Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-05-23

with chains and every indignity. He was attached to the personal suite of the pasha, but this was done, not as a favor, but to give his captor an oppor- tunlty of pursuing him continually with tyranny and severity that knew no abatement
 The pasha seemed really to revel in 1ntilcting torments and humiliations upon his victim. Stephan's belief, that this inhuman treatment of him was due to the hatred feltby fanatic Turk towaId one whom he knew to be a Christian, was soon to be dispelled by an lpe ident that took place some weeks after his imprisonment One day he was taken by two soldiers into a field ad- lolnlng the pasha's place; there he was harnessed to plough and driven in the turrows When he stumbled or reeled from fatigue and weakness, he was driven forward by heavy blows from long whips of bullock's hide. While this scene was being enacted, the pasha, accompanied by a woman wrapped from head to foot in a thick veil, came into the field, and from small hill in the middle of it stood watching the spec tacle in silence.
 At last Stephan fell face forward to the ground, and lay there moaning, unable to rise in spite of the blows that were rained down by the drivers on his prostrate, quivering body. At that moment the woman, stepping up to where he lay, and spurning him with a tiny foot incased in gilded slipper, threw back her veil, revealing to the tortured mans haggard eyes the face of his former mistress Princess Irma.
 "Ah, you recognize me, then, Count scornfully. Stephan making her no re- ply, she went on furiously, q am she W hom you swore to love faithfully, and then basely deserted.'
 "That is a falsehood," he returned hotly.
 Do not attempt to deny it." she re- turned violently. You forsook mo. And IT have revenged myself well on you-for your treachery. It was that delivered you into the pasha's hands, that made you his slave-and your slav- cry will be perpetual one. Of that have taken care. The ransom your parents have already offered the pasha has been scornfully refused by him. No ransom-not even that of king could free you from his bonds. You will die a slave, tortured, misera ble wretch, who will desire death, and long for him as for a deliverer''
 Stephan gave no answer. With the patience of Christian and the courage of hero he submitted silently to the inevitable.
 That very evening, however, at sup per, while waiting at table on the pasha and the princess, he was again subjec ted to gross indignity. Down Dn your face, slave" thundered the pasha in stentorian tones, and, motion ing with his hand to three black slaves standing near, Stephan was flung by them face downward on the floor before the pasha- He placed his foot on the neck of the prostrate figure and turn ing to the princess seated at his side in quired:
 Are you satisfied now, princess, with my treatment of the slave you have sent me?"
 Quite satisfied,'' she answered, cast at Stephan, lying in the dust before her.
 While Stephan was the victim of a sighted woman's vengeance, Gezas sought assiduously for a way to liber- ate his master. He managed at last to effect an entrance into the pashas pal ace in the disguise of a peddler.
 In this garb he penetrated into the harem and discovered, among the in- mates there, a young girl whose heart had been touched by the su fferings and indignities that the captive nobleman was subjected to by the tyranny of the pasha.
 One night, therefore, Stephan, lying sleepless in his cell, heard the sound of violin played softly beneath his win dow. He recognized the air as one that he and Gezas had often played together. Directly after, stone, around which a slip of paper was wrapped, was flung in at the window. On the paper was written: '"To-morrow night-midnight in the east arbor in the small garden" A few more notes, played softly, fol- Iowed-then all was silent as before. The next night at midnight Stephan stole unperceived into the garden and concealed himself in the arbor. To his great surprise, after waiting some min utes, there appeared, not Gezas, whom he expected, but slight, yelled female figure.
 He mistrusted treachery at first but was reassured when, on the figure | throwing back the veil, the beautiful face of one of the ladies of the harem
 was revealed. It was that of a young girl who only a short time before had ] been brought as a slave to the pasha. These two, captives though they were, had yet managed to exchange glances- glances that spoke pity on her side and profound admiration on his. Falling al the feet of the lovely Zobeide, Stephan covered her small hands with kisses
 "Only a word is necessary" she ' whispered, do you really love me?"
 with all my heart-from my inmost | soul"
 q will help you to escape" she re
 turned; "but if you would regain youi
 liberty, you must trust and obey me
 implicitly"
 ''That will do cheerfully," he an