The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-01-26
A Story I'll
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SYLVANUS
COBB. JR.

ready, the chieftain and his lieutenant
led or leaving shubal to ride with
the females, While Osmir and Selim
broughtNup the rear.
"A few hours past noon they stopped
In a pleasant grove; where pure fresh
water dubbed forth from a basin OF
white sand, and here they made a din
ner OF bread and fruit while the horses
rested. Julian spoke with the princess
and asked her how she bore the fatigue
OF the journey; but his manner was
free from any shade of familiarity.
She in turn asked concerning his
wound, and expressed the hope that II
might not prove serious. When he
had gone, Abba remarked:
The more see of that man, the
more do love and honor him. He
is no common man, my lady,"
Il shall always remember him with
gratitude" returned Ulin, gazing down
as she spoke.
And L." added the bondmaiden,
earnestly, Should like to remain with
him, and serve him always"
You are generous, Abba
Because am but poor slave. and
can only pay such debts with grateful
service"
NO, no, Albia-a slave no more.
When We left my fathers house you
stepped forth free. You are my COM
panion-not my slave"
The girl caught the hand of her mis-
tress. and bathed it with tears.
"Free!" she murmured. "Aye-free
to serve you now and evermore! Still,
dear lady, there is holy satisfaction
in feeling that the seryile badge is
stricken off. Your poor slave loved
you truly, and you may be assured
that she will love you none the less
now that she is slave no more'
Shortly after this, and while yet AL
bia was drying her eyes, Julian called
up the horses, and made ready for an
other start.
Late in the evening they reached the
bank of the Pharphar, and once more
stopped to rest. The cave of the her.
nit was only few leagues distant,
and could be easily reached by mid
night. For himself the chieftain did
not care. He wished the princess to
act her own pleasure
The cave of Ben Hadad was in q
deep valley, where the river wound
between two long, high hills; and
thick woods shut it out from the heat
of the MONDAY sun and from the gaze
OF the stranger. A good path led to
it from the plain, though a person
needed acquaintance with the way in
order safely to follow it. Julian was
surely used to the path, for he thread
ed it's various windings without any
hesitation, and at length drew up be-
fore bold face of rock, beneath an
overhanging shelf on which was the
entrance to Ben Hadad's cave. It was
too dark now to see all this plainly,
but those who had been there before
knew very we'll where they We're. A
loud call from Hobaddan soon brought
lighted torch from the cave, borne
by a black slave
What no, Ortok: where is your
master?" demanded the lieutenant.
"Ho, hot is Hobaddan.'
Eyes, you grinning rascal, it is I;
and it is also Julian: and. further
more, others are with us. Where is
Ben Hadad "
He is in his bed, sir. sound asleep"
And where is my-where is Eza-
bel?"
''She is also asleep. SIR
'Then call them at once But hold
lead us into the cave first
The negro came out with his torch,
and while Hobaddan stopped a few
moments with the slaves to look after
the horses, Julian led Ulin and Abba
into the cave. It was a broad. high
chamber in the solid rock, and the
light of the torch revealed the fact
that there must be other chambers be-
yond.
In little while a tall, broad-shoul-
dered old man, with hair and beard as
white as the breast of a swan, came
forth from distant passage, and al
i, most at the same time an aged woman
came from another direction. Julin
quickly approached them, and spoke
few words in private and then said,
aloud:
These ladies. good father and moth
er, seek your aid and protection. ASK
them no questions tonight, for they
are worn and weary, and need repose
On the morrow they will tell you their
story" He then approached the prin-
cess
The old woman when she saw Al.
bias face, recognized her at once; and
as she gazed upon the beautiful fea.
lures of the princess, the latter said
lures of The princess, she said:
Good mother" replied Ulin;.."1 shall
tell you the whole truth and then yol
will know just how much protection
we need.''
! And thereupon she went on. and re
lated all that had TRANSFERRED to til,
present. She told how she had con
sented to be the wife of the king-sh,
told of the death of her mother-an,
4 then she told how. in her bereavement