The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-02-16
CHAPTER xxII-(Continued)

CHAPTER XXII-(Continued)
Julian stood like one thunderstruck.
He raised his manacled hands to his
brow, and tried to realize the force Of
the wonderful thing he had heard.
Horam started to his feet, and then
sank back, and buried his face in his
hands. His thoughts had suddenly
flown from the story Of the present
hour to that other story which he had
had heard on the night before; and
the crash almost took away his senses.
Omar, when he saw how matters
stood, felt called upon to speak; for
he believed that he had discovered two
things: First. that his old friend and
brother was struggling to open his
breast to his child; and, second, that
Julian might be brought to forgive
ness when he knew the whole truth
my friends he said, rising to his
feet as he spoke, "the story is not yet
! complete. 1t remains for me to fin
ish it."
Ben Hadad and Ezabel gazed eagerly
up into his face; and Julian leaned
toward him, with beam OF hope
| struggling upon his brow.
II am to blame in this matter; or,
at least, was the innocent cause" >"
continued the King of AlePpo, address,
ing Ben Hadad and Ezabel. 1T was
| I who gave to Horam the evidence
| upon which he condemned his wife. l
supposed the guilt of the lady Helena
| was positive, as l had the information
| from officers who would not lie; and
| felt it my duty to acquaint the hus-
| band with the circumstances. On my
| way back to my capital, while stopping
| in Balbec, gained information which
assured me that the Queen of Damas-
Gus was innocent; and Immediately
sent back two of my officers to con-
vey intelligence thereof to Horam.
But those messengers never reached
their destination. They must have
been robbed and murdered on the way.
l pursued my course homeward, and
amid the duties of my realm, the thing
passed from my mind Yesterday l
saw Horam for the first time in three
and-twenty years; and last evening
and best beloved wife, Helena, was
wrongfully accused-that she was pure
and true. When this truth burst upon
him, his grief overcame him, and l
feared that the shock would kill him."
AYE" cried Horam, starting up
again, ut did almost kill me; for Hell
ena was my first love, and her place
111 hrnt thAN
what can do?"
"Do what is right" replied Omar,
taking Horam's outstretched hand.
BE man, and let the heart assert its
sway. Remember that you did the first
great deed OF wrong; and that all the
other evil has flowed out from that
one unfortunate act"
The king OF Damascus stood for
moment with his head bowed upon
Omar's shoulder, and his hand still in
Omar's grasp. Then he started up,
and his countenance had changed.
"By the blood of my heart" he ex-
claimed, "the wrong shall not grow
deeper against me! What, ho! With
out, there! Slaves!-attend mel"
The executioners chanced to be
nearest, and they answered the call.
"Bel-Dara, strike those irons from
that mans limbs! Strike off every
bond, and set him free! If you harm
him as much as the prick of a rose.
thorn. your life shall answer for it,"
The executioner stopped to ask no
questionable did not even stop to
wonder at the order; but he proceed
ed to the work, and in very few
minutes the prisoner was free.
Then the king started down from
the throne. and advanced to where
the freed man stood.
my son." he said, extending both
his hands, "the truth has come SO
naked and SO plain, that there is no
room for doubt; and l now see that
you bear upon your face the features
Of your noble mother-God pardon me
for the wrong l was led to do her.
And, my son,-here, in the presence of
these witnesses, | ask you to forget
the past-I ask you to be my SON
and then, o, then, Horam will be no
more childless!"
Julian had no power to resist the
appeal; and as the old king tottered
forward the son supported him upon
his bosom, and sustained him in the
embrace Of his stout arms
And yet Julian was not content. His
face wore still cloud; and there was
trouble in his heart.
What could it mean? Horam feared
that his son could not quite love him.
Omar saw the trouble, and OWNED
its cause; and stepping quickly for
ward he whispered into the ear of his
brother. Horam caught at the words,
and the star Of hope beamed again He
clapped his hands and cried out:
What, ho! Without! Where is
Benoni?"
The captain came
"Benoni, bring the lady Ulin!"
Pale and trembling the princess en-
tered the chamber; but when she saw
Julian alive and free, with the shack