Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-10-29
MISCELL AN Y
From Lamartins's New Work
GINNING Ruse of an Arab Maiden.

Zobeir, chief or king of the tribe of Abs,
numerous and warlke community of Yemen,
came to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca. Both
wandering and settled Arabs, before Mohammed,
were in the habit of visiting that holy place, to
Worship in the first temple erected by Abraham,
and sancti6ed by tradition. Zobeir, with his
attendants, established himself in the environs
of the CITY. Young, powerful, and acknowledged
also a chief by other tribes less populous than
his own, he sought wife among the dansels
of his race. The report of the miraculous beau
ty of the daughter OF an independent sheik call
ed Amrou intamed him with the desire OF call
inc her his own. The name of this celebrated
VIRGIN was Thelnadour Zobeir hesitated to de-
mand the hand Of Themadour from Amrou, fear
inc refusal in consequence OF an hereditary
feud between the families: under this apprehen-
sion he had recourse to artitce. He invited
Amrou to festival in his encampment; and
while his guest,in the confidence and enjoyment
of hospitality, laid aside all mistrust, Zobeir Is
sued secret orders to q chosen band OF warriors,
selected from neighboring tribe, to attack the
tents of Amrou under cover OF the nlght TO dls-
perse his tiocks, and terrify his unprotected
family; but at the same time he strictly forbade
them to be guilty Of the slightest outrage against
the wife or daughter OF Amrou.
These secret orders were executed with I'M
plcit obedience. The appointed horsemen as
sailed the encampment OF Amrou, scattered his
slaves before them, carried off the cattle, and
drove them into detile OF the mountains. Ihe
result of this premeditated attack speedily reach
ed the knowledge of Zobeir. lie disslmulated
his ioy, and rushed forth into the desert at the
head of his bravest warriors as II hying TO the
succor of his guest. He arrived tlrst on the
threshold of the tent OF Amrou, who, receiving
the intelligence later, followed at some distance.
The beautiful Themadour, his daughter, stood
bathed in tears at the entrance OF her fathers
dwelling she cast her eyes upon the scattered
focks. and raised her arms to heaven, imploring
succor or revenge.
Zobeir. transported and bewildered by her
beauty, ordered an old follower who accompanl-
ed him to cover the young damsel respectfully
with veil; he then started Oft with his horse,
men in pursuit of the pretended robbers, and
soon returned with the thousand camels and
slaves of Amrou, which he delivered up in safe
ty and uniniured at the tent of his friend. Dur
inc this imitation of combat and deliverance,
Amrou had fastened in person to the succor OF
his family and tribe. He saw with his own eyes
the zeal and ardent generosity OF Zobeir, and
prayed him to accept in turn the hospitality he
during the festival given in honor Of the liberia
tor of his daughter, IF my heart cannot pour
rself out in gratitude, it will burst: have no
thing more precious to offer than my child The
madour | bestow her upon thee as thy slave u
81 accept her." replied Zober, mot as a slave,
but as nv wife, At these words the damsels
of the tribe conducted Themadour, veiled, into
the presence of fZobeir, and, removing the cur
tain, disclosed her radiant beauty to the eyes OF
her future husbend. Zobeir carried his lovely
conquest back to his own tribe and yielded him.
self up to the intoxcation of unalloyed happiness.
Meanwhile Themadour, although rejoicing in
the love with which she had inspired Zobeir, and
which she ardently returned, felt her pride mortl-
fed that she had been vanquished as slave, and
not purchased with rich gifts to her father, like
a free-born maiden, and in compliance with the
manners of her nation. The incautious Zobeir,
ylorying in the success of his scheme, had, in
The delirium of affection confessed 1t to his
hr;de Themadour vowed secretly to herself to
nnnish the subterfuge of Zobeir by another sub
terfupe. and to compel him to pay her father the
value Of her dowry
One night. while she was familiarly reproach-
;no him with the stratagem he had practlsed to
obfa;n possession of her without disbursing the
lawfnl purchase, Zobeir became entiamed with
anger and, rising up suddenly from the couch,
renlied that she was fool-hardy to speak thus to
her husband and her master ut is Well! re-
ioined Themadour, smiling; "know then that
YOUR trick has been counteracted by one more
subtle and more skilfully executed. am not
that Themadour whose charms you so lnsatia0iy
coveted am only her sister and shadow; the
matchless beauty for which l have been sub,
stituted to satisfy you reposes under the tent OF
my father, Amrou, inaccessible to your arms
and desires"
Zobeir at these words became troubled and
suspicious. "If you do not credit what say,
continued Themadour, "send some aged female