Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-02-21
COUNTY, THURSDAY, FEBRUI
"Fatima, the Moorish girl?"
"The same"

"Fatima, the Moorish girl?"
"The same"
"Seigneur Taleb, in the name of youl
mother do not see that woman"
'Why?"
."She is the destruction both of the faith
ful and of the unbelievers. She possesses
a charm which kills-do not see her,"
"Sidi Houmaium, my resolution is taken
Fatima possesses charm, but / possess a
a greater charm. Hers gives death, but
mine gives life. youth, beauty. Tell bel
that, Sidi Houmaium; tell her that old
age and wrinkles vanish at nv approach
tell her that the apple of Heva-that ap-
pie which has condemned US all to die since
time began-I have found the seeds of it,
| have planted them and have produced
the tree of life, whose savory fruits give
eternal youth. Let ber taste it, and be
she old, be she ugly as sorceress, her
wrinkles will disappear, her skin become
white and soft as lily, her lips rosy and
perfumed as the queen of flowers"
"But, Seigueur Taleb," cried the Mus
sulman, "Fatima is not old. On the con-
trary, she is young and beautiful; so beau
tiful that sultan might be proud of her. ;"
81 know it-she is not old but she may
grow old. 1 which to see her. Sidi Hou-
nahum, remember your promises"
"Since such is your will, Seigneur Taleb,
return here at this time tomorrow. But
remember what l say to you-Fatima
makes a bad use of her beauty"
Be tranquil wish not to forget it."
l was punctual the next day to my ap-
pointment. set out with him, and, leav-
ing the main street, we walked into lit
tie street called Suma-street, where two
persons can not walk abreast, and devoted
principally to miserable little shops. In
one of the labyrinthine crooks and turns
of this street Sidi Houmaium stopped be-
fore low door and knocked.
"You will follow me-you will serve
me as an interpreter" said to him in a
low tone.
"Fatima speaks French" he answered,
without turning his head.
At the same moment the shining face of
a negress appeared at the door. Sidi Hou-
nahum and some words to her in Arabic.
The door was opened and suddenly shut af-
ter me. The negress had gone out through
side door which had not seen, and Sidi
Houmaium remained in the street.
After waiting some minutes, l began to
grow impatient, when door opened on
the left, and the negress who had intro
duced me made sign to enter. With a
few steps found myself in a corridor, out
of which many doors opened. The ne
gress led me into parlor, richly hung with
silk curtains Of Moorish design. The room
was elegantly fitted up, but my attention
was mainly attracted by Fatima herself,
who was seated upon divan-a beautiful
woman, elegantly dressed.
For some seconds she looked at me at
tentively, and then smiling, said carelessly:
"Enter, ,Seigneur Tateb. Sidi Houmaium,
warned me Of your visit. know the mo-
tive which brings you. You are very good
to enterest yourself in poor Fatima, who is
growing old, for l will soon be seventeen
seventeen the age of tardy repentance.
Well Seigneur Taleb, sit down and be
welcome. You bring me the apple of
Heva; is it..not so? The apple which gives
youth and beauty-and poor Fatima has
need of it."
know not what to reply; I was con-
fused; but suddenly recalling the motive
which had brought me, though the effect
of an extreme reaction, became as cold
as marble.
"Your raillery is graceful, Fatima," Ire
piled, taking seat on the divan. 81 had
heard your wit praised no less than your
beauty. see l was told the truth"
"Ah and who told you?"
"Duterte."
"Du'erte?"
"Yes, Raymond Duterte, the young Of
ficer-he whom you loved, Fatima."
Her eyes assumed a look of surprise.
"Yho has told you that loved him ?"
said she looking at me with strange ar.
alt was false. Was it he who said it?'
"No, but I know it. This letter proves
1.-THE letter which you wrote to him, and
which was the cause of his fate, for it was
to meet you that he risked bis life"
Hardly had 1 pronounced these words
when the Moorish girl rose suddenly,
fire cleaning in her eyes.
81 was sure of it," she exclaimed. ayes
when the negress informed me what had
happened, l said to her, "Aisse, it is he
who did the deed. 1t is be. o, the
wretch! p"
And as I looked at her, stupe6ed, know
ing not what to say, she approached me
and said in low voice:
"Will he die? Do you think he will
die soon? I would wish to see him be-
headed"
She had seized me by the arm, and l
shallinever forget the expression of her face.
"Of whom do you speak, Fatimas" l
asked, "Explain yourself. l do not under
stand? 2"
"Of whom! Of Castagnac. You are
TaleJ at the capital-give him poison
He is villain. He forced me to write to
the officer to come here, for did not wish
to. The young man had long pursued me,
but l knew that Castagnac was his enemy.
Then when l refused he threatened to
come out of the hospital to beat me if l
did not write Immediately. Here-tere
is his letter. I tell you he william"