The Helena independent., 1893-07-02
DEAD TO HOME.

on lsmps swung dismally under she
smoky ceiling sending ONT yellow rays q
nuakiuc light. The place fesksd With tho
smell of oil. and LatakIa. and wine. From
the smoke and rssk that hung over the room.
unduiatinr about the ceiling Ike . serpent
n wing for hols. the faces OF tho men
.hone ont in ghostly lights and shades.
There wero Arabs who had followed Arabi
pasha. Bspoys whose fathers had ossn 10 sne
Indian mutiny, and white men from al ends
of tho earth. When ths light from the
lamps stroamed upon one side OF mans
face aud left the other black blank II Was
like yellow specter. There we're drunken
mutterings In all manner OF tonRues. Wnen
men from the farther bcrde's OF the world
come 10 China and seek for nmussmene sney
must expect to find II . swarthy. svil-Iook-
inQ thing. Unless they happen 20 stand y
with tho gentlemen who frequent tns pal
aces. In that case---
They were making free space IN sns
middle Of the room. and the eyes OF sne
men began to shine and their lips 70
moistsn. Donald FrothinRham. who Vas
on his way back from Hong Hong. wan
dsred into this place because he had seen .
particularly vicious looking Arab enter.
ana vanted to sketch tho mans face Tor
p,oture he had in hend. Whom he found
vhat kind of placs he had como to. he
congratulated himself and proceeded to en-
iov the murky color, the evil language. she
bad vine, just as he Invariably enjoyed
avarv now OK pcrisncs that came In his way.
When the keen eyed servants began ar
ranging the open space under the oil lamps
Donald III another Egyptian and waited,
indolently, for what might come.
Into tho dim, yellow light there came
,,ressntly six girls. with flames in their
eyes and the quiokness Of fiss in their
limbs. and began to dance. The kohl under
their eyes acosntuatsd the brightness OF
their pupils; the Rauzy, scart-liks garments
chat flostsd tempsstous!y ABOUT sheir
swaying forms enhanssa ,s.s.. sa'ne, ...,p snar
figures. They had strings Of coins about
their throats, their ankles and their waists;
they flashed them soornfully about. % II
they hated the gold they danced for. Now
they were half in shadow. hsIf IN N light;
inst over them and threw its color upon
sheir faces; and now they danced all in
darkness. naught save the clicking timbrs
l. Of their Crn ments disclosed their presence.
Il vas in moments like these that sxsla-
mationa of approval came from the oAlook-
ers and orders went out for more wine.
Donald was viewing the grim picture with
aomethinQ OF scorn succeeding his hrst
feeIiuQ OF curiosity and interest; his eyes
were half closed. he wns a.. wonosrlnR IN
minds of these girls might be running; .
spsouIstion thnt has never anywhere, At
3, any time, been answered. that never will
be answered.
"This." said tho voice out Of the darkness.
"is a strange place to choose Tor brown
study" He started and looked about.
There was no one near who looked the
least like an AnQlo-Saxon: Besides ii lad
surely been o woman's voice; In front OF
Of the dancers was swayinR in the dusk
tha,e. But surely that was impossible,
surely-no, he must have been dreaming:
A soft. perfumed strand Of hair whisked
across his face. he felt me lutte OF fest
close to him. Then out Of the dimnss sss he
saw two eyes burning into his. eyes that
were promises OF heaven, eyes that were
mirrors of his own suddenly awakened
wishes. He heard the soft volce Whisper
ing again: u wear an amber braoeiot;" but
ple of laughter came to him.
Now he fastened his eyes upon the
brightly 1T middle space. and presently. .,
some Of the others danced into farther dim
ness. he noticed that a grim ray OF liRh
was falling upon Que girl. who swayed an.
flashed about with the suppleness OF IL half
tanned tiger yelvet-footed, cruel-eyed. ane
wearing q ci clet of ambor OF
Ler wrist. Donald peered tcrceI,
il. her. and then his senses for an in
rs he himself. His eyes met hers an'
the crueluess in hers suddenly spun int
delicious invitations; he remembered thR
the accent of that English-whisperinl
voice had been as pure as his own: horfibl
wonder as TO how IN English girl cnme =
Le there mingled with the fascination Il
which the girls dancing, her voice, he
face, her myste envelopod his senses
Curiosity. the precursor of much earthl
torment, was awake in Donald.
He flung her q coin. She caught u an
smiled with her eyes. The smoke swallows
her up again. Some of the girls were dia
npI enrino. Men went away also. On
greasy Arab poured handful Of coins int
ono girls tambourne and looked ut he
with heavy. shaking eyes; they passed ou
together. by Donald's side there was aaai
Whispering. "Curiosity is dea:; will 20
pAy for the answer3"
He caught hnnd that droored warm i
the darkness. "Who in the name Of q
asked. The hand went up to his msut
and pressed gently upon his lips.
1T is not good to know thinCa. 1t 10 bel
tor to dream. But il you viii"
The stars that enyioualy eyed Cleopatr
were hanging in tho blue CANOPY lik
ouHSoo aoAS SS'An -
lines of minarots penci.sd nRainst the sol
spaces Of azuc. Donaid's eyes hold th
picture lovingly. II shall always rslnsm
Der Cairo" he said sofsl,.
Donald went tn ough the old pastor
house with memories sptinging into bein
at ever nook and corner. He was full
ordinations and pleasant chatter of Ion
ngo days. The white. haired rector smile
in that loving. intslliGeRt manner of hii
replying to the younger mans question
with kind Of patcrnsl grace, a chsrmin
pride in the house. the place, its associa
tions.
Before q miniature pnstel portrait Donal
stopped and grew suddenly afraid with
te rible face. But ho ncrvsd his voice I
evenness. "That." he said. looking at Il
old rector, ''is-h'm, now. which of yon
that2 I've been awny 40 long rsall--"
THAT is Rosa. our eldest daughter" sal
the minister eravolv. "sho was chill
when you went away"
Those eyes! Wh.re-where had Donal
seen them before? Those bu' ming. moltin
eyes!
He still looked at tho portrait. The pai
on the rector's fnce was visible. 'Shs,
Donald went on. "shs is not with you?'
mo poor child, she was married ei0l
yenrs ago. Ths engagement was . Wi
short one; we opposed the marriage. b,
ROSA was always impulsivs. She had on
known him six weeks when mar risd thsu
T. wall noE Hn k.d /