Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-06-28
AN ORIENTAL HOURI.
CASTOR lighted his cigar.

CASTOR lighted his cigar.
NO" said he, lit is not long, my
story, but dramatic as you will see. l
shudder yet when | recall it,"
1t occurred some two years ago, at
the time, if you remember, when the
Ministere dos Beaux Arts confded to
me a Persian mission, TO write up with
certain details the province of Irak-
AdjemI.
Il began this mission by installing
myself at Ispahan, and in three months
time had entirely completed it. All
the same, / could not return home-it
WAS too soon; the minislere would
never have believed that | had done
my work or done it well; for IA while at
least | must remain, though in truth
dying of ennui. You can understand.
then, the delight felt when the shah
suddenly changed the governor of the
province, sending in place of the
former one his cousin, Malcolm Kahn. "
HE who has travelled so much in
France"
The same. and with the officer of
ordonnance, whom you knew as we'll
as ! did. Mehmed-Agt, with the rank
H general, or, as they term ii in Persia,
the rank of sertip. An oriental demi-
Parisianized becomes simply ch .rming;
at the end OF IA week the sertip and
were inseparable."
But the drama, Castor; the drama
you promised me?'
The drama? Certainly, and in
l,,f
pressing, teller OF stories must lead
from given point. Mine is a certain
morning when | rambled on horse
back through the streets of the city,
dreamily contemplating the fairy-like
aspect of an endless avenue, border
ed with arcades. shaded with plan
tains and bathed by running brooks -
$50 your muttons, Castor; to your
muttons, and at once" cried Armand,
Indignantly; "plantains, arcades, run
ming brooks are irrelevant adjuucts TO
dramatic recitals; besides, bear in
mind, please, | am not a member of
Ministere des Beaux Arts"
CASTOR sighed, but resumed ODE
diently:
when ! rambled on horseback, etc.
etc.-I had arrived in front of the
kiosque of Tchechel-Sutoun. when all
at once, at the angle Of corner. j saw
in front OF me "a woman borne IN a
litter. As rule, Persian women,
when in the streets, resemble nothing
as much as awkward bundles, yelled
invariably, or rather draped, in a
curtain that falls from the head and
obscures the features.
This one. on the contrary, per-
mitted me TO see a figure graceful and
delicately shaped, and through the OPP
ening OF the veil pair of eyes that
shown like glowing braziers. My
horse was going at a leisurely walk,
and as ! followed in the wake of the
litter and its bearers it seemed To me
that the occupant of the litter turned
about from time TO time to regard me-
Nay | was sure of it; but "a in the
orient such adventures are singularly
alike | gave il but slight attention. in
fact had forgotten it when. two days
later | crossed with the litter again.
This time | was not alone
Mehmed-Aga accompanied me; but |
recognized my beautiful unknown inn
mediately, first by her graceful out
lines. then by her extraordinary eyes,
flame. As before. she turned TO look
at me, but turned at shorter intervals,
and with a lingering, more scrutiniz-
ing gaze.
II regarded the sertip; apparently
he saw nothing.
I'VE went thus ten minutes. per-
haps, when the litter abruptly wheel
ed toward the bridge of DjoulfTa, that
loveliest structure in the world. with
its thirty-odd enormous arches stand
ing with their feet in the capacicus
waters of the Zend-Dehroud. In sum-
mer one crosses il dryshod; i'm Novem-
Der, the month in which we then were,
the waters were deep and violent as a.
unclaimed Alpine torrent This bridge
of Djoulffa is also a rendezvous for all
the world TO take the air, and | hesi-
tated, fearing to compromise her. &c
openly follow my unknown. She, how
ever. did not hesitate at all, but sud
denly. as the bearers made for tn,
bridge, bent from her curtains-ah
but they are quick. these Persians!-
and permitted her handkerchief tC
drop at my feet.
"And the sertip, you say, said moth
ing?"
For the moment, no; but in from
of the palace he invited me to ente
with him, aud once in his own apart
ments plunged without preface:
..'Throw il in the iirc!' he cried; "il
with IL, my friend, that Handkerchief
] saw it all awhile ago, and | repeat
throw il in the fire, instantly
"'Do you wish it-you- personally?
Eyes. but only that you may no
have your throat cut or be cast in th,
Iend -Dehroud. Already ! have beel
questioned by the police of Ispahan
and responded for you that you belong
ed TO the legation of France
But ! began.
"The sertip checked me.
81 know. / know. said he. and
as,ounds you. You believe yourselves
YOU Parisians, always upon the Boule