The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-06-22


was in the city of her birth.
At her departing he promised thai
the results of his nights studies should
reach her on the following day. Thai
night she, too, walked, and wondering,
watched the brilliant stars; keepers OF
how many heart secrets; revealers OF
how few. Not yet of this-that one
faithful one had ever called her the
Star Of his Heart.
Next day, wrapped in scented silk,
came the sage's missive:
To the honorable lady. the wife of Ths-shadow-of
the-Sultan' s-Hand:
NOBLE LADY,
In the name of Allah the Merciful the Victorious.
The Stars, o Lady, speak Truth, but not always
can Mortal Man interpret it Thee times tonight
have calculated and observed and thrice has the
answer been given me in these words:
"a FLIGHT OF BLACK BIRDS"
o Lady, may it be yours to interpret them to
your comfort. And the peace of Allah may be
yours is the devout prayer of the unworthiest o!
his and of your servants: EVEN HAssAN OF TIL;
GOLDEN AsTRoLABE.
Taking these words with her, she set
out bordering on her return journey;
and before the journey was ended tho
of the answer of the stars was
mdue clear 10 HeF.
1t was that silent chill time of night
preceding sunrise; the
hour at which old men and
old women, each on their appointed
day, feel their heart beats futter into
stiffness, and breathing their latest sigh
slip into death; the faithful
one who had watched until that hour,
having nodded into Deaths likeness.
The camel train paced slowly along
the cold air; tho dust that rose
as each foot struck the sand falling
again heavily as if the chill night air
pressed it down.
To the right and to the left undu-
lating forms against the sky indicated
hills; above those on the left the sun
would rise presently. The watchful
eyes of the armed guard turned to look
for him from time 10 time. Right
ahead, on the limo where the gray sky
met the deeper gray of tho desert,
little uneyenness showed Naishapur.
AS the suns rim rose above the line
of the hills, startled by that, or by the
of the advanced guard of the
camel train, great flight of birds rose
from some object on the sand. The
lady was reused from uneasy sleep by
the rattle of their wings, and, looking
put from her litter she saw them float
away, black and ominous as they
crossed that part of the sky that the
sun had already made bright.
Back to her mind came the words
that the wise man had read in the
stars:
"a Flight of Black Birds"
By waving her hand from the litter
she attracted the attention of one of
the guards, and gave orders that she
should be at once taken to the spot
the birds had risen. Not with
put remonstrance he obeyed her, for
The hot hours of morning would be
quickly upon them.
The procession moved toward the
indicated place, and by the time it was
reached the sun was above the hills,
Ind the whole visible world was dis
,inct and brilliant.
"Now Allah upon it, O, fairest
ady, it is but the bones of man."
said the CHIEF of the escort; lone lost
)r cast out in the desert, and other
han the birds have spoiled him, for he
has neither coin nor weapon"
EN- the name of Allah, the merciful,
lismount some of you men and see if
here be anything about him by which
he may be known"
Unwillingly, and muttering curses on
he delay, two or three swung them
selves down from their camels and
moved the bones about in the dust with
heir feet and the butt ends of their
ong muskets.
Nothing, nothing, fair lady" said
he chief, and climbing again upon his
,amel set that and the rest in motion.
4 few minutes later one guard who
lad fingered brought his camel along
tide of the litter, and without speaking
landed tiny white and yellow thing
% the lady.
1t was the clean picked bone of the
econd joint of mans little finger;
lightly twisted round it was shred of
,rass, that bore stamped at irregular
alolg its two edges tho inn
,ress of a whorl pattern.
She held it in the hollow of her hand
! few moments, and then, in a moment,
recollection came sweeping upon her
# the dav she had riyeted it on Selim'S
his constant looking for her
of the tender love in his brave, skill
nj eyes. And to this he had come.
Then she remembered the little pat
ern and the die, and looked close to
recognize its impress on the shred of
,rass. And he had said that tool
hould never be used again but for a
lift to her. Poor Selim, poor dead
,elim, whose bones were scattered in
he desert dust, all but this one-this
title finger bone round which beauty
lad toiled to frame ring long ago; on
whose dry whiteness beauty now shed
ears, pressed tender kisses before she
aid it in her bosom to rock there to its
est.
The morning was already burning
ot when they attained the city. Tho
ky was of a full blue, and right across
t struggled q procession of fine combed
yhite clouds; apart like a party of
ravelers all moving the same way, and
IL too angrily parched to endure each
theirs near company. The Star of
elim's Heart was conveyed to the.
heller and GOODNESS of her own apart
aent. There, after she had bathed
nd rested, was presented TO her gift
hat her lord Observation-Disclosures
an's-Hand had purchased to await her
eturn. Two little girls, slaves of the
enana, brought it to her wrapped in
ilk, as she lay on her dvian. Careless
7 she undid the first wrappings, and
hen paused, seeing it was noble
iece of such work as the once only
,ving, and now beloved, Selim had
pent his lifetime perfecting. With
areful and tender interest she un-
trapped it. 1t was a gift, and he had,
her such gift, but he, alas!
ad been poor; in his little shop was.
vork as fine, indeed, but no sucn state-i
' piece as this great perfume-holder.!
lie was so poor that perhaps he had
OF been able to snatch from the earn.
1gs of his daily bread time enough to;
egin some little toy for her. She set
on the rich-colored cushion beside.
er, and the tears rose in her eyes as
he looked at it. Seen through them.
ne gold-colored mass seemed for a.
wavering, gigantic and indis-
net.
As the tears fell she wiped them
way, and, seeing clearly, discerned liz
ne brass vessel something that made
err seize it, examine it nearly, and
ress it close to her bosom, her long
ark hair falling over it the while.
here, there and there again, bounding
very fillet of ornament that encircled
!, was the little whorl pattern from the