The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1906-02-01
Scourge
Of DamaSCNS
A Story Of
the East...
SYLVANUS
COBB. JR.
Copyrighted 1891 BY Robert sonner,s Sons.

wound, and expressed the hope that it
might not prove serious. When he
had gone, Abba remarked:
The more 1 see of that man, the,
more do l 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 l am but a poor slave, and
can only pay such debts with grateful
service"
mo, no, Aibia-a slave no more.
When we left my fathers house you
stepped forth free. You arc M COM
~panion-not my slave"
The girl caught the hand of her mis-
tress. and bathed it with tears.
Free" she murmured. 'tAye-free
to serve you now and evermore. Still.
dear lady. there is a 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 a 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 P%harphar. and once more
stopped to rest. The ave of the her
nit was only a 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.
3 . y
The cave of Ben Hadad was in a
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
1t 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 its various windings without any
hesitation, and at length drew up be-
fore a bold face of rock, beneath an
o~verhanging shelf on which was the
entrance to Ben Hadad's cave. 1t was
too dark now to see all this plainly,
but those who had been there before
knew very we'll where they were. A
loud call from H%obaddan soon brought
a lighted torch from the cave. borne
by a black slave.
What no, Ortok; where is your
master?" demanded the lieutenant.
"Ho, hot is H~obaddan."
eyes, you %grinning rascal. it is l.;
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 anywhere is Eza-
bel?"
"She is also asleep, SIR
"Then call them at once. But hold
lead us into the cav 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. 1t 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 a little while a tall, broad-shoul-
dered old man, with hair and beard as
white nc tho hroocf Of n o1-o- ---
forth from a distant passage, and al
most at the same time an aged
came from another direction. Julin
quickly approached them, and spoke
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.,he princess, she said:
Good mother replied Ulin, "I shall
tell you the whole truth and then Won
will know just how much protection
we need."
And thereupon she went on, and re-
lated all that had transpired to the
present. She told how she had con-
sented to be the wife of the king-she
told of the death of her mother-and
then She o how, in her bereavement.
she began to dread and fear the man
she had promised to marry.
The woman took Ulin's hand, and
pressed it warmly between her own.
Dear child" she sail, with much
emotion, for she had been deeply
moved during the recital-"you could
not have told your story to one who
could nave better understood it. not
only sympashize with you, but l will
protect you, if need be, with all the.
power I possess; and l assure you that
our good Ben Hadad will join me with
all his heart. You did right in, fleeing
from the. wicked king. I know him
well, lady; and I believe you have not
only saved yourself from an unhappy
fate, but you have saved Koran from
committing more crime. Thus much
we understand; and now, my dear
ul1n, If may venture upon the in
curry, what do you propose to do in
the future?"
MY thoughts in that direction have
been vague and troublesome" replied
the princess. She spoke frankly, for
Ezabel had o her entire confidence.
Il have reflected upon the subject, and
my mind has found but one resting