The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-06-30

derived il, marvellous quality simply from
The inleni,y with which Koja had wished
for a means of communion with his beloved
one.
When The merchant returned from Dam.
ascus. his frs, talk was Of husband for
Lisa; bu, the young girl, Knowing there
was bu, one means OF escape, feiyGed mad.
ness. and went about The llonse with flow
ers and straw in her hair, singing wildly =
Maryola Larileh knew the cause OF this,
but they dared nol reveal IL aud So The
merchant grelved, and Lisa remained a
maiden, piled hy The whole city. Koja
was forgotten, except bv his father, who
sci I'D cerolaph for him, aud mourned
over /, for a whole day once a year-ihe
anniversary of the day on which The youth
had disappeared, floating away in his boat
Time passed on; and Lisa was no longer
a young girl, but full grown woman, still
beautiful; yet no longer sought IN marriage.
She remained in her fathers house; while
her sisters, who were more children wher
the meeting with Koja took place, all found
husbands, and soon brought pretty babies
for her TO admire and nurse. One night,
after seven years had gone 10 The past, the
merchant happening 10 be sleepless, heard
voice raised IN lamenialion. So, he gol
up aud went in its direction, and found that
il proceeded from his eldeS, daughters
room. He listened and heard her saying
"Oh, Koja /! and ari thou near the gates OF
death! Has Tins sorrow overiaken mel
Is any bridegroom about 10 he taken away''
The old Inau 'marvelled al these words, aud
quietly raising the curtain that closed the
rom, beheld Lisa sitting on The carpe, with
lamp beside her, holding ring in the
brigh, light, aud shedding tears "What Is
The sorrow Of my ,laushler!" said he, gent.
ly. She looked up, without any expires.
sion o. alarm or surprise, aud replied: "Ihe
la, hour is approaching, and | know not
where he is, or what are The means OF pro-.
ieclion." Then she showed The ring, which
had lost all ils brightness, and seemed as II
made Of old copper. The merchant under.
stood that she had nourshed somesecrel al.
feclon, and repenied that he had nol sought
to learn The reason OF her madness. He
was now very aged-his passions were less
siIong than of yore-his ambition weakeI
his prejudices amos, worn away; and
therefore, when Lisa told her story, he
sympahized with her, and said :. "Per
chance the young man may set live, for
The ling is not ye, black, and there is no
limit 10 the power and mercy Of God."-
AS he spoke, The gold assumed still dark
er hue; and Lisa shrieked and fell sense
less OIL the carpet.
Now, il happened that o, this time Koja
was returning with a caravan across The
desert that separates Arabia from SYRIA
The simoom blew, and oblleraled all signs
of The track. The caravan wandered
wafer failed-dealh began its work. Koja,
though hardened by much travel, suffered
The extreme of thirst. Making last effort,
he lef the caravan, and wandered away
through the sand Weakness came over
him-he sank down, and there seemed no
means of escape. He thought Of Lisa; and
as he felt death coming on, prayed 10 be
united 10 her in heaven. Then he lost all
memory and consciousness and the ring
darkened almost 10 an ebony colour. Death
had indeed just stretched its hand over him,
when troop Of maidens from an encamp-
men, near al hand. which had been con.
cealed by hill, came by, OIL their way 10
search for some camels that had ,sirayed.-
Que Of them saw The dying man, and re-
vived him at first by pressing her moist
lips to his. Then she called TO one of hel
companions who had gourd, and spin.
kled his lace with water, Afterwards she
made him drink. Then they took him up
as if he had been child, and carried him
TO The tents, where he was tended all night
by the women, while The men went out 10
save the remnants Of lhe caravan. II is
needless 10 add that, before morning, The
ring had almost resumed lis brightness, aud
that tue heart Of Lisa was glad again,
A fresh peril awaited Koja. The Bedouin
girl who had saved hih., loved him, and
with rude simplicity claimed from him, first,
the sacrifice OF his faith and then, when
he had told his story or his long-abiding
passion, she could not understand that en-
crossing kind of attachment, urged her
youth her attractions, her wealth, her ser.
vices, and even uttered threats. Koja re-
mained unmoved; and at las, Fameh said,
al will 90 with you to that dis,an, city,
leaving my father, and my fiiends, and my
country, and learn If there be woman who
can love The absent for seven years. IL il
be true, she shall be Thy wife, and will
be Thy wife Also" Koia smiled, and ex.
planned that people of his faith could marry
but One: principle which Faimeh ap-
proved. though !, disarranged her plans
They escaped together; for The girl said she
was determined 10 view this mar, el OF feel
ily, and perhaps secretly hoped that death
might have made The way clear for herself.
Wonderful adventures happened 10 them on
their road. But at length Beyrou, was
reached, and Koja aud Faimeh STOOD before
The gaze OF The mansion in which Lisa
lived; both disguised as beggars. They
asked lol shelter, and il was granted. Lisa
wondered al the marvellous brightness of
The ring; il shone more like diamond
than piece Of gold. She wen, on, into
The courtyard, and beheld Koia. Neither
time nor altered dress cOuld conceal him
from her; rushing forward, she seized his
hand aud covered it with tears and kisses.
saving, "Oll, my master! and has, thou al
length returned TO gladden. me!' Koia
embraced her and then turned towards The
spo, where Fatmeh had stood. Bu, The Be.
douiu girl had disappeared, and was no more
heard OF in Beyroul.
The merchan, father of Lisa eyac,ed bu
one condition, before he would consen, 10
the mauiage of the constant lovers ,ha,
Koia should Join the maronile commun.
ION. He ensily acquiesced, having. no
doubt, learned wisdom from travel. So,
after long period Of suffering came Ion.
ger period OF Joy. :. t
Were men less divided into sec,s and
classes, there nigh, have been no materials
for this legen1. We must take The world
as il is, however. Half our miseres are of
our own making; and some Of The fines,
qualities Of humanity are expended in over.