Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1902-06-11
A Story Of
the EAst...
BY
SYLVANUS
COBB. JR.

EARTH
He babe sadak go and make ready
for the start, and then be turned to
Ulin. t
You will be safe here, sweet one;
and 1t will not be long before our hap
piness shall be complete"
His words Of parting were few, for
he was much excited, and his voice
trembled as he spoke. He turned back
once after he had reached the door,
as though he would say something,
but finally went away without giving
the intended speech. From a window
Ulin watched the royal cavalcade until
it had disappeared within the narrow
from her sight she turned to her COM
panion.
Abba, what is it about this terrible
robber-this Scourge of Damascus?
have heard something about him.
heard nay father once speak of him;
but my little knowledge of the world
did not lead me to be inquisitiye. Do
you know anything about him."
Il have heard a great deal of him,
my lady. He has been terror to Da-
mascus for great many years.
j. How many years, Abba? l was
thinking that my father said he had
not been long known in this section, .
2 Il may be mistaken, said Abba,
trying to recollect herself, II know.
that he is a terrible Scourge, and that
men fear him; but | do not know how
many years he has been so. 1t may
not be so many as | thought"
But who is he? Where did he come
FROM" .. -,
"Ah, there is mystery, my dear
mistress. Nobody knows where he
came from; but 1t is said that he is
one whose family has suffered some
great calamity at the hands of Koran.
He is alone in the world, so far as rela-
tiyes are concerned, and Koran hath
done 1t; and so he comes to seek Ven
geance. He has a large body of bold
men under him, and twice has he met
and overcome the forces which the
king had sent out to capture him. He
does not rob as common robbers do.
He never troubles the poor, or those
of the middle class but the rulers and
princes of Damascus he causes to suf-
fer
did you ever see him, Abba p
Mercy! no. / would not see him for
the world. He must be terrible to
look upon. / have heard one OF your
sfathers offfcers say ftiat ne could
strike blow with his fist to fell an OK.
and that before the lightning OF. his
eye brave men shrank in terror, O.,
l should be afraid to see him"
4 "Tt seems, to me that / should like
to see such man., said Ulin, in q
musing tone, II have never seen such
men. The man whose arm can strike
down an OK, and whose eye flashes
forth such power. could not harm a
helpless maiden "a
Upon my life, you have curious
TASTE: Abba returned ~
Because, added Ulin, with smile,
Il never had my taste cultivated.
Still. in all seriousness, 1t does seem
to me that l should love to lean upon
a strong, bold man. If | were to love
man with my whole heart, should
like him to be SO strong and SO power
full and so brave, that his very pres
ence would be protection to me. Is
that very stranger"
at is so strange replied the slave,
significantly, t'that fancy the king
would feel new cause for jealousy If he
should hear you say SO"
when ]. am the kings wife shall
be. true to him; and shall honor and
respect him. will love him If l can.
But. Abba. there is. no need of saying
more. We will have our dinner, and
then we will walk out iiSo the gar
den."
Suddenly a messenger appears ask
ing for assistance from the guard
With so stalwart guards he hurries to-
ward the gates,
What can it be?' cried the prin-
cess. in alarm.
But Abba could not imagine. She
could only beg OF her mistress to take
courage, and hope for no evil.
Ere long, however, another messen-
ger came to the palace, who made his
way to the room where the princess
was sitting He trembled with ex-
element.
How now, Aswad?" demanded Ulin
what is the meaning of all this dis
turbance"
"Alas, my lady, an enemy is at oul
gates. The terrible Scourge OF Damas
Gus demands entrance into the valley
What does he seek?"
a +o1f