The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-06-25
Ghe AIbaug gegister.
LOVE THE HAREEM.
THE BULBuL AND THE ROSE.

THE BULBUL AND THE ROSE.
Night had fallen upea the city of Cai-
70, aud the shadows projected from the
tall houses into the narrow streets, looked
like solid masses of black stone, SO clear
and brilliant was the moonlight. The
stars, large and lustrous-hke great lamps
suspended from an azure aefne-shone
with that clear, white light peculiar to
sheir lustre in Eastern heavens: unknown
70 the watchers of the cloudy skies of
Europe or America.
It was on such nights, and through
similar streets and scenes, that the good
Haroun ell Reschid was wont to take his
ranbles with his Vizier, Giaffir, in search
of strange adventure. So let US now fol-
low the footsteps of one Of his ipnunaera-
BE inaisators in nocturnal rambles under
Eastern skies, whose mission was very
dissimilar to that of the famous Caliph,
though not without its romance aud its
danger, too.
About midnight might have been seen
man, apparently young and vigorous,
wending his way through the outskirts of
BoQlak, choosing the most obscure streets,
rs though to avoid observation, until he
reached the high stone wall of the palace
Of the Princess Nezle Khanum, which
faced on the Nile. There was nothing in
this mans appearance and dress to dis
tinguish him from one Of the ordinary
occupants of the Quarter, except that on
his left hand, when he raised it, there
sparkled precious stone, and that the
hand itself did not resemble that of the
common laborer. What was unusual
was, that he bore no lantern to Light his
way which both law and custom, as well
rs safety, required.
Concealed under the shadow of the
wall, he carefully CROPPED along in the
sbseurity-occasion disturbing some
proWling or slumbering wild dog, which
snarling fiercely and menacing the intru-
der.with its sharp white teeth, suddenly
and reluctantly retreated before his steps.
But as the Egyptian wild dog never
barks-partaking of the savage nature of
its ancestor, the wolf, in that respect-no
warning of the visitors stealthy approach
was given to the gardians of the hareem;
a, indeed, any person in his vicinity was
awake at that late hour; the Orientals all
retiring early to rest.
AT length the man stopped and tapped
three times at particular spot on the
vail Inamediately a small gate, invisible
before, swung within noiseleasly, opened
by an unseen hand and, as he stepped
into the garden, the door closed as swift
ly and noiselessly as it had opened-un-
GstFnguishable as before from the wall.
The man softly elapped his hands three
times, and suddenly appeared before him
a yelled female figure, shroudcd from
head to foot in the abba, voluminous
black silk cloak, worn by the Cariene
women in the streets.
stlSdlaans Ateik,ouans You are waited
for" she said, in Arabic stThe Sitta
has long been expecting your arrival.
Come quickly for you know she likes
tience rises to wrath, it is a consuming
FIRE 70
The untimeiy visitor returned her
salutation, but followed her footsteps in
silence through the solitude of the gard
en; to which the black shadows of the
trees gave a gloomy and sinister aspect
that reflected the shadows In his own
soul. For his was not the nsein, the
bearing, or the step of an impatient lover
fastening to his mistress but rather that
of one who reluctantly performs a duty
mot to be avoided, or who responds to an
invitation he may not refuse. They
passed through the shrubberies into the
palace by a small door, which his conduc-
tor opened with wooden key; followed
many winding passages, and ascending
saarrow stairway, when the visitor found
himself alone in lofty chamber, furnish
ed with all the luxury of the East-a
chamber which he, unfortunately, knew
enly to well.
1t was the private boudoir Of the mis-
trass- ef the hareem; and the latticed
window, overlooked the rushing torrent
Of the Nile, was open, giving glimpses of
the waters which boiled and bubbfed be-
low as they raced hoarsely past, glittering
Ike gems in the bright moonlight. The
man cautiously approached the open lat
tice, and peered curiously for an instant on
the rushing river below, whose waters, as
II was high Nile, rose to within twenty
feet of the window.
He turned away after menent, how
ever, and, seating himself on one of the
silken diyans, was soon sunk In SO deep a
reyerie that he did not hear the rustling
sound that announced a woman's pres
ence, and started when soft hand was
laid caressingly on his brow and soft
voice inquired
g Is my young Antar dreaming, or
asleep, that he needs waking Z"
The young man started up, made a
profound and respectful salutasion as he
answered
The night is always dark for me,
until the evening star comes to light it
with her presence. But one thought can
FIJI the soul Of any mortal happy enough
TO be admitted here and that is of her
zee before me.
"Well sung, my buIbul ~ said the
lady, unyailing as she spoke, and disclos-
ing the inperions beauty and bold bright
eye Of Nezie Khanum herself ssBut
thou sheuldst not compare me TO aught so
cold and distant as star The bulbul
ever chants his lose.song 10 the rose.
And am not worthy to be deemed a
rose? :" she added softly, glancing down
over her own veluptious form, and fast
arsro, .rx,o4, hs M, 81 n txx, f,Iu f<ff <,c ovac