The King's Talisman — page 102: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE KING'S TALISMAN. 93 in your maiden heart?” asked Noureddin, almost breath- less from the intensely absorbing feeling that moved within him. ‘* Perhaps,” returned Selina, “‘an answer to such a ques- tion at the present time might be somewhat biased, for the weight of gratitude that lays upon my heart might give wider wings to my tongue. But,”’—the maiden dropped her eyes as she said it—‘‘ even if it were a sin to love thee, I fear my poor heart could not break the chains that your kindness to me has wound around it.” The stars twinkled in the blue .vault of the celestial throne; their beams danced merrily over the tiny crystals that lay upon the surface of the sands, and the steady foot- fall of the horses alone broke the stillness around; but Noureddin heeded nothing save the new heaven that had — _ opened in his soul—he heard no sound save the melody of that sweet voice that ie rang its enchanting music in his ears. ‘* Selina,” he said, in accents so soft and rich that they seemed like the intonations of the swept viol, ‘‘ you know not the degree of joy your words have Saroarkad to my soul; but until different circumstances surround us—until our hearts are free from all extraneous motives, I will rest upon the token I have this night received, and should our lives be spared to the future, I may yet strive for the jewel that now sends its dazzling brightness o’er my spirit’s way. Your path it is easy tosee, for, once more, restored to the arms of your father, your home will again be the abode of peace and joy, with wealth and station at your command; but with me the future is as uncertain as the winds of heaven. One thing only do I know; so long as earth receives the impress of my feet, an untarnished honor and a truthful heart shall be mine.” ‘<A wealth that monarchs might covet, did they but know the source of true greatness,” quickly returned Selina, as Eomicbooks (Efe)