Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-04-26
A SAD STORY OF THE HAREM.
Mahmoud Pacha, to whose your


Mahmoud Pacha, to 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 and
opinions uncongenial to his countrymen.
Among them was his desire for only one
wife, and his determination to contract
marriage of love. A difficult matter
this for Turk, who is not allowed to
make the acquaintance of any eligible
young ladies before marriage! However,
Mahmoud accomplished his purpose in
way we might hesitate to approve of.
He bought very interesting and youth
fal Circassian slave; after a year of
quiet domestic happiness. finding her of
loving and teachable character, he de-
termined to marry her. She soon after
gave birth to child, and her rights to .
be considered his first, and;- as he de-
clared, his only wife, were unquestion-
able.
1t was soon after the birth of her
child that Mahmoud Pacha engaged my
Swiss friend as his wife's companion and
instructress for though most amiable,
the gentle Circassian was wholly igno-
rant of even the commonest French
phrases. In few months the young
mothers health appeared to decline.
The best doctors were consulted they
feared consumption. Every art that
wealth and tenderness could bestow was
tried, and for time the foe was kept
at bay.
Summer weather came; the young
wife's health seemed thorough reestab-
lished. The happiness of the young coup
lie was now complete. when thunder
bolt, launched by the paternal hand of
the Sultan himself, destroyed it COM
pletely and forever. Mahmoud Pacha
was wealthy and in the prime of youth
he was nearly related to the Sultan Abb
dul Aziz, and the latter proposed con-
ferring upon him the honor and favor,
namely, one of his daughters in mar
riage. Useless to declare he was already
married, or that second wife was in
his eyes de trop; in such circumstances
to hear was to obey. Etiquette demand
ed the degradation of the Circassian
slave, her removal from the handsome
residence Of Mahmoud, and the installa-
tion 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 hope He was summa-
I rily recalled and some honorary post as
signed him. Everything was arranged
in a generous and becoming manner.
His coldness was overlooked, his bride
was richly lowered. and Mahmoud, like
many a wiser and better man, submitted
to the inevitable "kismet.'
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 precaution
Upon seeing her, my friend was shock
ed at the ravages that grief and disease
had already made upon her person. The
hectic flush and dreaded cough had re-
turned. Unconscious or careless of hel
danger, she was daily wasting away
but would hear of no remedies. Not a
complaint as to her position ever passed
her lips, and she spoke of ''the Pacha''
as one to whom she owed everything was
due. 1t would be we'll if | could con.
clude this touching story with some &C
count of her last days, but as | am writ,
ing truth, and truth alone, l unwilling
ly admit that am unable to give any
further clew to her fate. The konoE
she once inhabited is at this moment de-
serted Mahmoud spends most of hi:
time at Paris. His palace is we'll ap
pointed numerous servants and slaves
give it an air of granduer it did not once
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