The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-02-09
66e ScOurge
efDanascus
A Story Of
the EaSt...
SYLVANUS
COBB. JR.
Copyrighted 1891 By Roser. Bonners Son,

| That is not the answer to my ques-
ton, About. I asked you what you
discovered"
/ discovered" returned the minis
ter, in tones of deepest dread, "that
her love had been turned from you"
'Aye-and upon whom"
Upon julian, sire"
That is it, About" cried the king.
again starting up. THAT is the thing
that enters most deeply into my soul.
| And now | will tell you what the girls
| punishment shall be. She shall wit
ness the death OF her robber lover; she
shall see his head severed from his
| body-and then she shall be shut up,
| to lead solitary life, through the rest
| or her days! None of her own sex
| shall attend upon her; but black
guards shall be her sole companions.
| What say you to that?"
The eXecutioners were not long In
| obeying the order. A large mat was
brought in and spread upon the floor,
| and three stout baskets of palm-leaf
were placed upon it. The mat and the
baskets were darkly stained, and even
Omar, used as he was to such scenes,
| shuddered when he beheld the prepa-
ratlons. When all was ready, Horam
turned to his captain and ordered that
all the prisoners should be brought in.
At length they came. Julian and
Osmir and Selim came first Then fol-
lowed Ben Hadad and Ezabel, with
Shubal and Ortok. And lastly came
Ulin and Abba.
The robber chieftain was led up to
the block. His arms were folded upon
his broad bosom. with the heavy
chains hanging almost to his feet.
and his head was borne erect. There
was deep pain-mark in his face, but
1t was not of fear for himself.
Outlaw" spoke Horam, through
his shut teeth, and with his thin hands
clenched, "the hour has come in which
you are to close your career of rapine
and robbery; and these people who
have been friends to you, and who
have given you protection in your
crime, are to see your head fall. Per-
haps you would ask for mercy"
mercy at the hand of Horam of Da-
mascus Let the work be finished as
quickly as possible, and thus shall one
more be added to the list of thy bloody
deeds. l could wish to live that I
might take more vengeance on thee"
And is there not one thing for
which you would live?" asked the king.
hiyr ,-1n
upon him.
Julian started, and struggled; but
made no reply. And in a moment more
Horam turned to his chief executioner.
BEL Dara, go now to your work.
Let this mans head fall first. Your
arm is strong, and your hand is sure.
Bend him upon his knees, and watch
for my signal"
There was low, wild cry breaking
upon the air; and as Julian turned his
head, he saw Ulin, white and faint, in
the arms of her attendant
Before the grim executioners could
bend the robber chieftain to his knees
there was an interruption in the pro-
ceedings. The voice of Ben Hadad,
stern and authoritative, sounded above
all else:
king Of Damascus, ere you stain
your hands with that mans blood, l
must reveal to you a secret which it
is fitting you should know
"Old man." he said, "you speak a
secret. Do you think to trife with
me?"
II have to cause a simple story to
be unfolded to your majesty" replied
Ben Hadad; "and if you will grant
this woman speech, she will give you
light"
The king looked hard into the face
of Ezabel, and for the first time he
seemed to be struck by something ia
miliar in her features. A moment he
sat as If irresolute, and then he said,
starting up as though his mind were
fixed:
LET the woman approach"
Ezabel came near to the throne, Ben
Hadad walking close behind her.
Woman, what is it that you have
to tell? Speak, and let not the words
lag upon your lips"
i speak by the request OF Ben Ha-
dad" replied Ezabel; "and the story
which I shall tell you is known only
to the old hermit and myself. Even
Julian himself knows not the secret I
have to impart, and were he now upon
the verge Of death, no persuasion
should draw it from me. 1t may be
that the disclosure will consign me to
your executioner; but I care not. I
shall waste no words. I was born in
this city, and was married at an early
age. One SON was born to me, and
then my husband died. Shortly after
this bereavement was called to nurse
sick child-a girl, some three years
old-who was suffering from an acci-
dent. The child recovered under my
care, and as I had formed a strong
attachment for her, and as she had
also conceived the same for me, l was
retained to attend upon her. Her par
ents were of the wealthiest of Damas,
Gus, and while they made it very
pleasant for me to remain with their