Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-05-04

The thinner gazed upon the sketch, and listened
to the description with profound attention and evil
dent surprise. "Surcly," said hs II have seen her
whose features are here deneuscd. Indeed they
are features which not easily mistaken for che
is beautiful as Of the damsels Of Paradice."
Sayest thou sos' said the monarch, starting from
ms scat, whis he tore from his tur,n Jewels OF
nestimable value. which he thrust into the painters
hanc. "knowest thou where 10 find herr"
. She lives IN the southern suburbs" answered the
INNER "ler name is Selma, and her father Is a
poor but learned man, who is constantly buried in
his studies, and unconcious Of the value of the gem
which Is hidden under his humble roof"
iiaste thee. good Ali, hastothee bring her hth-
, er. let no difficulties dangers impede thee, and
there rs not favor in the power of the monarch OF
ira,n to grant which thou shalt ask III vain
All iiew rather than In the abode or his fair
TREND IN whose welfare he had always taken lively
interest. He knocked ut the door, which OPEN
ed by the lovely Selma herself.
Sweet Selma he said 81 have strange news for
thee"
Speak it then, she answered smlingly "bc it bad
or good, the sooner hear the better"
II have message for thee from the Shah"
"I'he Shaht' she said, and her eyes sparkled with
mysterious expression of intelligence and wonder,
but she did not, extraordinary the information,
appear 10 entertain the slightest doubt of its veracity
l'''Tis wondrous strange!'
Ills true" said the Inner. 'Te placed in my
hands sketch for a female portrait, in which in
staD,ly recognized your features"
''It is but few days ago." said she, "that had an
extraordinary dream Methought was in an apart
ment of surprising extent and magniiccnce. A cloud
OF fragrant odOurs filed the ROOM the cloud became
gradually condensed, and then assumed the form of
. a young man Of most majestic form md handsome
features. Although had never seen the Shah, |
soon knew, by his pale brow sad and We, so beau
tiful his bright sparkling blue eye, his tall stately
form, and his regal gait, that this could be other
than Abbus Selm. He smiled sweetly upon the
he took my hand i'll HIS and as his lips approached
mine woke ard saw only the cold moon beams gil
ding my chamber"
Sweet Selma! why have mover heard of this
before"
Il told it all to my father" said she; ''but he
frowned upon me, and babe me think of it no more,
and 10 tell my dream to But thy strange
message has made me violate his command. have
thought of nothing but Abbas Sclim since. How
happy ought the nation to be whom he governs and
above all how happy the maiden whom he lowest
''1hen art thou, my Selma, supremelv happy"
said the thinner; 'for of thee is Inc enamoured to des
peration. Thou must accompany me immediately
to the palace"
in the mean time the Shah paced his apartment in
agony of Impotence. Course Oh this hinge ring lin
ncr! he exclaimed; ''has he combined with the Ma
gian to drive me to destruction? May every vile
peasant press to his heart the being whom he adores
and the lord OF this empire to sigh in vain
and to be continually tormented with faint and mo
mentary gmpses of the heaven from which am de-
barred"
He had scarcely uttered these words, when the
private entrance to his apartment, 10 which ho had
gwen painter passport opened,
ger entered leading his fair companion by the hand.
No sooner did the nonarch's ewes encounter those
OfSena, than lie instantly knew that he was in the
real, substantial presence of her whose phantom he
had bcheld. His wonder and delight knew no
bounds, nor will the power of language suffice
describe them. lie pressed to his heart the object
for winch 1t had so long painted Health and strength
appeared to be suddenly restored to him; new life
seemed rushing thro his VEINS aud his buoyant step
and elastic tread seemed to belong to world less
gross and material than that in which he dwct.
When the first paroXsm of his rapture was over he
summoned the chef Imaum into his presence, and
gave him orders to follow him into the mosque attach
ed TO the palace, for the purpose ofnmediatey cee-
broting his nuptials with Selima.
The priest gazed intenty OF the BRIDE and his fea-
lures became strangely agitated. ''The will of Alb
bas Scliun" nc said, 's the law ofhis faithful sub
locs; but If have read the Koran Alright and If my
81 udies have not been idly pursued the finger Of
death is your fair maiden, and her nuptias with the
Shah will but accelerate the approach of AzraeI."
"Dotard!" said the prince; and he gazed upon Sc
lima, whose features gowcd with all the hues of beau
ty and health. Tell not to me thy idle dreams
hut perform thine office, aud be silent"
The chidden priest obeyed the asIniunction Of his
prince, and, with head depressed and folded arms fol-
lowed him and his bride 10 tine mosque which was has
ty prepared for the celebration Of these unexpected
nuptias. Heavily ard aHl eringy he pronounced The
rites which wcro Just on the point of being oncludcd
when man rushed into the mosque and with frantic
and threatening gestures placed himself between tho
''Forbcar, forbeur!" he cried, ''or Alaha's curse
light you"
''It Is the traitorous Mogain, said the Shah "V-I
ian! woudst though beard thy sovereign at the nup-
tia hour"
As he spoke he unshcathed his scimtar. end rushed
towards Achmet. "Savc him. spare him" shriekcd
the brdc: it is my fatheri" md rushing between them.
Inc Shah weapon pierced her to the heart and she
sunk liicIcs5 10 the earth.
All were struck mute and rnotiUnlcss with horror
a. this total event. When they had somewhat rccov-
cred from their supor, every eye fixed upon the
SINH. Still. and cold, and silent statue, he occu-
pied the same place ut the moment Of this fearful
catastrophe. His eyes glred fxedy and uumeaninpIy
lis lips and checks were Of an ashy palcncss lie
returned no answer tothc enquiries which were made
NJ him, and the import OF which it was evident that
be did not comprehend. Ia fact 1t was clear that
rcason had fled irorn tho highly endowed mind
Of Abbas Sclim, and that the reign Of one of tho
greatest and most highly accomplished princes who
had ever filled the throne Of Persia was terminated
IL state ofllstlcssress and nunity hc continued
for above a twelve month A few apartments of tho
palncc were oil that rsm1incd 10 him of hi once ,