The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-05-17

best Of US can only do his utmost-the
result is with higher power than mans
will. Go to Thy betr0thed-she needs thy
presence, -doubtless--she, Mt least, will
not grieve at the failure of the suicidal
project
Meanwhile the Pacha was seated in his
tent upon pile Of cushions. An alnbas
ter lamp lighted the rich interior of his
military dwelling. he had laved the blood
stains from his hands; his fatal cimeter
had been returned to it's jeweled scabbard,
and now, with the amber mouthspiece OF
his chibouk applied to his lips. he was
quietly inhaling and expelling wreaths Of
fragrant smoke, musng perhaps on the
delights Of that paradise to which his f.
deity to the cause of the Prophet had
given him such an incontcstible claim.
Well, Hassan,' he said, addressing an
officer who was standing respectfully be-
fore him, with his arms folded over his
glittering vest, 'thinkest thon that the
infdcl dogs win renewythe attackH'
No, Pacha, we have them Gagged now
their fate is in your hands. But what
shall be done with the prisoners5 "a
They shall die, by the beard of the
Prophet! At the hour of high noon to-
morrow, see that their heads are stricken
from their shoulders. They will be an
acceptable present to the commander of
the faithful. So may all foes of the Sultan
periShN
Ard must all die?'
'All? Yes Why this question:
Because there is one whose extreme
youth -
| said all, Hassan, replied the Pacha.
But confess should like to see the
being who could move your pity
Shall l bring him before your high
nsssH'
SNky. ~e.> 4
Hassan inclined reverently and di,ap-
peared, but soon returned, bringing a
Greek boy Of slight and graceful figure,
and exceeding beauty.
Slave ! cried the Pacha, MS the hoy
stood erect and with folded arms before
him, where is your reverence? Know
| YOU in whose presence YOU stand 2
The beautiful lip OF the boy curled with
a ScornfuI smile.
] am no slave he answered, though
n captive. never quail or stoop before
the face Of man. Do know you! Yes
i know you as the assassin of my race
/ the opprt Ssor of my countrymen.'
Intide dog = said the Pacha, know
/ you the fate reserved for yout'
know mott am prisoner Of war,
taken with arms in my ahandS-you may
perhaps shoot me-
We do not shoot rebels, replied the
PaCha. 1t is waste Of ammunition. No!
there is keener way Of solving the mys-
terry. That fair neck and the edge of the
ciMeter will be made acquainted tn.mor-
row. Then the body will be stripped and
exposed on the public highway till the
hungry dogs devour it,
a sudden palcnrSS overspread the face
Of the Greck--hiS dark eyes closed and
he would have fallen had not IlaSsan
caught him in his arms.
Your highneSs !! he exclaimed, this
is no boy-it is "A woman"
All = cried the Pacha, with kindling
eyes. You are right-and a woman lit
to be the light Of the Sultan's harem.-
But for my vow-bnt that | had sworn
that all the prisoners should die, | would
reserve her for myself But she revives.
The Greek girl, for such she was, re-
covered the use of her faculties, and push.
ed IlasSan aside, stood erect again, and
uerved herself for the determination oI
the interview.
/ You have betrayed yourself, fair inf.
del, said the Pacha, in millcr tone than
he had before assumed. The fear oI
death was too much for your nerves.
'Hou shall see that know how to
meet it with the firmness of man. Ida
Of Athens is equal to her fate
Now, by the beard of the Prophet
this is glorious news. cried the Pacha
Thou art the bctrothed Of the dog De-
mctrinS, the leader Of the last mig hi sen
Slaught. Vert thou as bcauteous as the
Prophets loveliest houri, thou shouldst
die. Away with her, IIaSsan. The prs
onerS die at noon remember! J!
To hear is to obey was the answer o
IIassan, as he led the unfortunate Ida
from the Pacha's presence.
At the approach of the appointed hour
in the centre of square Of Turkish in
fantry and cavalry, and in the presence o.
the Pacha and his mounted staff, block
was prepared, attended by an executoner
bearing ponderouS cineter, the inStru
ment of death Within the square, and
on the left Of the executioner, stood the
/ handful of doomed Greeks, among whom
Ida was conspicuous by the beauty of her
features, her dress, and her heroic bear
! ing.
Before the executioner had received his
orders to commence his savage work, the
gound Of bugle was heard, and an officer
advancing to the Pacha, announced thl
arrival OF two messengers from Missolnn
CHI, the bearers of flag of truce. The
Pacha Immediately ordered them to bt
sent before him; and in obedience to the
command, Bemrtrius and Gerald, mount
ed on fire Sorses, rode up 10 the Turkish
commander. 4 faint cry escaped the lips
of Ida as she recognized her lover.
'Pacha, said the latter. | come tc
treat with you for the ransom of yon boy.
The Pacha smiled bitterly.
What interest," he asked, do you fee
in that-that boy i"
ne Is lne son III Il lTIcHu, HalleTeu lIP'
metrius I would save him for his faith.
er's sake
You will be sorry to learn, tiicu;;' said
the Pacha, coldly, that on the hour OF
noon, he dies. Dog of an infid+l, he ad-
ded, fiercely, do not think to blind me-
Yon is no boy; it is Ida ofAthens-your of
betrothed IIa! ha! am ] not rrvengrd !?
'Pacha = cried Demetrius, as the cold
drops of agony stood upon his brow, You
know me we'll; am your dcadliest enc.
mv-the sworn foe of your race In the
cities of the mincrets the MoSlem mothers
are yet weeping for their first born, slain
by the sword of DemetriuS. Only last
night made your braveSt bite the dust,
and even yet my leadership may save
MisSolonehi! Well offer you that
hated life. Librrate you captive; Asd re-
ccive me in her place"
Pacha he firmI listen not to his