The Holly chieftain., 1901-12-13
Ole Scour9e
>efDAm,'Aascus. D:lA I, $, ::
A Story q
the East.
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pne roo0ef.
Benoni again went out. but be did
not have to go. far, az he met EAboal
coming towards the royal apartment
The king greeted him ~ he entered,
and asked him II he had sesn his
daughter.
"Yes. are." replied the minister. Il
have Just left her"
Have you talked with herr"
yea"
Then you must have discovered the
secret which hath been impaired to
me. Did you speak with her Of this
robbsr chieftain?"
Il did. sire"
Well-what did you Observer
20. mercy. sire-spare my child!"
THAT is not the answer to my ques-
ton. About. asked you what you
discovered"
r. Il discovered" returned the minis
ter, In tones of deepest dread. that
her love had been turned from you"
"Aye-and upon whom?"
Upon Julian, sire
THAT Is 1t. About" cried the king.
again starting up. THAT IL the thing
that enters most deeply into my soul.
And now will tell you what the girls
7bnnishment shall be-. She shall wit
neas the death of her robber lover; she
shall see his head severed from his
b0dy-and then she shall be shut up,
to lead a solitary life. through the rest
Of her days! None of her own sex.
shall attend upon her; but black
guards ahall be her sole companions.
What say you to that?"
/ The executioners were not long In
obeying the order. A large mat waa
brought in and spread upon the noor,
and three stout baskets Of palm-leaf
were placed upon It, The mat and the
baskets were darkly stained, and even
Omar. used as he was to such. scenes,
shuddered when he beheld the prepa-
rations. When all was ready. Horam
turned to his captain and ordered that
all the prisoners should be brought in.
At length they came. Julian and
osmir and Selim came first. Then fol-
lowed Ben Hadad and Exabel, with
Shubal and Ortok. And lastly came
Ulin and Abba.
The robber chieftain was led up to
the block. His arms were folded upon
his broad bosom, with the heavy
chains hanging almost to his feet.
and his head was borne erect. There
was deep pain-mark In his face, but
1t was not of fear for himself.
Outlaw" spoke Horam, through
his shut teeth. and with his thin hands
clenched, "the hour has come in which
you are to close your career of rapine
and robbery; and these people who
have been friends to you. and who
have given you protection In your
crime. are to see your head fall. Per-
haps you would ask for mercy"
mol" said the chieftain. II ask no
mercy at the hand of Horam of Da-
mascus. Let the work be finished as
| quickly as possible, and thus shall one
more be added to the list Of thy bloody
deeds. / could wish to live that
might take more vengeance on thee"
"And Is there not one thing for
which you would live?" asked the king.
bending 4 searching. burning glance
upon him.
I Julian started, and struggled; but
made no reply. And in q moment more
Horam turned to his chief executioner.
BEL Dara, go now to your work.
Iet this mans head fall nrst. Your
arm is strong, and your hand IL sure
Bend him upon his 'knees, and watch
for my signal" Jg
There was low, wild cry breaking
upon the air; and as Julian turned his
head, he saw Ultn, white and faint, in
the arms Of her attendant.
Before the grim executioners could
bend the robber chieftain to his knees
there was an interruption in the pro-
ceedings. The voice Of Ben Hadad,
stern and authoritative, sounded above
all else:
king Of Damascus. ere you stain
your hands with that mans blood. l
must reveal to you secret which It
is fitting you should know"
1 "Old man." he said. you speak .
secret. Do you think to tribe with
met"
II have to cause simple story to
be unfolded to your majesty" replied
Ben Hadad: land II you will grant
this woman speech. she will give you
light"
The king looked hard into the face
Of Exabel, and for the nrst time he
seemed to be struck BY something ia
| miliar In her featureS A moment he