The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-01-26
Ole ScOurge
ofDAmaScuS
CHAPTER XVII.-(Continued. }
Copyrighted ~, By aeser. Bonner. Sons.

CHAPTER AVu.-(COntlnued.)
Ulin bowed her head upon her
hands; and could the instructive
promptings OF her heart at that mo-
ment have been read, they would have
revealed a secret not much to be won
dered at.
II think" said Ezabel, after pause,
that you have had some opportunity
to study Julian's character"
II have seen enough to assure me
that he is noble, generous man."
returned Ulin, raising her head.
"And," added Ezabel, ''if you could
know him better you would find your
impressions strengthened. But he will
not be here long. AS soon as he re-
covers from his wound he will leave
u.s."
IF l am not mistaken ventured
our heroine, "Julian is at home in this
place.
Most certainly he is, my daughter
From his earliest childhood he knew
no other home but this"
And he was on his way hither
when he overlook me in the hands of
the Arabs =
Yes"
And will my presence cause him t.
leave you?"
Il think not, lady. But you vi
give yourself no uneasiness on that as
count. II Julian feels that he had bet
ter be away from you, he will go for
his own sake. And, remember--the
truly noble soul finds JOY in the gen
erous sacrifices which it may be called
upon to make. / hear Ben Hadad's
voice He is calling me-
She arose and left the chamber; and
when she returned sne was followed by
Ben Hadad. Now that Ulin saw the
hermit by the light of the day she was
awe-struck by his venerable appear
ance All that could be noble and
honorable and lovable in old age
seemed combined in him; and az he
bent his gaze upon her and extended
his hand In welcome, she felt her heart
50 to him with all it's trust and conf
dence
My child" he said in tones of ten
derest s0licitude, "Ezabel has told me
your story and have come to bid
you IN affectionate welcome to my
cave. Rest here and feel that you are
ct home. Your mother paid me for
this long ago. Come-follow me to
where the air is fresher, and where
the sunbeams can greet you
The maiden thanked Ben Hadad as
we'll as she was able and then rose to
follow him. He led her to the main
cave, where she found Hobaddan and
the slaves.
This ID my home." said the old
man, 40 Ne led the maiden to a seat;
aud here have lived more years than
80 to al up the allotted age of man.
All these trees and shrubs / have
trained up from the tender sprout, and
these vines have taught to clothe
the gray old rccks. And l have been
most fortunate in my life. have been
able 70 protect many who needed pro-
lection and my days have been length
ened out to protect more"
Ulin was touched by the deep pathos
~ the hermit's words. and for whole
hour she sat and listened to his CONVEX
aation. At the end OF that time he led
her' back to the cave where Ortok, the
black slave. had prepared dinner. She
id not feel hungry, but she sat down
with Ben Hadad and Hobadden and
Nsabel-she and Albia--and partook
with them.
Thus passed three days: and Ulin
had become 30 used to the place that
4 already seemed like home. She had
learned to love the hermit; and she
had learned to love Ezabel: and she
had learned to respect and esteem the
stOut-hearted Hobaddan and to con-
verse with him freely. Once she asked
the lieutenant what had become of
Julian's band. Would they not be
seeking him!
And he explained to her that he had
communicated with them-that they
knew of their chieftain's safety and
had gone away into the mountains Of
Lebanon, whore comfortable abiding
places for them were plenty.
When Ulin retired to her own apart
mAnt she sat BY herself, with her head
bowed upon her hands, taking no no.
tics Of her serving-maid. At an early
hour she retired; but 1t was q long
time ere she slept; and when she did
sleep she was troubled with strange
droams She dreamed OF the unfortu-
nate Helena. and awoke with 4 cry
u pain. And then she dreamed more
ploasAnt dream-a dream Of something
that had haunted her waking thoughts
= dream Of the scourge and Damas-
ena. d
CHAPTER XVIII.
eonnethfng More Than i Dream.
~ following morning. whom
UIln entered the main cave. Julian |
~ kkego "a greet her. She offended
- hanA ~ him and smiled a. she
n Ihe youthful chieftain Wa
neWhat pa1s, but his large, lustrous
syes burnsd With = deeped intensity
n11 ~ white brow offered strange
oG l3inc$ - the waving masses Of golden
ho1 m maideAs smile faded away