The Republican journal., 1872-08-08

rounded by slaves, and to place upon my
head the dreaded turban whose fame has
reached the ends Of the earth.''
The proposition of Mehalle was received
with bursts Of laughter from the sultan
"Ihou Wouldst sit upon the seat Of the
callphs! Dost thou not fear the weight
OF this turban upon thy silly head A
tine figure thou wouldst make under the
pelisse of Ottoman! | should like 10 see
thee giving audience to the viziers and
pashas Y
at is in your highness' power to afford
yourself this pleasure"
"Wel,n exclaimed Mustapha, Il will
agree to the stake A iuggler upon the
throne Such a sight the East never
saw
The game was short though played with
skill, the sultan was checkmated. 1t was
fairly done. and he pleasantly prepared
to fulfill his engagement.
Mustapha loosened his girdle, took off
his palisse and laid down his turban.
while slave assisted to invest Mehalle
IN the royal garments. These prepara-
tlons completed, the sultan, dressed only
in loose silken trowsels and richly EN-
broldered vest, approached a clock, and,
placing his finger on the dial-plate,
''When the hand shall mark the hour of
eight" said he, 81 shall have paid my
wager, and then | will appoint you my
astrologer."
The luggler assembled the divan. and
having placed his scimctar ut his side. he
ordered the doors to be thrown open that
the waiting courtiers might be admitted
The apartment which the dim light of
evening rendered obscure, was immed-
atelV filled with muttis and ulemas. agas
OF ianizaries and pashas, great officers of
the Porte and foreign ambassadors. He
next ordered Il new relay OF guards to re-
lieve those on duty, and then the with
drawal of all the personal attendants 1t
was the work of u moment As the fresh
soldiers Were marching in, Il SIGN from
Mehalle caused the flambeaux to be light-
ed when. in the dazzling flood of illumi-
nation, he stood erect, receivinv the
homage of the assembly, and. fixing more
firmly on his head the scarlet -ieathered
turban, the emblem Of power, he cried in
commanding tone. ''Let the standard
Of the prophet be raised ON st. Sophia !
The people will salute ii from afar at the
fires of Beiram :"
~ these words an officer stepped forth
to execute the order, but Mustapha, who
had been sitting aside, ut first amused and
then alarmed, arose to prevent him.
liaggl-Mohammed," Numbered the
ad-interlm sultan. ''obey!"
The aga bowed aud retired Mehalle
added. ''Lct the imaums repair to the
mosques and offer up petitions for the new
sultan! Cadilisquier, have the tomb of
Mustapha opened in Scutari ~ The sui
tan tried to smile. 'sKeepers OF the treas
ury," continued Mehale. 'sdstribute
among the poor of Stamboul the hoard
ings Of the late sultan "
''Enough, butloon :" exclaimed Musta-
pha III an agitated voice, on seeing how
readily his servants obeyed these strange
orders
Il still commando replied Mehale
with calm selt-poSScsson ''the clock has
not yet struck the hour of eight. ART thou,
then. so impatient to know the fate that
awaits thee ?' The cOurtiers were at a loss
to understand the mysterious scene. They
looked with terror on this bold Young man.
invested with the insignia of power. and
the lioStangi was aStoli>hel al seeing his
master tremble before strollino iuoeler.
'Mustapha," continued the diviner, 81
am about to tell thee the time of thy death
for the evening star has risen Mufti,
tdvance.'
The president of the o7f1,lcln came for
ward. The diviner proceeded You who
read every day the book of our prophet
and explain it to the people, tell me how
avarice and nsury, drunkenness and mur-
der pertidy and cruelty should be punish
ed"
The multi replied in 4 low, grave tone.
'By the Koran amy one of these crimes
is deserving of death.'
Thou nearest Mustapha. 1t is the
prophet who condemns thee" As he said
this he beckoned to the mutes. MuStapha
tried to rush to the divan, but was seized
by the slaves, who had learned to recog-
nlze the symbol OF power which Mehalle
Wore, and the cord was passed around his
neck.
''Thy hour has como | am the son Of
Solyman, who fell fifteen years AGO in this
very place pierced with wounds from thy
sword Thou hast counted the heads of
every member OF my family Thou hast
cOnto1nded the son Of thy master with the
child of 4 slave. am the evening star:
| am the sultan Amurath ~
As he thus spoke the Young prince made
astep forward. His lofty brow his features,
voice. manner alrl commanding dignity
of person inspired deep emotion in the
assembly. After moment the cry went
up, Long live Amurath - and nj the same
moment the body of Mnstapha fell lifcless
on the marble floor.
The clock had struck eight. Before the
hour-hand had once again passed round
the dial, largeSs had been p"ofuscly scat
tered among the porulace Of Stamboul.
oaths OF allegiance taken by officers of
state, and the proclamation, ellis High
ness. our very magnificent lord and mas
ter, Sultan Abdul Ari1 Amnrath has as
cended the throne - trumpcted by the
public crler peiolc the mosque of st. So
phla. n. S. DODGE.