The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-06-07

| IN ignorance OF tne mehSufcS l. pursue
/ Gas you will, Zera, i have implicit faith
in your ability to accomplish this, and your
means too"
believe me, Laura, it is for the best"
81 am content"
''But Laura, have some work for you TO
do in this matter. Listen to me. You know
that it viii not do for me to be seen about
almost certainly be detected, and then you
know speedy trial and swift execution would
in all probability be my fate. But against
you no possible suspicion can harbor And
therefore, at the earliest practicable moment
want you to go down and obtain an in
terview with the general and ascertain these
things: First, if he has seen the paper on
which Col Taylor was arrested; and next, if it
is in his possession. Now you may procure
this intelligence in any way that you choose,
but getit you must, for do not know how
to go to work until am in possession of this
knowledge
Il will do it the first thing in the morn
ing" said Laura, her beautiful features glow
! ing with hope and radiant with determined
resolution. 81 will find out what is necessary
for you to know; he cannot deny daughter
this information"
''No, he cannot; but you can effect you OBJ
ject much more readily by expressing doubt
of the existence of any such document at
all. After such an expression, your subse-
quent inquiry will not appear surprising !"
ooh, Zera, what diplomatist you arel"
oil ,al -,
of the keen, brilliant, subtle intellect of this
remarkable girl
"Come now, none of that, won't bear your
lattery! 1t is not any extraordinary shrewd-
ness that enables me to decide upon the best
course to pursue in any given emergency,
but the consciousness of self reliance. When
one is thrown SO early as have been upon
the turbulent sea of life, compelled to watch
and guard physical interests as well as life
itself, it is not surprising that have acquired
some little insight into men and things. l
was scarcely fifteen years of age, Laura, when
i trod the palace of hundred emirs, the
absolute ruler of my grand fathers provinces
i, girl, who never felt the force of my own
passions, had to govern men; put down with
buo 5ltlu VI ONu Will tIo
license of licentious court-the turbulent
factions of an imperial city. Yet none in
Yezd will ever say shrank from my duty.
And now throughout its wide palaces and
porphyry halls, among its people and satra-
pies there is not one who owns a law or holds
life save at my command These people that
you see around me are but the reflex of those
% H. "a
are surprised at my .fneSse, yet learned it
amid carnage and conquest, and the perils of
fraud and force, when fear might have cost
me my life But it is over now. Firmly
seated on the throne of my ancestors, there is
none to dispute my sway-no, not one Years
l may tarry here-until the form now radiant
shall grow shriveled and worn; but until die
my people will acknowledge no other rule
save that of Zera Al Hassan!" said the young
girl, not with fippantry and in Boosting
tone, but low and sad, as if the experience of
cher life had torn from her heart the love and
freshness of its early days, and left it DESC
late. The play of emotion on the exquisitely
chiseled features showed that feelings were
aroused that were not born of happiness.
flash, the glare of her dilating eye, spoke of |
memories that rose on her vision distinct and |
plain, yet replete with sorrowful recollec- |
tons.
"Poor girl" Laura said at length, winding |
her arms around the beautiful neck "yours |
has, indeed, been a sad life, but yet glorious |
one. Never give way to such memories, bat |
rail 10 fha ,lo,, |
your native land, Richard and will come to |
visit you; when, hand in hand, we will stray |
through your blooming gardens, or listen to |
the sweet minstrelsy which no other cline
can excel; float on the bosom of the Mourga,
or sit beneath the nut groves of Samarcand, |
and watch the fair maidens of Yernen as |
they stray among bowers of Geel in their
bloom"
There was magic in the low tone and earnest |
eyes of the comforter Zera listened to the |
sweet, flexible voice, as it breathed its soft |
cadence into her ear; the shadows left her
face and smiles nestled among the dimples,
and rippled like waves over the sunny coun-
tenanee.
"Ah ma belle Laura, what a magician you
are and warm, passionate kisses, rained
on her face and lips; "but the night is wear
ing late; we must to bed, and be ready for
our work in the morning" And Zera rung
for her maidens to clear away the dishes, and
prepare couches for the repose of her friend
and herself
Weary and broken by fatigue, the morning
was far advanced before they awoke, and the
sun was playing many a coquettish game of
hide and seek among the flowers and vases
that stoodin the room, when at last their eyes
opened to the necessity of attending to the
duties Of tie day.
Laura sprang from her couch, and was soon
arrayed for her visit to headquarters. A de-
Iightful little breakfast parlor, redolent with
the odors Of an inviting culinary display,
greeted their appearance below, and seduced