New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-25
DANOVITCH.
A RUSSIAN ROMANCE.
From Blackwood's Magazine.


into courtyard Yet in spite of the prison look
that these barred windows lave the place. \ NV we"
a comfortable Office The floor was coVereu py q,
rich carpet from Persia. tall stove burned ~. ~
one corper-a hizh iron stove, half sunk into the
wall. AVA al tho
A large desk and few chairs were all s9e
furniture il contained, unless the Dig iron SaiS
which stood open with bunch Of keys IN tie iocA
could be cassed as furniture Inc ,. %ii's sast
fnble stood near the window, the writer seat
being so arranged that the light fell from behind
him, yet sufficiently to one sue 10 auow nm n,,o ~
write without his hand casting a shadoW oSeI
his work. On the table lay pie OF papeIs anu to
dictionaries of foreign languages wire or Two
hung from the ceiling, with lncanuescenU amp" tP
writing table, one chair facing hum. one
could see then why the table was SO placed, SO
that the light from the window might 1al iun
on the one who sat opposite the desk
The man who occupied the desk now was
elderly His gray hair was cropped close TO ms ms
head, from which it stood up straight A gray
md5tache,. almost white, covered his upper up up,
The complexion was pale, almost sallow, the nee
thin The nose, slightly arched seemed n 10 beld
firmly together Heavy dark eyebrows almost
hid the narrow bright blue eyes that lay below
TO say whether they were the marks of time, ~,
ness or work. lie wore black frock coat, Win
a small red button on one lapel Beneath showed
a white waistcoat and dark tie fastened IN
large bow His hands, half covered with the
white shining cuffs were thin and long ana IN
tensely white, almost as white as the Guns mem
solitaire studs with silver coron< on eaen
The other was young. His hair like the
elders, was cropped short, but short as ~ was,
seemed to have a tendency to curl; Drown
mustache and beard covered the lower porion OF
his face. His forehe1d was high and slightly
tanned by the sun; his brows fine and arched'
but darker in color than his hair His lashes,
too, were dark and surrounded eyes of a bright
blue--a blue that almost mauve: His nose
ne l %th ans his Forehead almost
He was dressed as an Englshman in a. tweed
10 h,+f otr ha ha mot n
gether an Engshman. Any one who had been
asked would have said his father was English,
his ,motber77I don't know what -, ,,. II.
ment. The elder, man was, watching him
carefully from under those heavy eyebrows,
though apparently all his attention was engrossed
in the pairing of his nails with penknife.
The young man did not move Neither spoke;
Presently the elder of the two seemed tired OF
lRlf ttle.s MS n"i''' ana '0Se' "''H " p'ip'I
Still the young man did not move nor speak
The man at the desk touched q bell A moment
later the door opened and clerk in plain clothes
us Abdurrahman there ?'
"Yes, monsieur"
They spoke in French
tell him 10 come in. I will see him now
"Ycs, monsieur"
minute later the door opened, and strange
figure entered.
Abdurrahman was an ARABIA tall, sunburnt
Arab He wore the dress of his people, the loose
flowing robes in this case of yellow and white.
On bis head an immense turban almost concealed
II was handsome face, bronzed by the sun,
with regular features and black piercing eyes
He left his slippers at the door as he entered,
and walked across the room barefOoted over the
soft CARPET, until he stood opposite the writing
table. lie bowed slowly.
Welcome, Abdurrahmanl You have arrived
to-day?"
Your CARPET is as soft as the grass on the hill
side in spring" responded tho Arab, still standing.
a frown passed over the Europeans face. This
In fAn hrIGt mn IN
lie seemed to realize his position at once however,
and that his guest was too much Of an Oriental
TO proceed TO business al once. He struck the
bell The same man answered II as before.
"Cofiee," was all he said. II broke the spell.
"Yes. have arrived to-day 1t is cold here
"You find it SO? Draw nearer the stove. Sit
The man had risen from bis desk and placed
large chair before the stove Without word of
thanks Abdurrahman seated himself tueking his
bare feet under him in true Arab fashion.
They were speaking In Arabic stranger
could not notice any difference is their prorun-
citation, yet one who knew tie language could
have told that il was the European who was speak.
ing the purer dialect, the Arabs being more or
less patOs.
Coffee arrived, brought by servant in livery
two tiny china cups, balanced in gold holders on
AbdurrahnaH took one in his hand, and looked
at il for moment.
rs this mine ?" he asked the European.
Either-whicheyer you please.
ais this mine?" Abdurrahman repeated the
question calmly. as though no answer had been
Yes, that is yours responded the other, APP
parently ANNOYED.
gently, and you shall drink mine"
The European laughed hashly
You need have no fear, we are not In Persia"
Me- answered the Arab, but We are in
With the coffee business began.
- Tell me your news"
"The Englshman you wrote about has gone
you took him."
ayes. we took him."
what did he say for himself?"
Nothing. Oh, yes, he said he was travelling
for pleasure, for sport; asked him why he wore
hOmetan. when he was dog Of Christian"
The ether smiled.
did so because it attracted less suspicion because
he travelled more easily in that guise But he is
eon n%y,o,
ITO far.ofT land"
"To where all unbelievers gO-tO hell"
Again the European laughed.
You polite" he said:
at is nv nature" and the Arab smiled again.
that soft smile that meant nothing-absolutely
You have no news" asked the man at the
desk, after a moment or twos pause.
I have no news
And YOU return-when?"
Now, tomorrow in a month. when it pleases
"You want lnoney?7
. have come here for that.
"You remember the price arranged for-for-
for"
For sending the Englishman who travelled for
Measure and snort to where all unbelievers 20.
Yes | remember the price"
you believe him innocent?'
II know him to have been So"
Then why did yOu--send him awoy?"
Because wanted money"
vet your Koran says Of the avaricious-'On
che day Of Judgment their treasures shall he melted
in the Ere OF hell and their bodies branded there
with"
YOu omit half the quotation" added Abdur.
rahmaa," unless they use 1t not for the advance
ment OF Gods true religion. For that purpose l
usn it,
The Russian rose from his seat and took bundle
Of rnfes from his snfe