The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-06

tLccOInt CEREMONIES.
Her dress was too gorgeous to be fully
desert bed
Princess Zuleika has now become her
own mistress. Her husband is Young.
handsome and rich, devoted to her; so for
the time she seems happy. She has revo-
lutionized her husbands palaces-substi-
tuted French for Oriental-dressed her
coachman and footman in English livery,
only retaining the red fez cap. She fol-
lows every freak and fancy. She is to be
seen IN her carriage at every ceremony
where women can go.
Her wealth and beauty are the envy of
many. She can do as she likes so long as
she Keeps within the commands of Moslem
law and pTopriety.
The veil which covers the face is so thin
that il only enhanced her beauty without
concealing it, consequently all the fashion,
able young men of Cairo desire to drive
or ride on the Shoubra road to meet her
carriage, III the hope of receiving gra-
cious bow from her. She was the princess
who first introduced the habit of returning
gentlemenis Salutes Women were lust
then beginning TO have more privileges
some OF them even going so far as to
throw off all DISCUSSES and to dress and
live like any European lady-even riding
on horseback in the country; but these
were not looked on with favor by their
families-but rather as black sheep. Our
little princess had not gone so far from
fear of her father, who was a stern Turk
but | have no doubt she went just as far
in our civilized customs as she possibly
could.
Zuleika was as innocent as child.
Having read in novels of the habits of
English and American girls, she wished to
initiate them. She longed for freedom
and preferred Western habits to Eastern
that was all. In her heart there was no
guile. To be admired and TO be able to
ff~t ha- ~sStn cd 70
have the greatest charm for her. The
Count de Lara, in his full uniform, seemed
to her an Adonis. He was not nearly so
good looking as her own husband. but he
rode better, and she heard that he was
very accomplished. All combined to take
her fancy. So time passed. and she had one
little son, whom she loved dearly, and was
good mother to him, as Turkish mothers
generally are. Zuleika's husband was sent
on mission 70 Germany. During his alb
scence his child-wife felt very lonely and
racked her brain to find some amusement
to pass time.
One day she was calling on her friend
Nine. Eckantoff, and Vera was telling her
of her dinners and evening parties, so sud-
denly Zuleika said:
"Oh! / want to give dinners, but to
have nobody but women is too stupid"
"Yes, it is" said Vera.
do you know. Vera, have great wish
to have the handsome count. Wall you
come if 1 dol''
Certainly shall, said Vera; "but how
can you manage? No man can pass your
guards"
81 know; he conld have Disguise
''Ohp' said Vera, 81 tell you what; he
can go in auntie's Arab dress. He is about
her si2e."
Zuleika clapped her hands in glee.
That is splendid idea! Now when
| can you Gomez"
ION Wednesday next" said Vera. She
| thought it a great joke-such fun. On her
| the count, in perfect French, for the fol-
| lowing Wednesday. The counts feelings
may be imagined. He wished of all things
| to go, if he could do so safely; but he did
not see his way. Although bold and adj
venturous man, this risk was too great.
In the afternoon Count de Lara called
| on Vera, and to his astonlshment, she
| knew all about his note of invitation and
| suggested-very cautiously at frst-the
Arab dress. The young man jumped at
| the idea at once; so it was arranged that
he would present himself at the palace of
Zuleika the following Wednesday.
| The day came; Zuleika ordered the
choicest of dinners, half French and half
| Oriental. AS the hour drew near she felt
| very nervous, fearing that any of her fam
| lily would arrive. But then her friend
Vera treasured her, insisting there was no
| harm in it. AS 6 O'Clock struck tall Arab
| woman was ushered into the room-she
| was so tall that for a moment neither of
| the young women could speak for surprise.
When this figure threw off the blue cot
ton feredje they both burst out into a peal
| of laughter, aud a merrier party could not
be conceived This evening was long re-
membered by Vera. 1t was the turning
| point in Zuleika's life.
The dinner was served by her faithful
| black nurse. who thought whatever her
| mistress ordered was right; therefore none
| of the slaves in the palace learned of the
| presence of a man in the harem, and
| knowing her nurse could be trusted, Zu-
| leika had no fear.
To feel doubly secure, she put her Slip
| pers outside of the door, so as to indicate
| that no male could enter, as the princess
had ladies visiting her.
In all her young life never had Zuleika
enjoyed an evening Ike this-it was so
| novel. The count made himself so agree
| able, he fascinated the young princess.
At about half-past ten O'Clock Vera's
maid called for her, so the count took his
departure with her, after donning his DIS
guise once more, to disarm all possible
suspicion on the part of the harem guards
After this essay the count made habit
OF dining often with Zuielka, so that at
last the gossips OF Cairo got hold of it and
| it reached her fathers ears. During one
of these little dinners messenger arrived
in great haste to summon Zuleika to her
| fathers palace. She was obliged to obey
| so she ted herself before him as de-
| murely as she knew how. He told her the
| stories he had heard about her parties, and
| he warned her that if she did not mend
| her ways he would send her into exile.
| She only laughed in his face, for she knew
| too well that her husband had too much
! power for her TO fear any such punish
ment, he being great court fayorite.
But then came her first great trial. The
| count was about to marry handsome
French woman, who had been friend of
| Zuleika's, but jealousy turned friendship
into hatred and changed Zuleika's charac-
| ter into that of a perfect aend. For DAYS
| she fumed and ragged like one possessed,
| planning schemes OF vengeance-she was
such a spoiled child-never having been
| thwarted in any way.
If she were TO pay the counts debts
which were considerable-and settle a sum
OF money on him, would he give up this
marriage? She thought of every magma
/ BILE plan, but could not see her wav shut
| up as she was. She cursed her fate and
absolutely worried herself into a fever.
For weeks her life was despaired of but
! her splendid constitution finally tri-
| umphed, although leaving her for months
so feeble and weak that she was like lit
tie child. The doctor ordered her change
of air. and her husband, who had returned,
took her 10 his palace near Suez.
After recovering. she began TO suffer
from SleeplesSuess. and by the doctors or
| der small doses of morphine were admin
istered. from which she derived benefit
About this time there was a craze for NOR
phine, and ZuIeika, liking its effect so
: