Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-12-29
VOL. VU.--NO. I.

4
powerful talisman, and without hesitation
her demand to be shown to the apartment
of Zebra was complied with. NADIA. in the
meantime being ordered to remain be-
hind
Zebra was startled by the appearance
of Emma. but she paid her due reverence
and humbly asked her pleasure The Wis
itor calmly dismissed the attendant, and
then turning to Zebra she asked:
Are we alone 2
Yes returned the girl as she gazed
wonderingly into the pale features of her
visitor
DO look we'll p Emma continued, as
| she took seat
Not very well, lady
But you look exceedingly we'll. And
you look beautiful, too.
Zebra tried to smile, but it was beyond
her power She was startled by Enina's
strange manner.
! was once beautiful continued Mo-
hammed's wife-'almost as beautiful as
you
You are beautiful STILL said Zebra
| But not beautiful enough. Beauty
should never faden
Alas all things earthly must fade
| Emma started at the mournful manner
of the young girl, and there was percep-
tible softening of the expression upon her
countenance but it soon passed away,
and all was cold again
Are you not happy creature?' Emma
asked
Zebra only gazed upon her interlocutor
| in silence.
You should be happy, for life opens a
kind future to you continued Emma.
when you are--are-Mohamme acite,
you will be happy
% /! for kind Heavens sake torture me
not with"
60 on-go on uttered the queen draw
ing quick breath
Il can trust you-you will be kind-you
will not betray me-
'No-go on
Emma spoke with energy, and she
leaned forward to catch the words that
might fall from the fair girls lips
L trust my own sex will not turn against
me- murmured Zebra.
How 2 why 2 quickly asked the queen,
while her hand slowly moved towards her
bosom
Il cannot be Mohammed's wife. OIL
cannot
Cannot? But the king loves YOU
! NO, no--he cannot love me- Only nv
beauty pleases him.
Suppose he dill love you? p
Even then [ could not be his O. no.
BILE lady you, who have woman's heart,
should know the secrets of the female
soul You should know what misery
must be in that lifetime that presents
nothing upon which the heart can fasten
in love-
Zebra hcsitated and then with sudden
movement she cast herself at the feet of
the queen.
20 perhaps you can save me- Per
haps you can persuade the king to let me
be happy. Will you not =
Il have little power over Mohammed -
think you might be happy in his compa-
ny. He will be lavish of kind acts when
you are once his youngest wife
'Ab, noble lady, you can know little of
kindness if you think as you speak
Could you be shut up for life in some
dark, lonesome dungeon. where the light
| of day was forever excluded-where moi
some vapors and pestilentiaI malaria
clung about you-and there treat as kind
ness any act of him who confined youl
The expression upon the queens coun-
tenance was gradually changing. Still
she looked upon the beautiful girl with a
burning eye.
'Mohammed will make you his wife, she
said
sNo, no--he cannot
sAh, but he has the power.
Not to do that returned Zebra, rising
to her feet and throwing back the dark
silken tresses that had fallen about her
face
Yes, he has whispered Emina
'Hark,' uttered Zebra. Hear you that
murmJring noise q
Yes
1T is the dark, swift Darro If Mo
hammed takes me for his wife. be shall
take me cold and lifeless from its rushing
flood Allah gives me SO much of hope
For long while the queen gazed into
the face of the girl before her. The stern
GOODNESS was all gone from her features,
aud her lips trembled with emotion
Zebra she said, drawing the trembling
fair one to her bosom, L know that you
speak the truth, and [ am almost happy.
for l am saved deed 1 trembled to com
NIT. Tremble not, for you need fear me
no longer. Had 1 found you loving to-
wards Mohammed, you should not have
lived to receive his embrace but now YOU
need not even fear him have loved the |
king most truly, and swear by the Proph- |
ct most high, that none other shall take |
my place of wife while l breathe the !
breath Of life =
As the queen spoke. she turned from
Zebra and buried her face in her hands
Do not let this affect you So kindly
urged the young girl, laying her hand up
on Emina's shoulder, and gazing up into
her face
You are not wife, Zebra returned |
the queen. as she brushed tear from her |
cheek You have not felt the crushing |
of your hearts whole love, and experien
ced the dark night that succeeds the set |
ting sun of life. have felt all this
Heaven rest you