell you their
story" He then approached the prin-
cess.
The old woman. when she saw AL
bias face, recognized her at once; and
as she gazed upon the beautiful fea-
lures of the princess. the latter said:
lures of The princess, she said:
Good mother" replied Ulin, 81 shall
tell you the whole truth and then you
will know just how much protection
we need
And thereupon she went on. and re-
49, &lok
present. She told how she had con-
sented to he the yife of tho ljp1-cba