San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-07-23

rassan beyond Persia, he doabted not but
that he should hear there some news Of the
lost Lisbet and her child. He therefore re-
solved to depart in company with the young
man. whose name was Georges, although the
prudent Malek objected TO his great age and
the possibility OF danger and death. In few
days the worthy merchant had closed his
business for that season, and with purse Of
money and a case of jewels was ready TO ac-
company the love lorn Georges.
The narrative need not trace their timer
airy Many months elapsed ere the young
and the old traveler-the toys Of love and
parental affection were wandering, dis
guised in humble raiment, through the wilds
of KhoraSsan, asking of the rare people they
met for place called Kama. Nobody
seemed able to give them any intelligence
The place was place unknown. They began
to think they were the victims of delusion,
and when they had passed several years in
the vain search, it is said that they became, as
it were, mad. They thought and talked of
nothing but the Whispering Tree of Kama.
The people in the villages and the eDcamy-
ment knew them as the strange questioners,
and pitied their case; and instead of harming
them whenever they met them on the road.
"
by We, o melancholy searchers9 o father!
o brother has the unknown place been made
known? Has the secret been revealedp
Thus they continued wearying the desert
with constant going to and fro, until Hanna
became bent shadow, and the youth grew
to be bearded man.
1t happened one evening, as they were
going through a mountainous country which
they had not hitherto trodden, far on the
way to Bokhara, they came to a small valley
locked in the embrace of rugged rocks Its
surface was like green emerald. Grass and
shrubs and trees and flowers spread to the
feet of perpendicular cliffs A silver stream
wound here and there, as if unwilling to leave
so pleasant a spot, and at last gathered into a
small lake without apparent ISSUE The two
wayfarers expected to find village where
they might pass the night. But there was no
sign of human habitation. The night began
balmily; the stars shone warmly; there was
scarcely any breeze, and the little that blew
was warm and fragrant as the breath Of wo-
man. Hanna and Georges lay down under
the shadow of tree and slept as the travel
weary alone can sleep.
They both dreamed dream-if dream it
1
wave and wave its boughs; murmurs seemed
to creep from every leaf; there was a hum
and a buzz, as if a swarmof bees was settling
overhead; and by degrees a chorus of small
voices seemed TO sing: This is Kama Kama,
Kama! Go no farther, but tarry here. Rest
and peace will find you; for this Is Kama,
Kama, Kama"
AL night long the same melody refreshed
their ears, and an evil spirit, who bent over
them intending to do them wrong, fed away;
for, on seeing their smile of happiness, he said
to himself: That is the smile of the angels
of Cod"
The birds were singing when the old man
and the young awoke. The name of Kama
was still ringing in their ears; and it seemed
as if the thrush that had come to perch in
the boughs overhead was repeating it. Sud
denly a clear, sweet voice sounded over the
meadow, and the wayfarers beheld maiden
with jar upon her head, tripping lightly
along pathway that passed near them and
led to the stream. She was singinS. and the
burden of her song was, Fair is the valley
of Kama," Hanna turned up his eyes with
gratitude toward the Whispering Tree; but
Georges kept gazing intently at the maiden.
His dream stood before him embodied.
The maiden of Kama was alarmed at first
at the aspect of strangers; but they soon con-
trived to reaSsure her, and bidding them wait
until she returned from the stream she prom
ised to conduct them to her dwelling They
waited accordingly, asd following her steps,
which she made SLOW out of respect to the
age of Hanna, passed by a green garden, in
the midst of which were three graves and
reached a kind of hermitage scooped in the
rock, in front of which, on a sunny bench,
sat an old man with huge white beard that
swept to his knees No stranger had pene,
trated into that valley in many long year
but the patriarch was past the age when sur.
prise is possible, and meekiy babe the travel.
ers be seated on the bench beside him.
When they had refreshed themselves with
rest and food the old hermit babe them tell
their stories, whilst the maiden sat at their
feet, a little nearer to Georges than to the
others, listening with downcast eyes. Hanna
related what had sent them in search of the
Whispering Tree Of Kama, emitting nothing,
not even the love of the young man for the
being of his dream. The hermit smiled in
his white beard and said: Il am 100 years
old and no longer fear the enmity of man
for am in hopes of the mercy of God.
have snned, but have suffered. 1t was |,
Q Hanna, who take away thy wife Lisbet.
| took her to my tents, not far from this val
ley; but she refused her love, and died. Then
l desponded and retired to this hermitage
with her child, which bred as my own.
called him Kama, which in our tongue means
the Bereaved, and named the place of our
dwelling after him. He grew up not know
ing his origin, and in due time knew mai
den, and took her and dwelt with her in hap
piness until he died, and she died leaving this