The semi-weekly miner., 1883-05-09

Guarding the Treasures; or,
the 'Shah's Choice.
| BY EMMA HINKLEY.
The Grand Vizier was dying; and
as he had been such q faithful SER
want the Shah promised that his last
! request, whatever it might be, should
be granted. =
"Let it be given me to know, G
Commander of Slaves and Ruler o1
Thrones" said the dying man, "that
one of my sons shall guard the treas
ures OF the empire. Faithfully have
I studied the interests of my country
never letting personal feeling prevail
over Judgment. Let me feel that my
name shall descend in the position
thou intrustest to one of my sons. +"
"It shall be as thou desirest, Re.
jerah, the Adviser" replied the po
tentate. 1--WE will try thy sons; te
the best fitted shall be given charge
over our treasures. Justice shall be
done thy memory"
Loud were the lamentations of the
nation, and great was the distress Of
the old Vizier's family when at last
he died. But the people soon became
reconclled to the new Vizier; while
the three sons of Rejerah were soon
looking forward to the chance OF
"Holder of the Golden Key" as the
title went. And shortly the eldest,
Ramedab, known throughout Persia
as the "Ready Handed was called
to the palace.
He Frustrated himself to the ground
when brought before the Shah, who
thus addressed him:
"This charge is given thee Rame-
dab, son of Rejerah, in honor of thy
father, q servant of servants-wise for
his commander, discreet for himself,
and willy toward his enemies. In
token of cur appreciation of these
traits, we now lend thee, for time,
the Golden Key to the treasures.
Remember, they are Persia's. It is a
great commission-thy duty is to
guard them. Let not bribery, per-
sonal feeling, nor love of renown
cause thee to forget thy charge. May
the spirit of thy father be with thee,
to lead thee to act as becomes his
SON."
Ramedab was then conducted to
a large stone building used as treas
ury by the Shah, where the gold and
Jewels of the kingdom were kept. 1t
was guarded day and night by trusted
sentinels, whose head officer ranked
among the mobiles of the land. The
great house was rather isolated, on
the top of a hill, but the guardian
was. given silver whistle, which he
blew if he saw danger; but was for
hidden to use unless in extremity,
when band of soldiers, with shields
and spears, would come at once to
his relief. The Ready-Handed
entered upon his watch in high
spirits; of course his sovereign would
decide on him; he was the strongest,
bravest aud oldest of his name. He
would soon be among the grandees
of Persia. He was too good q soldier
to sleep on his post, so one o'clock
found him awake and alert. Anoise,
q step-his hand was on his javelin.
"Peace be with thee and reward"
exclaimed voice out of the dark
ness, and the son of the Shah, Hafiz,
appeared before the astonished senti-
mel.
soften have l seen thee in games
Of skill and strength. Ramedab,O he
continued seeing the Ready-Handed
was too surprised to speak. "But
little did think such honor was in
store for thee. Changes are sudden
and great"
"Why seekest thou ME, most no.
BILE of the mobiles ?" inquired the SOL
dier.
my father is stricken with ILL
ness" ......
"What, the Shah?"
Given so. He may cease to live at
any moment. What then will be-
come OF thy promised honors ~
Here a pause ensued, as if Hafiz
wished to let his words produce an
effect. -
"Better look forward and plant
thv foot on the next step, Ramedab.
The ready are the lucky. A chance
is now thine. I am in debt, as. per-
haps, thou hast heard. Let me but
obtain some gold and thy future
greatness is secured"
"Betray my trust::" demanded the
other.
II ask the not to betray. Drop
the key, go to the end of the walk; |
will only secure bag Of gold. which
will never be missed; or if it should
be. who will know that it disappear
ed during thy watch? Does not thy
brother succeed thee here tomorrow?
It would be easy for me to promote
thee by degrees, and this L swear
Thou shalt be made Grand Eizier
when l succeed my father. Thy
father would rejoice if, instead OF
Holder of the Key, thou shouldst
rank as himself-second only to the
Shah"
INV father ~ shouted the young
man. Enough f! My father would
curse me for bartering my honor. A
thousand times NO! Let the Com
mander of Slaves live or die, I betray
not my trust" j..
In vain the heir to the throne OF
Persia tried to recall the hesitating
mood of few minutes before-the
name of his father had brought
Ramedab to himself. The tempter
left, and Kamedab passed The rest Of
the night in quiet. Contrary to his
expectation he received orders from
the monarch to resume his watch the
following night, which set in clear
and serene. The heavens were
illuminated with myriads of stars,
which shown down brightly on
Ramedab, who saw ere long war
rior approach, bearing a shield that
cleaned in the starlight. Could it
be Hafiz, come to fight for the treas
ures? A well known voice-for what
is 80 soon recognized as an enemy
called out:
"Ah! Ramedab, 1 have come to
seek thee. Thou thoughtest to escape
me; but I have followed to fight thee
here"
Escape thee!' answered the
indignant one. "When was the