The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-11-10
Ole Scourge
ofDarnaScuS
CHAPTER II.
The Terrible Julian.

lie lGrrlUle JULIAN.
In fear and trembling sat Ulin,
awaiting the coming of the terrible
robber. Half an hour passed, and she
had not been troubled; but during that
time she had witnessed transactions
which were not calculated to allay her
fears. She had seen over fifty Of the
kings guards bound and led away, and
she saw that a number of the robbers
had been placed on guard at the en-
trance of the rocky passage. They
were wild, savage looking men, APP
pearing to her fear-wrought vision,
like the evil spirits she had heard her
old black nurse tell about.
At length the sound of feet was
heard near at hand, and very shortly
the door of the apartment was opened,
and black slave entered. 1t was 4
woman, and one of those whom the
king had left.
Good lady she said, trembling as
she spoke, the hour of doom has
come. l am slave to new master.
and that master has sent me to tell
you that he wishes to see YOU
who is he?" asked Ulin.
Il don't know, but l think he is Jul
liam, the Scourge. His look is terrible.
Upon his brow sits the thunderclcud,
and in his eye flashes the forked light
ning!"
will he come up here?"
He said So"
Il have no power to prevent him.
Tell him am weak and defenceless,
end at his mercy"
The slave bowed and withdrew, and
In little while some one else came. A
heavy football sounded without. and
the door was slowly and carefully
opened.
But, who is this? What spirit has
thus appeared in the palace. A man
had entered the chamber alone. He
was youthful-nct more than three or
tour-and-twenty-with kindly look.
and of noble bearing. He was not
larger of frame than common men;
but the perfect symmetry of form, the
exact correspondence of all the parts:
the delicate rounding of the graceful
outline, and the filling up of all
points where sources of strength could
be deposited. gave token of power
which might lead the careless observer
to pronounce him a giant.
He gazed upon the beautiful maiden
Tor some moments without speaking,
seeming to drink in new inspiration
from her loneliness, as the student of
nature does when some new and I'M
expected scene of grandeur bursts upon
his vision.
Fair lady, he said in softest tones.
permit me to hope that this intrusion
may be pardoned 1 would not give
you pain, and if you have been alarm
ed, be assured that you have cause
Tor 1t no more. Tell me how I MAJ
serve YOU
He approached her as he spoke, and
she, without hardly realizing what she
ala. arose and gave him her hand. If
ne mad gaZed upon her with admira
tlon, her own feelings had not been en-
tlrely different. Her woman's in
stinct told her that here was a man
whom she could trust; and her wo-
mans heart beat with an emotion en-
tnrely new and strange.
Noble sir" she said, meeting his
gaze with the strength of perfect
trustfulness, Heaven has sent you to
Save me from the dread man who has
made his way to this place. If you
have the power to do it, you will lead
me to bless you forevelmore
''Of what man do you speak," asked
the stranger, still holding her hands.
81 speak of him who is known as the
Scourge of Damascus-of the terrible
Julian"
The man was silent for few mo-
ments, but he did not Withdraw. his
gaze from the maidens face
Sweet lady," he at length said,
speaking very lowly and tenderly, 81
am informed that the king of Damas-
Gus has sent you hitler to keep YOU
safely until he can make you his wife"
He. hath done so, sir"
And yet it seems that he did not
provide so wisely, after all. Would
YOU wish to be carried to the king"
mo, no. sir-not to the king.
would be carried to my father
There could be no mistaking the
character of the emotions under which
the princess spoke. With all the kings
power her hope was not in him. The
stranger marked the changes of her
countenance; and, while a warmer
light shone in his handsome eyes. he
resumed
Il cannot say when you shall be re-
turned to your father; but l can give
you my solemn assurance that 1 can
protect you. l will protect you from
the hands of those whom you have
cause to fear; and, at the same time,
will regard you as sacred trust to
be respected and purely cherished.
And now, lady, have your conf
dence?"
He let go her hands, held until now,
and when he had taken seat not far
from her, he continued:
Lady Ulin, you have spoken Of Ju-
liam, and see that you fear him. Did
2 YOU ever see him?