The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1905-11-23
0be Scourge
81 DamaSCuS
A Story Of
the East.
SYLVANUS
COBB. JR.
Copyrighted 1891 by Robert Eonner's Sons

world, gave me my first lessons of
life, and led me up till I could protect
myself. A fathers fostering care I
never knew. A mothers love I never
realized. The cruel blow which shat
tered the cup of my joys. killed my
poor mother ere my tongue could lisp
her name. AS I grew to manhood I
knew that I was an orphan, and that
my misfortune was the work of the
King Of Damascus. O! how the iron
settled into my soul. I had grown
strong and ,r%esolute, as though heaven
would enable me to work r%etribution
upon the tyrant. Do you ask me if I
enjoy the life I have led. I answer
have made %enjoyments for myself. I
have felt. a peculiar satisfaction in
knowing that the king feared me.
When I have heard my name spoken
by b rich and powerful with fear
and trembling, l have liked it; and
when L have known that Koran dread
ed my approach, I have fe,t that my
labors were not without their result.
But these have not been my joys. In
Damascus the name of Julian is a ter
ror; but there are other places where
that nam is spoken with love and
gratitude. Upon the plains of Abilene,
and in the mountain passes of Lsban-
on, where the busy craftsmen prepare
timber for Jerusalem-there Julian is
hailed as a friend and benefactor. The
grim satisfaction of %torturing the
cruel King of Damascus is tempered
and softened by the calmer atmos-
phere of these friendly regions"
Why did Ulin sit SO still and listen
with such rapt attention to the words
OF the speaker? She bent her head as
though soft music were stealing DER
her senses; and she gazed upon the
man before her as though a grand, in
spring picture had been unfolded to
her vision. His words carried truth in
their very sound, and all her sympa-
thies had been aroused. She was a
M whose nature had not been
warped by art; and the avenues to her
soul were guarded only by the pure
instincts of virtue and humanity. Not
always the safest guard; but still the
happiest when surrounding influences
are not evil.
"And now, lady," pursued Julian; II
must tell you why I am here; and in
doing this I speak only those words
necessary to the truth. On my way
from the plains I met a messenger,
VINO Informed me that a fair maiden
had been shut up in the Palace Of the
Valley. I could not believe that a beau
tiful young virgin had willingly given
herself to the desires of Horam.
thought she had been shut up thus
against her own pleasure. With this
belief I resolved to release her. The
result you know. 7 have heard your
story from the lips of the black slave
who attends upon you, and she in
forms me that you are affianced to the
king by your W consent, and without
any desires on your part to the con-
trary. Is it SOP"
"The slave told you truly sir. re-
piled Ulin, bowling her head, and
speaking in a very low tone.
"And you came here to this place of
your own free will?"
Eyes, sir. My period of mourning
was not passed, and the king brought
me hither that I might be more re-
tired"
"And but for the death of your
mother you would have BEEN the
kings wife ere this?"
Ulin replied in the affirmatives but
her voice trembled, and she seemed to
shudder at the thought thus presented.
Lady" said Julian, showing some
emotion, which he evidently did not
mean to show, for my seeming wrong
I most humb1y beg your pardon. I had
thought to wrest from the grasp of the
king one who was an unwilling cap
tive; but since I find myself mistaken
l will do all I a to make amends. A
"And," said the robber, rising to his
feet, lit is better that I should leave
you at once"
He stopped, and swept his hand
across his brow, and when he resumed,
his speech was very low, and his voice
tremulous:
"This has been a most strange ad-
| venture; and as ! now look upon it,
it seems as though some mischievous
sprite had planned it. AS I live
thought when l came hither but such
as I have told you of. Ihave met you,
lady, and for the first time in my life
I have felt my heart drawn warmly
towards my native city. Henceforth
there will be something in Damascus
towards which my thoughts will turn
with other sentiments than those of
bitterness. Lady Ulin, we may never
meet again. In this moment of our
strange companionship, may + not take
you by the hand?"
She could not have refused had she
wished; but that she had no wish SO
to do was evident from the free and
friendly manner in which she arose to
meet him. She gave him her hand,
and suffered him to raise it to his lips
Dear lady, should we never meet
again, l trust that you will bear one
kindly thought of Julian. If you are
forced to think of the wrongs HI
has done, let a memory of the wrongs
he has suffered be some extenuation
Bless you, lady! All good spirits