American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-05-15
A Sad Story Of the Harcm.

NAuIuOuu I&cud, 10 WHOSE young
wife Swiss friend of mine became gov
erness and companion, was sent very
early in life to Paris. Receiving there
a liberal education. he formed ideas ant
opinions uncongenial to his countrymen
Among them was his desire for only ont
wife, and his determination to contrac
| a marriage of love. A difficult matter
this for Turk, who is not allowed t.
make the acquaintance of any eligible
young ladies before marriage! How.
ever, Mahmoud accomplished his pur
pose in way we might hesitate to ap
prove of. He bought a very interesting
and youthful Circassian slave; after .
year of quiet domestic happiness, find
ing her of a loving and teachable char.
acter, he determined to marry her. She
soon after gave birth to a child, and her
rights to be considered his first, SD. as
he declared. his only wife. were un-
questionable.
1t was soon after the birth of her
child that Mahmoud Pacha engaged my
Swiss friend as his wifc's companion
and instructress; for though most anna
BILE, the gentle Circassian was wholly
ignorant of even the commonest French
phpses. In a few months the young
niother's health appeared to- decline.
The best doctors were consulted; they
feared Consumption. Every arts that
wealth and tenderness could bestow was
tried, and for a time the foe was kept at
bay.
Summer weather came; the Young
wifes health seemed thoroughly re-
established. The happiness OF, the
young couple was now complete, when
. thunderbolt, launched by the paternal
hand of the Sultan himself, destroyed
IL completely and forever. Mahmoud
Pacha was wealthy and in the prime of
youth; he was nearly related to the Sui
tan Abdul Aziz, and the latter proposed
comforting upon him the highest honor
and favor, namely, the hand of one of
his daughters in marriage. Useless to
declare he was already married, or that
a second wife was in his eyes de trop.
In such circumstances to Hear was to
obey. Etiquette demanded the degra-
datien of the Circassian slave, her re-
moval from the handsome residence Of
Mahmoud. and the installation of the
Princess Of the palace into the mystical
chamber OF her predecessor. Mahmoud
tried the only resistance in his power,
and took a sudden journey to. Paris,
where he sojourned many months,
hoping the hated alliance might be for
gotten or some accident might come to
his aid. Futile shopel He was sum-
marily recalled and some honorary post
assigned him. Everything was ar
ranged IN generous and becoming
manner. His GOODNESS was overlooked,
his bride was richly lowered. and NAH
mould, like many wiser and better
man, submitted to the inevitable "kis-
met"
Z The last time my Swiss friend visited
his palace she learned that the Circas-
sian lived in retirement not far from
the dwelling of her happier rival.
Unknown to his wife, Mahmoud con-
tinued to visit her in secret, though at
rare intervals and with great precau-
ton, Upon seeing her my friend was
shocked at the rayages that grief and
disease had already made upon her per-
son. The hectic flush and dreaded
cough had returned. Unconscious or
careless of her danger, she was daily
wasting away, but would hear of no
Not complaint as to her
position ever passed her lips, and she
spoke of /" the Pacha'' as one to whom
she owed everything. aud to whom ev-
erything was due. Il would be well il
l could conclude this touching story
with some account of her last days, but
as am writing truth, and truth alone,
l unwillingly admit that am unable to
give any further clew to her fate. The
konalr she once inhabited is at this mo-
Mahmoud spends most
of his time at Paris. His palace is well
appointed; numerous servants and
slaves give it an air of grandeur it did
nos once possess Temple Bar.
-
YoUrH looks at the possible. age at
the probable.