Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-17
THE WEEPING CHAMBER.
An OrteniaI Legend.


Levantine lady of my acquaintance,
as I am able with the necessary abridg-
ments-in her own words. The circum-
stances under which she told it were
peculiar. The family had just been dis
turbed by the visit Of ghost-a real
ghost, visible, i; not palpable !! She was
not what may be called superstitious,
and, though following with more of less
assiduity the practice of her religion,
was afflicted now and then with fit OF
perfect materialisnl. I was surprised,
therefore, to hear her relate. with every
appearance of proforo1 faith, the fol-
lowing incidents:
There is an old house in Beyrout
which, for many successive years, was
inhabited by a Christian family. It is of
great extent, and was Of yore fitted for
the dwelling of Prince. The family
had, indeed. in early times been very
rich; and almost fabulous accounts are
current of its founder, Fadlallah Dahan.
He was a merchant-the owner OF ships,
the filter out of caravans. The regions
by him; and. after undergoing as many
dangers and adventures as Sinbad, he
had returned to spend the latter days OF
his life in his native city. He built, &C
cordingly, magnificent dwelling, the
courts of which he adorned with marble
fountains, and the chambers with silk
divans; and he was enyied on account of
his prosperity.
But, liz the restlessness of his early
years, he had omitted to marry, and now
found himself near the close of his ca
reer without an heir to inherit his wealth
and to perpetuate his name. This re-
Election often disturbed him; vet he
was unwilling to take wife because he
was old. Every now and then, it is
true, he saw men older than he, with
fewer teeth and winter boards. taking to
their bosoms maidens that bloomed like
peaches just beginning to ripen against
a wall, and his friends, who knew he
would give magnificent marriage feast,
urged him to do likewise. Once he
looked with pleasure on a young person
of not too tender years, whose parents
purposely presented her to him (;
but, having asked her in a whisper
whether she would like to marry with
cred old gentleman like himself, she
frankly confessed a preference for his
handsome young clerk, Harma, who
earned hundred piasters month.
Fadlallah laughed philosophically, and
took care that the young couple should
be married under happy auspices.
One'day he was proceeding along the
street, gravely and slowly-surrounded
by a number of merchants proud to
walk by his side, and followed by two or
three young men, Who pressed near in
order to be thought of the company, and
thus establish their credit-wIlen an old
woman, espying him, began to cry out,
"Yeh yeh this is the man who has
no wife and no child-this is the man
who is going to die and leave his fortune
to be robbed by his servants, or confs-
Gated by the Governor And yet, he
has asagacious nose "-(the Orientals
have observed that there IS wisdom in a
nose)-" and beard as long as my
back. Yeh yeh! what wonderful
sight to see p
Fadlallah Dahan stopped, and retort-
ed, smiling: "Yeh yeh this is the
woman that blames an old man for not
marrying a young wife. Yeh yeh !
what wonderful sight to see %
Then the old woman replied "Oh,
my lord, every pigs tail curls not in the
same direction, nor does every maiden
admire the passing quality of youth.
If thou wilt, I will bestow on thee a
wife, who will love thee as thou lowest
thyseif, and serve thee as the angels
serve Allah. She is more beautiful than
any of the daughters of Beyrout, and
her name is Selma, name OF good
augury."
The friends of Fadlallah laughed, as
did the young men who followed in their
wake, and urged him to so and see this
peerless beauty. if it were only for a
joke. Accordingly, he told the woman
to lead the way. But she said he mus,
mount his mule, for they had to go some
distance into the country. He mounted
and, with single servant, went forth
from the gates-the woman preceding
and rode until he reached a village il
the mountains. Here, in poor little
house, he found Selma, clothed in the
very commonest style. engaged in max
ing divan cushions. She was marvel
ously beautiful girl, and the heart of The
merchant at once began to yearn TOWARD
iiOi, you lS OuticdtOISu W ICotL Jill hiuA
self, and said, ''This beautiful thing il
not for me-" But the woman cried out
"Selima. wilt thou consent to have Thu
old man ?" The girl gazed in his fac
awhile, and then folding her hand
across her bosom said. Yes, for ther,
is goodness in his countenance." Fad
lallah wept with Joy; and, returning t.
the city, announced his approaching
marriage to his friends. According t.
custom, they expressed civil surprise t.
his face; but, when his back wa
turned, they whispered that he was al
old fool, and had been the dupe of a she
adventurer.
The marriage took place with cere
monies of royal magnifcence; an
Selma, who passed unmoved from ex
treme poverty to abundant riches
seemed to merit the position OF the great
est lady in Beyrout. Never was woma
more prudent than she. No one eve
knew her previous history, nor that {
her mother. Some said life of misery
perhaps of shame, was before them, whe
this unexpected marriage took place
Selima's gratitude to Fadlallah was u1
bounded; and out of gratitude gre