The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1885-07-10


Taifcr.
He pressed my hand, and said !:
''Theodore, come with me. | am
unhappy to-day; more unhappy
than usual"
We descended into the silent
street and strobe along the snow
covered sidewalk.
At the corner of the public gar
den Taifer halted before Il tiny
white house with green Persian
blinds. He unlocked the door. We
entered. Old fashioned portraits
hung in the hall. Beyond there
was spiral staircase OF rare ele-
gance, At the top of the staircase
red buruous was fastened to the
wall. l saw all this rapidly, for
Taifer at once proceeded to mount
to the upper story. Here scene OF
unparalleled luxury met my eye.
The walls we're of the hue of gold,
with great purple flowers embossed
upon them. The furniture was of
II costly and beautiful Eastern
wood. A cut-glass tlag0n on the
marble table held an amber colored
essence. A subtle perfume ming
led with the resiuous odor of pine
cones that were blazing upon the
hearth.
"What a lucky chap Taiter isT
said to myself. He has brought
this magniticence as trophy from
Africa-from that opulent land
where gold, myrrh and incense are
abundant, ard where the fruits are
luscious, and where the women
have gazclle-like eyes-trom Alge-
ria-frOm Tunis ~
Such were my reflections.
Taiter filled a gorgeous oriental
pipe with silk.like tobacco and
bade me smoke; himself setting
the example. Then L sank upon a
soft satin divau and watched the
flames dart up the chimney.
"What are you thinking ofT he
asked 10y and by.
81 was thinking of how much
better it would have been for me il
had gone to Africa instead OF re-
naming here at Charleville -ol
how much pain | ShOnld have
avoided, of how much wealth
should haveacquired. All. Louise
was wise to prefer the other fellow
I'could never have made her con
tented.'
Taifer smiled bitterly.
$50 you envy my happiness u
| was startled, for George, at this
moment, did not look like himself
\ profound emotion was aGitatlns
him. Ills eyes were moist. He
rose brusqnely and stationed him
self before the window, drumming
a tattoo upon the pane and whist
ling an air from ''Ira Gazza Ladra."
Then ne wheeled about and filed
two glasses with the amber colored
liquor mentioned above.
"TO your health, comrade," said
he.
"To yours, George"
We drank. A pungent aroma
flew to my BRAN. An indescriba-
ble well being, an astonishing sense
of vigor, penetrated to the very
marrow of my bones.
"What is that W | asked.
"a cordial. One might call it Il
molten ray OF sunshine from Afri.
ca, for it embodies the quinteScence
of the rarest herbs that grow on
African soil"
at is delicious. Pour me anoth-
er glass"
"Certainly; but first tie this lock
Of hair about your arm"
lie passed me a tress of black hair,
as luslrous as metal. | had no OBJ
lection to granting his request, only
it struck me as odd. Scarcely,
however, had l emptied the second
glass when this tress of hair, l
know not how, took life and insin.
uated itself like a snake around my
shoulder. felt it glide along my
arm aud tap my breast over the
heart.
"Taifer," l cried, "for Gods sake,
helpi Take away this hair"
TaiteF responded gravely; "Let
me breathe"
"Take it awayl Take it away !"
repeated. "Ah, | am dying"
"Let me breathe,' he said again.
"Then it will strangle me; it will
kill me p / exclaimed.
''Let me BREATHE he said, with
terrible calmness.
felt that | was growing mortal
ly weak. A serpent was biting at
my vitals. It tightened around my
loius. Its icy coils knOtted them
selves about my throat.
/ dashed toward the window and
threw it open with trembling
hand. fell upon my knees. Sud
denly strength seemed to come back
to me.
Taiter, as pale as death, said
tit is all right now; l have
taken away the treSs of hair"
he showed me his arm. The hair
glisEened around his elbow.
With an outbreak of nervous
he continued:
"This black lock of hair, my
friend, equals your blonde souvenir |
of Louise, doesn't iti Every one /
has the cross to bear-mOre or less /
~.