The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1893-05-05
A NARROW ESCAPE.

one day saw copy of Hafiz on the
table of a friend. Hafiz was Il Persian
poet of the fourteenth century, whose
verse, like that of Anacreon's, was dedi-
Gated to love and wine, The book was
in Persian manuscript, was superbly IL
Illuminated and was at least 200 years old.
Fred, did you buy this book abroadF
asked
He looked at me in queer way and
then said:
mo, didn't, stole it,.
stared at him in surprise.
mot Intentionally" qualified he as he
lit fresh cigar and showed the box to-
ward me.
1T was an adventure" said as set
tied down in an easy chair. IL am ready
to hear it,"
He watched wreath of smoke as it
curled away to the ceiling and then told
me the following story:
II was haunted by pair of superb
black eyes while at Constantinople. They
rested on me frequently in the various
marts, and they seemed significant with
meaning despite their steady gaze. Or
course they belonged to young woman
Her figure was not too obese to be grace
full, and though her face was covered
with the traditional veil was sure that
it was as handsome as the eyes
IL first met her in the drug market, a
place that looked like the archway to a
covered bridge, dim and mysterious and
odorous with spices, the venerable look,
ing Turk scarcely visible through the
smoke that curled from the bowl of his
pipe, his eyes dreamy from the use OF
opium, and his trembling fingers count
ing his spicewood beads. My unknown
dark eyed beauty bought IA package OF
henna, with which to dye her fingers
while bought some incense wood for q
pastil lamp
THE next place | met her was in the
slave market, and it struck me that was
queer place for her to be. She stared
a little sadly at the Nubian damsel'
bWlnding around like so many pieces o.
black statuary awaiting the pleasure o.
the auctioneer. When her eyes me
mine, it was again with "a prolonged un
winking gaze, and thought saw sign
of emotion,
THE third time met her was in tn,
bezestein, that most oriental of bazaars
devoted to the sale of bric-a- brac, Target,
of military kind, and only open in tn
forenoon, | was pricing some jewel hilt
ed daggers. when who should see by III,
side but the yelled unknown. She picket
up each dagger as laid it down, exam
ined it and spoke to the gray bearde,
fatalist in attendance, ripple of laugh
ter stirring her thick veil, could no
understand what she said, but suppose
the conversation was about me. was
good looking fellow and had plenty O
money and fancy for everything tina
was quaint She took my hand, locke
at it closely and gave it slight, tende
pressure | had friend, an attache t
the American ambassador, and toll
him about the mysterious houri. He jus
laughed at me-
"'You can't designate them by thei
eyes he said They all look alike
"'She wore turquoise rings, said
lit is favorite gem with them r.
piled he.
"'She took hold of my hand in the bI
zaar
"That'snothingn She was promp
ed by curiosity. Their idea of modest
includes the yelling of their faces, an
that's about all. 1t may not have bee
the same woman every time.
~ am positive that it was, rejoinet
III follow her the next time.
You'll be- fished up out of the 30
porus the next morning, replied II
friend, with shrug, I'll walk down
the morgue to see if can recognize yor
II saw n grave look cross his face, b.
that did not deter me from my purpos
The next day met her within the re-
gious gloom Of one of the cemeterie
Was she following me, or was there
fatality in our meeting2 The cities
the dead are numerous on the hillside
They are not large, are shaded by clio
growing cypress, and each one has
small minaret pointing skyward in Il
center. There is great deal of rur
beauty about them, and they are new
without visitors, for relatives hold the
dead in great reverence.
Again those fascinating eyes met mi
and | felt my heart beat faster. S
placed her finger upon her lips and tn
walked down one Of the paths. VIII
did the act mean but Follow me and
discreet followed her, trembling SON
what with excitement. Outside sto
an aruba, drawn by horses and attend
by an Abyssinian slave.
HE opened the door of the carriag
and the girl entered. She motioned
me to join her, and complied. After
short drive we stopped at small vii
She entered the house. and | follow