The King's Talisman — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

THE KINGS TALISMAN. 57 compulsion, and the lurking demon in their eyes only slumbered for the time being. As the fair girl now rode by Noureddin’s side, they both felt more free and unconstrained than they had on the pre- ceding evening. ‘The one felt happy in affording moment- ary pleasure to his companion, and the other felt grateful for a noble kindness. A kind of mutual confidence had sprung up within the genial warmth of their hearts, and as they now gazed upon each other, both seemed for the mo- ment to forget the past, with its varied scenes. ‘* Lady,” said Noureddin, as he drew his horse nearer to the side of his companion, ‘‘ would you dare to trust me with the full secret of your present position?” Selina started in her saddle, and the reins trembled in her hand as she met the strange look that beamed from the young man’s eyes. ‘The stars alone-twinkled above them, but they gave light enough to reveal the youth’s meaning expression. ‘The maiden spoke not, and Noureddin con- tinued: ‘‘ Fear not to trust me.” ‘*Qh, sir, I do not fear to trust one like you; you have been too kind already;” cried the grateful girl, as she turned her tearful eyes toward her companion. ‘<7 have a reason for asking you,” Noureddin said, mark- ing with pleasure the peculiar tone of his companion’s an- swer. There was something in the young man’s manner, in his tone and bearing, that inspired the maiden with a vague idea of some approaching aid, and while her hand grew steadier in its rein-hold, she replied: ° ‘©You must already be aware, kind sir, that my present destination is a source of the deepest misery to myself, and of course much against my desires,” «Then why haye you come?” Eomichbooks:co