Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-04-29

received 1uIl pay iOI MS goods, ana Il TiCl pre-
sent beside, with message that if he would
follow the slave who gave them to him, he
should be conductednto the presence of the
Bey, who would be happy 70 receive so repu-
table merchant AL Hassan followed the
messenger, through several winding passa-
ges, until at last they stopped short and sud-
denly, when the slave threw open secret
door, and the astonished Armenian found
himself within the sacred precincts of the
Bey's harem, and within few steps of Iii
lah herself J, wonder soon gave way to
the Joy of M ag her whom he loved 50
dearly, and in CSC + az pea'lty, 'ao two
were the rcx' ~ a ambr I'd each
other arms e..t,gs5a = ~ gentle
Zlllah was too 1n,lch for her debhtatcd
strength, and she tainted. AL Hassan laid
her upon the rich divans, yielding her to
the host of attendants that thronged to her
side.
At this moment the willy Turk entered
and with feigned surprise declared that the
Armenian had profaned his harem, at the
same time sternl ordering his slaves to seize
and conhne him, in the keep of the palace
But his stratagem was too shallow to deceive.
AL Hassan, who, as he was being conduc-
ted away, turned and said -
"Think not that | am deceived by this
hollow pretence; for l know full well your
object in thus betraying me-"
" Be this as it may, young man." replied
the Turk, there remains but one mode
for you to escape from death. BY virtue of
the laws, you must now embrace the Ma
hommedan faith and marry my child or your
life is the forfeit"
4" There is God in Hcacen !" replied
AL Hassan, as they hurried him away to the
gloomy keep.
A week passed by, and still was the young
merchant confined in the keep. Each morn
ing slave appeared before him, stating that
if he were prepared to comply with the laws,
he should be released if not few more
days would seal his fate. The old Turk
thought that AL Hassan, thus pressed, would
finally yield and choose to renounce his faith
rather than die but he knew not the sus-
tanning and actuating motive of his captive
whose answer was still unchanged. At last
the Bey sent for him to appear before him.
) DO you still adhere to your purpose 2"
/ he asked.
81 do" replied the Armenian
, "And dost prefer death to life of peace
with Zllah 2"
, " All deeply, severely am tried" said
, AL Hassan; no torture could make me
: acknowledge so much, for as the apple of
5 mine eye, do love thy daughter, cruel Bey"
l The choice is with yourself; life with
, her, or fearful DEATH
: There was a momentary struggle in the
D Armenian's mind-for but a moment did he
D hesitate and pause to consider.
: Speak for the last time" said the Bey,
r "ere hand thee over to the mercies of the
! criminal tribunal"
r My trust is in heaven" said the Arme-
Man, calmly.
4 Enough" said the Turk "bear him
e away to the court"
d And AL Hassan was led like a traitor or
n felon before the judges whose words were
: fate, and who were actuated by all the pre-.
! JUDGES of their countrymen against the ha.
l. ted sect to which he belonged, but he was
e innocent, and knew no fear
O Boldly and without hesitation did the Bey
IS charge him before the tribunal, of profanine
his harem-a crime whose penalty, as al
Constantinople knew, was death, unless the
h culprt became at once a follower of the pro
n phet, and in an instance like the present
l. married the female
s. The Armenian commenced his defence il
d a bold and manly strain. He announced a
e once his deep, unchanging love for the beau
tiful Zillah, and acknowledged the charge
l. preferred against him, of being found in tn,
/ harem But he showed also how he cam,
e there that it was by treachery and design
on the part of the Bey himself, which coult
G be easily proved by his own child and by tn,
H.. Al L Al.
st These were sent for and examined, an,
he the Turkish tribunal were forced to acknowl
is edge in their own hearts that AL Hassal
N was innocent. But he was found in the Ina
rem no matter how he came there he wa
Christian, and the law provided for sucl
I; cases was imperative. The judges all joine,
in advising AL Hassan to embrace the tru
y, faith, as they termed the Mahommetan creed
Il but he steadily rejected all persuasion, an
the judges were forced to pronounce his sen
lie tence He was condemned to be beheaded
IS 8" Is there no hope" cried the halfdi:
s. tracted Zillah to the judges We are bu
lie the agents of the law, its humble servants.
"The sultan the sultan !" cried Zilaf
y, as ii new thought had possessed her, q
X the same time leaving the hall of Justice.
She sought the palace of the brother c
ny the SUM-" and regardless of all ceremony
ed threw herself at his feet. She related !
most eloquent terms the true state of tn
affair that so nearly affected her. She tol
y the sultan, too, Of the part her father Ia
a acted, but with all delicacy and considers
ton, and with her earnest but simple an
:. true tale, engaged and interested the MOI
ed arch He sent at once for the judges, an
n listened attentivey to their version of tn
at affair, also receiving from them recommer
lg dation of mercy. The sultan turned hi
= face towards the east, and for momer
as seemed lost in prayer. Then AL Hasa
to was ordered before him.
"Thou lowest the Bey's daughter as trul
ia as she doth love thee 2" demanded the su
er tan, when both were before him.
lis 81 have long loved her thus truly, mob
lid sultan" replied AL Hassan.
lis "And thou, Zilah, dost love the Arm
Ia man, and woulds st thou become his wife 2
To- con noble sultan it is the only wis
1s- of my heart left ungratfed."
'st If err, the Prophet forgive me-" sa
he the monarch, again bowling his head towar'
nd the east, rise and go hence; you are fro
ng this hour married to each other, and m,
Il