The morning call., 1893-08-20
SERPENT OF OLD NILE.
An Incident in the Life of Amra Pasha.

number of spectators, and that he could
not compromise her position as his wifi
Dy letting her appear unveiled In public.
The entertainment could take place in
the palace precincts, and l should wear q
| mask, she replied.
He struggled on with more argumt g.
But she merrily parried them all Then
finding her smilngly immOvable, he SAID,
half laughingly, half angrily, do as you
will"
She bowed her head. Then as he turned
away she looked up and her face was
luminous with the radiance of demoniac
triumph.
Osman the Yuzbashi soon knew of
Amru's project toa wed Miriam. And
though the knowledge filled him with
anxiety and gloom, het Scorned to yield
to despair. He bad 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 men of his Years
equaled him for GOODNESS aid fertility OF
resource in times of trial.
He was one day walking near the palace
OF Amru, when d n 0te was thrust into his
hand and a hurried whisper went by
'Ta'al mall"
OSman opened the note, which contained
a few lines in Arabic. with emphatic men,
ton of one name. he glanced forward in
search of the man who had bade him
follow, and recogn iZed one of the servants
proceeded. Within the threshold he en-
cOuntered Murad. who conducted him in
silence to room adjoining the harem and
left him. In moment a curtain was
withdrawn from the end of the room and
Rakiyah stood unveiled, young looking.
Z hnaG N fatl fora
You have come" she said in tones
thrilling with an almost painful exulta-
ton.
Il am here at your service, madame
Why have you sent for me?"
~ ou know the fate in store for pretty
Miriam?"
81 have heard"
For the woman beloved by youP"
Something have heard"
And who is willing to forget you, to
betray you. TO abandon you lightly" ?"
We had better not discuss this"
"Ah! she cried, elf you cared to take
revenge, fair way might be pointed out
to you"
This is an improbable theme. madame.
Again, why have you sent for me 2"
w ny nave l sent for yOu?" she re-
peated slowly. They remained silent.
looking at each other-he calm, gentle
suaye IN bearing; she with eyes abiaze
WIN pOSOlH ucHhiuS, VIII frame QQlVerlnI
from head TO foot. And Osman, 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 torrent
OF eXclamatIons, avOWais, prayers express
i've of the mos frantic love. And over the
stormy stream of her language cleaned
and shifted and rang the lights, the colurs.
the harmonleS OF an unearthly elOQuence
OSman'S hrSt impulse of amaZement
and perDlexity had been repressed before
the woman had uttered twenty words,
and when her outburst was ended he had
littls difficulty in assuming kindly, sooth-
log tone which, while dispelling uneasi-
ness on her part, tended to bring her back
TO comparative reason. Yet, though he
feit that it would be utter madness TO give
the slightest evidence of the scorn within
him, he resolved 10 cut short the interview
without delay.
''It will not be well for me to remain
here long" be said.
There can be no danger for you," she
answered, an Ominous fire z thering ln her
eyes, Though he surprised us in this
moment there would be deadly woe to him
If he attempted injury to you"
"Still. | must leave you
"YOu are invited t. the entertainment
here tomorrow night?"
Yes"
IF you cared to move but slightly in
your own behalf you and might not eed
10 leave each other more. Tune your
fancies to the most des potic pitch and
there is nothing you can deem beyond nv
will to perform. Bid me do murder for
your sake and II shall be done"
I'VE shall not % to such an extremity. ."
"Good. l am obedient to all vour
moods. And YOU will come, va ami! to-
morrow nlght%
Yes"
"And 1ubon ,,o,, o,-,o - I'll,
purpose OF our never again being sepa-
rated. L shall have all prepared. Within
thirty-slx 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 climes where we
never shall be traced. With my riches
shall make your life such that you would
not need to envy the most extravagant of
pleasure-seekers. And now, va hamami 7"
she continued, with a sudden access of
sweetness in voice and look, where do you
go Io-night?"
81 have no thought of moving out of
doors"
IN of 10 the circus?"
mo" he answered quickly.
She looked full at him. For little more
than second her mouth became drawn
and haggard. Then she smiled again.
Il shall no longer keep you. Come by
this door. You shall not need to be con-
ny UlN S6TVdUi.
She brought him through the curtained
aperture by which she had entered. It
opened on two passages. one dark, cir
cuitous, leading TO the gardens, ana thence
TO the high road, the other leading to the
lnnermost chambers Of the harem.
'Remember tomorrow night" she
whispered, and left him.
He went down the winding corridor,
lie thought he heard the voice of Amru
himself coming from the garden. He drew
back and stealthily crept into the ada
cent passage. He moved into the shadow
of doorway. There, indeed. he heard
two voices. They were the voices of
Murad and Rakiyah.
There Is risk of failure" murmrred
the lady.
mo. She will never handle a serpen-
after tomorrow night. And if she es
capes this first entanglement her destruct
tion is assured by another"
How"
mark me. This girl has been known
to declare that ehe Will either kill herself
or Kill Amru rather than marry him.
Need | remind you that il is your custom
TO mix each night draught for the Pasba?
What better means of disarming the dis
trust of the girl and of proving your hu-
mility to Amru than by depnting your
cherished function to Miriam? To-inor-
row let her mix the drink. | shalt convey