Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-06-15

amt serene. Tu, hoavri!- W"rt. iilu
mined with niyrad4 uf stars. which
shown down brightly on Rnnrlah.
who -;w -r" long u warrior a;,pr. ach.
hearing a shield that glcain"j in the
starlight tuuld il lr liriiz. come to
fight for the treasures \ well known
voice fur what l. :, soon recognized
as an enemy, called ont:
All. Ranrdab. | have came to
seek thee Thou lhoughtcSt to escape
me; but L have followed to fight thee
here"
"f.scape thee" answered the indig
nant one. when WAS the Ready
Handed ever known to avoid FRAY d?
Thou little knowest to whom thou
speake.t. Mufta. the Brag. 1t shall
never be told that Ramclab denied
his spear to any man. But swear.
that if fall. thou wilt not touch the
treasures. but blow on the whistle
and then flee
What care l for the treasures? 1t
is thou | seek, destroyer Of my fame
The jewels are safe from me- Should
the Ready handed fall, the guard
shall he called Thou hast now no
further excuse. Come on: / defy
thee
They were we'll matched. Mufta
called himself the Invincible." ="
Ramedab had disputed his title, which
caused the enmity between them.
Our hero fought bravely, but whether
less skillful than his adversary. or
pricked by conscience for allowing
himself to be drawn into the fray. he
lost the combat, and was left bleed
ing on the ground. Mufta blew the
whistle. then departed The Shah
and an attendant appeared.
1T is a plot, them" Ramedab
thought. as he beheld NO less person
ages than his sovereign and the
Nizier. But Immediately all was
blank-he becar unconscious
''Let him be cared for and healed,
if possible; u is bad thrust. He
could withstand bribery, but not a
personal slight. for the sake of his
trust. See that his brother be brought
to me tomorrow"
So saying, the Commander of Slaves
and Ruler of Thrones retired to the
palace.
Amulfeda. while preparing to obey
this summons, thoughtfully remarked
to Freraddin, the yorihgost: 1t Is
likely that Ramedab Is accepted, as
he is a noted soldier; but should his
impetuosity displease the Shah, l
shall, of course. be next choice, for
my fathers gracious manner has de
scended upon me. Thou hast his
discretion, bat it is all thou hast.
Such puny, slight person as thou
art would ill become an exalted posi-
ton. Besides, l love my country.
Though not the warrior Ramedab, l
hope to do some great work, to be
celebrated through the length and
breadth of the land"
The Shah repeated in the same
words the charge he had given to
the Ready Handed, the key was pre-
sented, and the second son found
himself by midnight alone under the
stars. Hafz found Amulfeda deaf
to all appeals. Mufta also appeared; :;
but Amulfeda replied to all his taunts:
Il care not who calls me coward. so
l hold the privilege of guarding the
treasures"
He had passed two nights without
wavering in his trust. On the third
came the Grand Vizier.
''Knowest thou, Amulfeda," said
he, that thou hast been played a
trick? The Shah hath given thee
empty Golfers Thinkest thou he
would trust an untried boy with the
jewels of Persia, or that he would
bestow upon beardless youth the
Office of the Golden Key?'
"How darest thou malign the Ruler
of Thrones, who was never known to
break his word?"
"Sayest thou so? I could tell thee
otherwise; but, with all thy devotion
to him, thou fearest to draw thy
sabre in his defence. though l do
say The Shah hath no intention of
keeping his word"
Draw and defend thyself for thy
lie. thrust implicitly in the Shah of
Persia So saying, Amulfeda drew
his weapon and prepared to attack
the Vizier. After a short conflict,
the Vizier made himself master of the
key-which Amulfeda had dropped
in the struggle-and withdrew.
On the following morning, Ere
raddin was informed he wqs to take
his turn. "Why should I mount
guard when the Shah has ere this
decided on one of my brothers?"
thought he. Il only plod along,
doing what lies before me. But did
not my father say, DO what comes
to hand; do it well; let nothing take
the thoughts from it, and success
will follow?' 1 trust it may prove
true"
The Shah looked surprised when
Freraddin prostrated himself before
him.
"Thy brothers have inherited the
most of thy father, We perceive. What
has been left for thee?''
His discretion and power of en-
durance, o Ruler of Thronesr'
lit may be so. The most useful
blade owns not the finest scabbard
Receive this key! I say to thee, as
to thy brothers: Let not love OF
gold, of self, nor of others, cause thee
to forget thy duty"
Freraddin was in turn subjected
} to the temptations his brothers had
undergone, only added was the prom
} Use from the Shah's favorite daughter,
that if he would let her enter to
obtain her armulet, which was kept
among the royal jewels, she would
use her influence for his promotion,
: and, in time, persuade her father to
agree to their marriage; for the am
ulet was especially precious to her,
: and she desired to wear it at the
: evening feast"
: But Freraddin refused; her entreat-
les were hard to withstand, yet the
memory Of his fathers words decided
him, and the princess departed in
tears.
p Novf nnrpipn {lo fbroo Iro{ bo nc