The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-09-15
tory in ther hands.

tory in their hands.
The losers were Immediately removed
and the noise of several shots indicated that
they had ceased to exist.
The first tilt was over Four had lost
four were winners These last were paired.
New hopes and new fears A danger would
pass unobservrd and he who had made the
error would raise a cry which was his death
sentence.
Again two lost, and again two were shot,
And now only two remained Maruf and
Sefer. They found themselves as they had
been before, in front of the campfire. They
were the best players They began the
game with good deal Of caution, resting
their foreheads on the palms of their hands,
thoughtfully calculating every move, with
out hesitating, but without hurrying.
For n long while neither of the two sue
ceeded in obtaining an advantage For each
gain there was an equal sacrifice
The spectators nod to each other when
either one makes brilliant move. Little
by little the number of pawns on the chess
board diminishes; the main figures lie scat
tered to the right and to the left; the situa-
tion becomes palmer; few more moves,
and Sefer will lose his castlel
Maruf has one more castle than his adj
versary, and this means a good deal at the
present stage of the game. The crowd be-
lieves that the game is in his hands.
All of a sudden great drops of sweat cover
the forehead of Maruf-a fear overtakes
him; he trenbles through all his body. He
has noticed that if his adversary sacrifices
his queen instead of his castle he can check
mate him with the bishop Would Sefer
see that mover On that depend life and
DEATH
Sefer looks ut the chessboard for long
while. His looks betray that he has seen
the move that will save him. But he does
not touch the men, and he seems to hesitate
'Maruf, he asks all of sudden, "how
many children have you at homer"
-Four" is the answer that comes from
trembling lips
you have good wifeP"
IAN excellent wife" answered Maruf,
with sigh
Sefer passes a hand over his face and be-
gins to murmuras though he were praying.
Then he asks for water. He washes his
eyes, his hands-irst the left hand, then
the right hand. Unseen two guardian an
gels watch ever by those who pray.
Yesterday night you gave me the game
so that might Sleep" he says.
Maruf does not answer, but bows his head
in assent.
you have always been a good friend of
mine, Maruf."
Maruf let's his head drop on his breast en-
tirely overcome. Sefer then slowly lifts his
hand to the chessboard and makes move,
not with the queen, but with the castle.
"CheckmatedP' you hear murmured on
all sides. Maruf has won and Sefer lost.
Sefer rises quietly, offers his hand for the
last time to his friend, Maruf, who seems
nailed to his place, and signals to the SOL
diers to be ready. Two seconds later shot
announces that the tournament is over
But Maruf does not stir. With intent
eye he looks at the board, and with trem-
bling hand he puts the pawns in their
places, but like one who does not know
which are the places assigned to them. The
other men are confused with the pawns,
the white with the black.
Get up" exclaimed Ahmanzade. ride
your horse; you are to livel'
The man, however, does not move and
continues with his vacant stare to arrange
the chessboard, making strange moves with
the figures.
"What an .absurdityP' he exclaims,
laughing recklessly. "One has turban
and the other horses headr'
'Pick him up" orders Mehemed. And
two soldiers lift him. Maruf, however,
continued to laugh with a lunatic's laugh.
Heaven, earth and men were now alike I'M
known to him.
During the last move he had become
mad. Translated From the Hungarian For
Romance.