The record-union., 1893-08-12

as you Will"
She bowed her head. Then as he turned
away she looked up, and her face was
luminous with the radiance of a demoniac
triumph.
Osman the YuZbash soon knew of
Amru's project to wed Miriam. And
though the knowledge filled him with
anxiety and gloom, he seorned to yield to
despair. He had seen Miriam many
times in private. He knew her worth.
he knew her feelings toward himself;
and FOR her sake he was prepared to battle
against heaviest odds.
Osman was the handsomest officer in
the Egyptian Army. He was Intelligent,
rarely accomplished, and few mon of his
years equated him for GOODNESS and fere
tility of resource in times of trial.
He was one day walking near the pal
ace of Amru when note was thrust into
his hand and ashurried whisper went by :
''Ia'al mai"
Osman opened the note, which con-
tanned a few lines in Arabic, with en-
phatic mention of one name. He glanced
forward in search of the man who bade
him follow, and recognized one of the
servants of Amru; and TO Amru's palace
Osman proceeded. Within the threshold
he encountered Murad. who conducted
him in silence to room adjoining the
harem and left him. In moment a cur
II
room and Rakiyah stood unveiled, young
looking, beautiful, before him.
you have come" she said in tones
thrilling with an almost painful exulta-
tion.
II am here at your service, Madame.
Why have you sent for me?'
You know the fate in store for pretty
Miriam?''
81 have heard
h., !, !,
Something L have heard"
"And who is willing to forget you, to
betray you. to abandon you lighJly?"
I'VE had better not discuss this"
"Ah ~ she cried, "if you cared to take
revenge, lair way might be pointed out
to you"
Madame. Again, why have you sent for
me2''
"Why have I sent for you?" she re-
peated slowly. They remained silent,
looking at each other-he calm, gentle,
suave in bearing; she with eyes ablaze,
with bosom heaving, with frame quiver-
ing from head to foot. And Osnan,
though no coxcomb, guessed instantly
the kind of revenge that she proposed to
him.
She threw up her arms, and for five
whole minutes did she pour forth a tor
of the most frantic love. And
over the stormy stream of her language
and shifted and rang the lights,
the colors, the harmonies of an unearthly
Osman's first impulse of
and perplexity had been
before the woman had uttered
twenty words, and when her outburst was
ended he had little difficulty in as
Stunning a kindly, soothing tone which,
while dispelling uneasiness on her part,
tended to bring her back to comparative
reason. Yet, though he felt that 1t would
be utter madness to give the slightest
evidence of the scorn within him, he re-
solved to cut short the interview without
delay.
1T will not be we'll for me to remain
here long," he said.
There can be no danger for you" she
answered. an ominous ire gathering in
her eyes. Though he surprised US in
this moment, there would be deadly woe
to him if he attempted injury to you"
''Still, l must leave you."
"You are invited to the entertainment
here tomorrow night?''
YES"
"If you cared to move but slightly in
your own behalf, you and might not need
to leave each other more. Tune your
fancies to the most despotic pitch, and
there is nothing you can deem beyond
my will to perform. Bid me do murder
tor your sake. and it shall be done"
1--WE shall not 60 to such an extremity"
"Good. l am obedient to all your
moods. And you will come, ga 'Gtni
night?"
"Yes."
"And when you come it will be for the
purpose of our never again being sepa-
rated. [ shall have all prepared. Within
thirty-six hours we shall depart together.
All my jewels shall take with me-
They would more than serve as the
ransom of a Sultan. We shall go to
clilnes where we shall never be traced.
With my riches l shall make your life
such that you would not need to
envy the most extravagant of pleasure
seekers. And now, ye hanldnlif' she
continued, with sudden access of sweet
ness in voice and look, "where do you go
to-night?"
II have no thought of moving out of
DOORS"
IN ot to the circus?'
NO" he answered quickly.
She looked full at him. For little more
than second her mouth became drawn
and haggard. Then she smiled again.
II shall no longer keep you. Come by
this door. You shall not need to be con-
Quoted by my servant"
She brought him through the curtained
aperture by which she had entered. 1t
opened on two passages, one dark, cir
cuitous, leading to the gardens, and
thence to the high road, the other leading
to the inner most chambers OF the hareIn.
Remember tomorrow night" she
whispered, and left him.
II g went down the winding corridor.
He thought he heard the voice of Amru
himself coming from the garden, He
drew back and stealthily crept into tie
adjacent passage. He moved into the
shadow OF a doorway. There, indeed, he
heard two voices. They were the voices
OF Murad and Rakiyah.
There is risk of failure" murmured
the lady.
mo. She will never handle serpent
after tomorrow night. And if she es-
capped this first ENHANCEMENT her destruc-
tion is assured by another"
"How?"
MARK me. This girl has been known
to declare that she will either kill herself
or kill Amru rather than marry him.
Need l remind you that it is your custom
to mix each night draught for the Pa
sha? What better maans of disarming
the distrust of the girl and of proving
your humility to Amru than by deputing
your cherished fanction to Miriam? To-
morrow night let her mix the drink.
shall take it from her behind the scenes.
l shall convey il to Amru. And if, after
the cup has passed through my hands, the
Pasha survives the drinking of its con-
tents two minutes, give you free power
over my own life"
''You will not shrink from this?"
"Have you known me in times past to
shrink from anything, however dark and
desperate?"
"You are faithful, Murad."
81 think so. When danger comes to
you l shall share it. When the moment
of your death is at hand the knell of mine
also shall have sounded. To conclude,
then, should she elude the embraces OF
the tremendous playfellow we design for
her she is confronted with a fatal altarna.