Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1902-06-18
ODE Sco11rge
ofDArnAScNS
~
Copyrighted 1891 by Robert Bonner's
A Story Of
the East.
BY
SYLVANUS
COBB. JR.

from neT, ne continued.
Lady Ulin, you have spoken of Jul
liam, and see that you fear him Did
you ever see him?"
Ulin shuddered as she answered in
the negative.
Did you ever hear his story"
mo, sir. Abba has told me some
thing, but not much"
81 can tell you the whole, K you
would hear it"
81 should like to hear it, fair sir"
Believe me, lady, when you have
heard what | shall tell you, you will
not regard Julian with so much OF alb
horrence. But of one thing [ give you
warning: In telling the story of Ju-
liam ] must speak harsh words against
your afiianced husband"
afiianced-husband? repeated
Ulin, with troubled pause between
her words.
II mean Koran, King of Damas-
Gus, said the stranger, regarding the
beautiful maiden as though he read
her every thought
81 am not keeper over the character
of Koran. The truth, spoken in true
cause, will not offend me-"
Then, lady, let me first assure you
that Julian is not the monster your
fears have painted He has never done
wrong to any. save the powerful of
Damascus. Go to the forests and
mountains of Lebanon, and you shall
find thousand poor peasants whose
families he has befriended. He has
taken gold and jewels, and precious
stuffs of silk and linen, from the stores
of Koran; but he hath not made him
self rich therefrom. He and his fol-
lowers have lived, and beyond this the
booty has been bestowed upon the poor
and needy Julian hath also waylaid
F., and broken up caravans; and turned
back many expeditions which the king
had sent out. He may be just what
hath been said-he may be the Scourge
of Damascus, but he has no wish to
trouble honest men. His aim has been,
| vengeance upon the king"
And why should he seek such ven
geance upon the king?" asked Ulin
81 will tell you, lady. But for the
king OF Damascus Julian might be now
one of the NEST free and happy men
living; but as 1t Is. lie Is a stranger and
an outcast upon the face of the earth.
He Is a wanderer, without home, and
with only such friends as are bound
to him In his adventurous and danger
GUS course. Once many years ago-he
had parents and the prospect of life
was bright before him; but in an un-
happy hour the gloom and the dark
ness came. Koran, in wicked, Jealous
wrath, swept away all that was bright
and promising from the path of Julian
and shut out the star of hope forever.
| o, sweet lady. dare not pain your ear
with all that Koran did Were l to
tell you all, you would regard the
king as such a monster that your
heart would close against him. and
your very soul would shrink at the
sound of his name AS true as the
heavens are above us, SO true is it that
the heart of Julian is not evil. When
he looks back upon the utter desola-
ton of his young life, and realizes that
the king of Damascus Indignantly
and cruelty brought the curse upon
him can you wonder that his soul is
fraught with vengeance?"
Il never heard this story before"
said Ulin, her voice trembling with
deep emotion. III 1t is true, as you
have told me. cannot blame Julian
so much"
And yet you fear him, lady?"
Il cannot help 1t. He hath come
hither in battle array, and made war
against me-"
Nay, nay, sweet lady. You do much
mistake his intent. can tell you why
he came hither. He heard from mes
senger whom he met upon the plains of
Martial, that a fair damsel was shut
up here-a maiden whom the king in
tended to marry. 1t might have pleas
ed him to deprive Koran of wife;
but 1t pleased him more to release
gentle lady from such enslavement. He
knows what the king of Damascus has,
ere this, done unto his wives. He
has heard that the dark waters Of the
Pharpor are but short span from the
loyai DVu. Anu henVe ne came "
set free one whom he feared might
meet worse fate than the. encounter
ing of the Scourge of Damascus Did
he comra4t--a-erieyou sin in this.
lady?"
Indeed, sir, l know not what to
say"
"Will you not see Julian? Do not
shudder. l assure you that he will be
most gentle in his bearing But 1
know he would like to speak with you
The would hear from your own lips
that you do not think him monster;