The morning call., 1893-08-20

Sregateu ln crescent. Inc screen was
thrust apart and ten glass cases with
DraZen fittings were seen ranged five on
each side of the stage. There was the
sound OF gong from behind the platform.
ana Miriam asceDded. She was covered
with golden armets and bracelets and
necklets. Her father, a tall. strong
man, who had entered behind her,
raised the lids of the cases to the left.
And one after another the silent.
giistenlng snakes came forth and swarmed
about the beautiful girl. The stage was
lit up by the electric light. Miriam was
accompanied by a weird, barbaric,
strangely seductive music. The small
sserpents glided amorously around her
o0dy and arms and neck, and curled
above her head in marvellous convolu-
tlons never disturbing the adornments
which so much resembled themselves
while she executed a wOndrous, ethereal
dance. 1t was rare spectacle, rarer still
from the almost overwhelming grandeur
OF It's environment. The girl, with her
superb face and figure and limbs, with
her great black eyes OutdaZZling the blaze
OF gems and glitterlng serpentS and silver
lights of which she was the center; the
Hover beds with their throng of blooms
folded in gorgeous slumber on all sides
the expanded heaven afame with ipnum-
cradle stars. the moon rolling streams of
pale spendor on the immortal pyramids
toward the west; the fiery ard sOmbpr
desert stretching into the immeasurable
distance beyOnd-these were SURROUNDINGS
which few spectators could have regarded
without certain sense of awe. Miriam
disappeared.
And now there entered a woman wear
ing crimson mask. The electric light
had been gradually lowered with her ad-
vent. but the astonishing wealth of dia-
mOndS and sapphires and TubeS worn by
her seemed 10 sGpersede the necessity OF
Il0h tfh hnr
many-colOred fire seemed 10 kindle and
break out all over her, aud TO grow more
startling and gh0stly from the framing of
the darkened platform. This woman per-
formed, IN the opinion of many, with
skill and grace quite equal TO Mirlam'S.
Ihe PaSha, at least. seemed to think so;
Tor he sent a special message TO her be-
Find the scenes, whence she came, heavily
veled, 10 receive what appeared 10 be his
congratulations. Aud during this inter
lude the screen was lowered
On to the platform thus concealed
Mlriam's father and Murad now came
They removed the cases of small snakes.
Then they rolled up with difficulty each
case thrice as large as any yet seen. Murad
moved his case tn the right; Mirlam's
father his To the left: and tie latter as
sistant, having done his work. went
uncOnceruediy away. Murad was left
alone. be looked on all sides. No one
half lifted, half rolled that on the left
across 10 the right, that on the right 10 the
left; then he quilted the platform, still
with a complete absence of noise. and dis
appeared. The next moment a man arose
from amid some drapery behind the stage.
lie crept over to where stood the case t.
the lett. and. looking into It, started. Then
he retTanspOSed the cases with a prompt
tude aud secrecy not inferior 20 Murad'S
aud 10 his turn vanished.
And now Miriam, acting by the instruc-
tons Of the masked woman, had mixed
the Pasha's drink and had handed it to
Murad. O5man, who had previously left
his place near Amru, reappeared from be-
hind the stage and resumed his chair.
And the screen was wit drawn.
Ii had been intimated that Miriam and
her mysterious rival, with boa constructors
Of unusual size around them, whOuld per-
form a novel dance. Once more a strange,
mournful ineffably sweet music penr-
trated the ear. and Miriam and the woman
with her crimson mask mounted the plat
form together.
Here Amru called by a sign for his
draught. Murad approached with Cob
let. 0sman calmly arose and whs pered to
the Pasha. Amru stared at the captain,
and, bending his eyes on Murad, COM
manded him 10 taste the drink first. The
servant looked at Amru; then he looked at
the stage. He started violently. His eyes
dilated. Without hesitation he raised the
goblet 20 his lips, drained its contents tn
the last drop, and sank in commissions to
The ground.
Meanwhile the serpent of Miriam had
arisen from its case and had coiled gently
around her. In the same moment the
woman with the crimson mask had lifted
the lid of her case, and an enormous bea
had Immediately darted M. the disguised
performer staggered back. but the serpent
shot forward its neck and rushed with
lightning rapidity AROUND her. There
went up from her a heart-rending cry
which was instantly smothered in feeble
groans and gasps. For some seconds the
spectators remained silent, mOlionleSs,
appalled,. Then with yels of rage they
arose In a body and swept on TO the plat
form. With a single blow from the sword
of Amru the seTpentS head was severed.
1t was hacked and gashed by countless
weapons, and fell to the floor in hundred
writhing pieces.
But its work was done. The limbs and
ribs Of the artist in the crimson mask had
been cracked ami crushed into utter shape
lessness In the folds of the snake. One If
the guests tore away the mask, and
through all the distortion caused by the
horrible torture. knew the face OF Raki-
yah.
The bystanders, in presence of a calam-
ity where coincidence would have almost
seemed mockeryi departed in silence.
Osman and Miriam went away together,
and Amru saw this without regret.
He questioned Miriam's father and his
own servants, and elected enough to de-
sire no further knowledge.
Toward midnight he went back to the
platform alone. Rakiyah still lay there.
Some stains of blood had been washed
from her lips by gentle hands. The signs
of agony had passed away. Her beauty
had come back. And she gazed with
lusterless eyes up to heaven in all the dis
astrous majesty of death.-GoOd Words.
Dancing for Husbands,