The Red Cloud chief., 1901-08-09
CHAPTER VII.
At Hassem's HOUSE.


Ulin had lost one OF her wondrous
beauty; but she had become pale. and
the healthy fash Of the eye was gone.
Late in the evening she sat in her
chamber. with her brow resting upon
her hand, and ever and anon O deep
sigh escaped her.
MY dear, good mistress" spoke Al
bia. gliding to the side Of the princess.
and resting her hand a~ffectionately
upon her arm, II cannot bear to see
you suffer so. What Is it,"
1T Is nothing. Abba" Ulin spoke
without raising her head, and her
voice was low and sad.
Don't tell me that" urged the at
tendant. She got down upon her knees,
and gazed earnestly up into Ulin's face.
"Oh. my dear lady, you are misera-
BILE and unhappy. Why will you not
pour out your sorrows to me? Perhaps
l can help you bear them. You know
I love you: you know that I will be
faithful. Tell me all. and l will suffer
with you II I can: and I will help you
II there is help to be had. AS I live at
this moment, 80. IL 1t should appear to
me necessary, would I lay down my life
for your welfare. VIII you not trust
me?"
"Ulin leaned her head forward upon
Albia's shoulder. and burst into ears.
"Oh. Abba. you are my ~friend-you
are my sister. l know you love me;
and | cannot tell you how grateful l
am"
They why will you not lift the veil
feel still more for you?"
II had almost resolved to tell you.
Abba"
Then make the resolution sure, and
admit me to your fullest confidence"
The princess dried her eyes, and
finally lifted her head from her COM
panion's shoulder.
Dear Abba. l know not how to COM
mence. l am n child-a poor. foolish
child-as you will say when I have
told you all. You will say that I de-
serve to suffer, and that punishment
should he mine.
NAY. my lady," responded the bond
maiden: you must not commence in
that way. Tell me first all the cause
Of your sorrow; and leave It for me to
base my own judgment. Come-trust
mo. and let me give you all my sym
pathy."
A few moments the princess was 81.
lent, and then she said, with q low
tremor in her voice:
Dear Abba. when I said that
would marry with the king I did moi
think what ! was doing. That strang,
dream, SO wonderfully repeated, LEI
my father to breach the subject, and
did not refuse. When he talked O
my being queen. and of my givin,
birth to a king to a king Of Damascus
thought II might be my duty to offe
myself. l did not then know Koran
But-now-I have learned rev things
| dread the fate which have courted
1 fear and loathe the man whose wifi
l have promised to become. When
first promised to give myself to Koran
l fe,t that ! could perform the dut,
without the sacrifice Of any real vir
tue or comfort of life. But, oh, no,
changed 1t has all become. Not onl,
does my whole nature shrink from tn
sacrifice. but 1t seems as though a fat
worse than death were involved in tn
ordeal. Last night I dreamed that He
am was my husband. and that h
meant to kill me. He did not plan t
drown me, as he aid poor Helena; bu
he declared that I should be throw
alive into q den OF Wild beasts.
makes you shudder, Abba"
!, "Oh, how t%errible!"
And yet. my dear girl. I dreame
that ] felt a relief when I knew thu
. d~ats 'as coming. even thoueh It W
: to cemn so dreadfully. Just think viii
a sta:s cf mind that must be. Oh.