The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-13
TIE NARRATTvr.

Cairo, city Of delight, with thy thousand
minare-s, stronghold Of the faithful % Allah
thou art the wonderful city 70 the Giacur
and hast always been a place for miracles
II was this beautiful town that the Angel OF
Death selected for his trial Of a scolding wife
Near the eastern gate, within a beautiful
grove Of palm trees, stands the mosque Of
AyesAa Hero the most learned Ulemas.
Dervishes and Hadkis, who all made the
Mecca pilgrimage, congregate and discuss tho
vision Of Allah, together.with tho wonder
ful mysteries Of the Alcoran One dav.
while the chief wise men Of the community
werc thus engaged in their pious labors a
stranger Of commanding presence made his
appearance among them. The salam was
given and received, and the stranger sat
down 10 listen % the words Of the prophet
After q long pause, the stranger
in his turn took up the word
and tho whole assembly sat spell
bound His eloquence was sublime, and
his voice fun Of melancholy, even as sweet az
the nightingales; while strange and hol;
fire dalted ct times from his bright, large
eyes. Ho was, os he stated, a wandering
Ulema his weary feet had Travelled all coun-
tries, be had seen most things yet he was but
middle aged man, and at the same time no
announced his name 10 be Mahalech the
Wanderer. Every ono Of the congregation
offered the learned and eloquent Mahalech
hospitality, but be chose 20 select the good
Ulena Zadic for his host. That night none
OF tho learned congregation who heard the
stranger speak in the grove before the mosque
could close his eyes, owing 20 the strange,
almost divine, strains Of Mahalech, which
kept them in a blissful state Of wakefulness.
The stranger was prevailed upon 10 give
public discourse before the whole congreca-
tion in the mosque, and it was then that tho
power Of tho learned man was really felt lie
had been told a rapacious and wealthy man
had just died who oppressed bis fellow man.
The preacher took the occasion 70 depict 10 .
his hearers ti.o deathbed Of the righteous and .
pious, and tho death agony and despair Of the
wicked IN language never before so power
fully expressed Tho whole community felt
electrified, and the heads OF the congregation.
by unanimous voice, shouted that this holy
man must never leave them
Mahalech promised TO extend his stay for
one month. For, said he, II do not know
where Allah win send me toafter that And
the people rcJoiccd even at this short sojourn.
The pious man acquainted those who enjoyed
his company that he had no incumbrance,
either wife or children. In short, said he,
81 am perfectly alone In The world"
Among ms Creates admirers was Fl Rain,
tho rich, who argued tho question whether he
could not induce Mahalech 10 take o wife be
longing 70 the community and thus secure
him for life. II Rain had niece, very
handsome and rich, a widow no more than %
years Of age. whose history was roally remark
nble. being at this earl, age widow. after
having lost her third husband
Her nauo was Myrrha, being tho only
child Of arch owner Of two caravans trad
Ing 20 the gulf Of Pcrsia Whom Myrrha was
but child she lost her mother. The child
being very handsome and very forward for
her age, the father rs well as the whole house
hold We'd with each other ia spelling her
specially as Myrrha unfortunately inherited
rom her mother, who was the daughter OF Q
Moorish chief, an uncomfortable. Gerry tenn !
,er, which her fond father blindly called =,
high spirit" aud In proof Of which. az the y
'gc Of II, not only the slaves aud servants Of /.
be household found her 20 be the mis;rees ,
nut even her father resigned himself 10 be !,
narshalcd and controlled by bis Young, fiery a
nd handsome daughter. When Myrrha wa /,
D years old She told her fond parent that she a
al madc choico Of husband, a dashing :.
Dung captain q the Saracens, and, although =,
er father was grieyod at the selection. -
0 was too much under her control even ~
} try only 10 thwart her VIII The nuD- r,
ais were celebrated, and the usual honey 10
oon we Ia this instance Of but short y.
seks duration Myrrha assumed command II
81 the captain dcrnurred, but MyrTha flew
70 passion, disdaining 70 90 into tears or Ia
'sterlcs, making an onslaught on the cap ga
ms choicest ornaments those manly APP an
ndegvs Of a Sareccn, his mustache. The %
plain, furionsiy blind with Indignation,
on his lovely bride Of a weeks m,
nding such personal chastiscmcnt that for
} fair Myrrha was compelled 10 ask for 4
lrtcr MyTTha was left widow at Is. dTs