Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1902-09-03

put away "a his wlves for the daugh i
ter of About Cassem, and how she had
betrayed him and fed from him. Ana
then he told how he had once cap ar
ed his dreaded enemy, the Scourge OF
Damascus, and how the prize had
slipped through his fingers by means
of tho treachery OF his slaves.
by my life" exclaimed Omar, you
have been most sorely afflicted"
But the worst is yet to be told"
pursued Hors.m, cienching his hands,
and gnashing his teeth. 1.-THE robber
and the lady Ulln went off on the
same night, and I have every reason
to believe that she corrupted my
slaves 10 set him free. In fact, am
sure she did. I think they will be all
within my power by tomorrow. o,
Omar, you have known much Of my
sorrow. have grown old since we,
last met-very old. In years am butt
the passing of two harvests ahead OF
you; but in trial aIAa trouble 1 have
left you far behind. The last time you
were in Damascus the first great trial
of my life came upon me. You remem-
Der it."
"Of what do you speak?"
"Why-of my wife-of the first wife
I ever had-of her whom 1 made my
queen"
do you mean the Lady Helena?"
"To be sure 1 do. Mercy! have you
forgotten"
NO" said Omar, shaking his head,
II remember Helena very we'll. She
was the most BEAUTIFUL woman 1 ever
saw"
"And as false as she was beautl-
full" added Horam
'Is it possible? 7 did not think she
would come to that"
Howl" exclaimed the king of Da-
mascus. Does your memory fail
your"
What mean you, Koran? My mem
DRY is good"
"Then why do you wonder when
speak of the faithlessness of my first
queen? Was 1t not yourself that gave
to me the proofs OF her inidelity? Did
you not show to me that she had
fallen?"
you speak in riddles" said the
king of Aleppo. 81 remember that we
once suspected the young queen of be-
slowing her love upon a captain Of
your guard think his name was ia
bal"
YES" responded Koran. "Jabal was
the man, and 1 slew him. 1t vas your
evidence that convicted both him and
Helena"
"And was the queen guilty after
that?"
Guilty after that?" repeated Ho-
ram. slowly and irresolutely. What
mean you? Do you imagine that
afitowet her to to mere
crime?"
"Tn mercy's name" cried Omar,
what do you mean by this speech? Do
you remember Sanballad and Ben
Huram?"
Eyes," replied Koran. "They were
two of my chamberlains, who accom-
panied you to Aleppo at the time Of
which we have spoken"
mo" said Omar, "they did not quite
go to Aleppo. 1 sent them back be-
fore I reached my capital. They
brought to you my message?"
81 never saw them again after they
went away with YOU" returned Ho-
ram.
"Never-saw-them. Good spirits OF
mercy! Are you in earnest, Horam?"
AYE. If they started on their return,
they must have been robbed and kill
ed, for 1 never saw them after they
left in your retinue."
The king of Aleppo clasped his
hands in agony.
90 Koran! Horam!' he exclaimed,
what fearful mistake was thati
Bear with me-forgive mew
what is it, Omar?"
Your beautiful queen was limo
cent?"
Innocent" gasped Koran. starting
to his feet, and then sinking back
again.
Eyes, my brother" replied Omar, in
trembling tones, "she was as innocent
as in that natal hour when first she
rested upon her mothers bosom. At
Balbec we found a woman whom
some of my officers brought before me
supposing her to be the queen Of Da-
mascus. ehe was very beautiful, and
so nearly did she resemble the queen,
Helena, that even / was at first de-
ceived. Her name was Jasmin, and
she told me that she had just fed
from Damascus and was waiting FOR
her lover to join her. She said that
Jaba1 was her lover. and that he was