Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-03-30
A NARROW ESCAPE.

| A NARROW ESCAPE.
lone day saw a copy of Hafiz on the
table of a friend. Hafz was Persian
poet of the fourteenth century, whose
verse, like that Of Anacreon's, was dedi-
Gated to love and wine The book was
in Persian manuscript. was superbly il
Illuminated and was at least 200 yearso old.
Pred. did you buy this book abroadY'
Iasked.
He looked at me in a queer way and
then said
mo, didn't So, it:
lstared at him in surprise.
mot Intentionally. qualified he as he
Lit fresh cigar and showed the box to-
ward me-
ut was an adventure" said as set
| tied down in an easy chair Il am ready
to hear it.
| He watched wreath Of smoke as it
curled away to the ceiling and then told
me the following story:
Il was haunted by a pair Of superb
black eyes while at Constantinople. They
rested on me frequently in the various
marts, and they seemed significant with
meaning despite their steady gaze. Of
course they belonged to young woman.
Her figure was not too obese to be grace
! full, and though her face was covered
| with the traditional veil was sure that
| it was as handsome as the eyes.
II first met her in the drug market,
place that looked like the archway to
covered bridge, dim and mysterious and
odorous with spices, the venerable look
! ing Turk scarcely visible through the
smoke that curled from the bowl of his
pipe, his eyes dreamy from the use of
opium, and his trembling fingers count
| ing his spicewood beads. My unknown
dark eyed beauty boughta package of
henna, with which to dye her fingers,
| while bought some incense wood for
pastil lamp
"The next place | met her was in the
slave market, and it struck me that was
queer place for her to be. She stared
little sadly at the Nubian damsels
standing around like so many pieces of
black statuary awaiting the pleasure OF
the auct;oneer. When her ewes met
mine, it was again with prolonged, un-
winking gaze, and thought saw signs
Of emotion.
"The third time met her was in the
bezestein, that most oriental of bazaars,
devoted to the sale Of bric-a-brac, largely
~ ~ : ,,;l;t.rv lind and onlv oran q the
forsnaon .a, II vgas ,,ric;,,e % some level
ed daerers. when who sbould see by NV
side but the yelled unknown. She picked
M each dagger as | laid it down, exam
;ned IL and smoke to the gray bearded
fatalist in attendance. a ripple of laugh
Ter stirring her thick veil. | could not
understand what she said, but supposed
the conversation was about me- was
good looking fellow and had plenty of
money and a fancy for everything that
was quaint. She took my hand, looked
at it closely and gave it a slight, tender
pressure had friend, an attache to
| the American ambassador, and | told
him about the mysterious houri He just
laughed at me.
"TYou can't designate them by their
eyes, he said. They all look alike
She wore turquoise rings, said.
ss'It is favorite gem with then,' re-
piled he.
"'She took hold of my hand in the ba-
zaar.
.sThatsnothipg new. She was prompt
ad bv curiosity Their idea Of modestv
includes the yelling Of their faces. and
that's aho,,t all r. NAV NOT have been
tba same woman every time
so am 1,ositive that it was.' / reioined
! .pll follow her the next time
asyon,li he f;shed mn ont of the Ros-
| norus The NEXT morning, replied nv
friend with shrup .rii walk down to
tha I,,ory1,e 10 see If 7 can recognize Won.
41 saw q crave Iook cross liz face but
that did not deter me from nv nurnose,
i The next day / met her within the reli-
aious gloom of one of the cemeteries.
Was she following me. or was there a
fatality in our meeting? The cities of
! the dead are numerous on the hillsides.
They are not large. are shaded by close
erow;ne cvnress and each one has n
small n,inaret pointing slxyward in the
center. There Is a great deal of rural
beauty about them. and they are never
without visitors, for relatives hold their
dead in great reverence
Again those fascinating eyes met mine
and I felt my heart beat faster. She
placed her finger upon her lips and then
walked down one of the paths. What
did the act mean but Follow me and be
discreetY followed her, trembling some
what with excitement. Outside stood
an aruba, drawn by horses and attended
by an Abyssinian slave.
He opened the door Of the carriage,
and the girl entered. She motioned to
me to join her, and complied. After a
short drive we stopped at small villa.
She entered the house, and | followed
\ her. the Abyssinian slave joining us few
minutes later. At sign from her he
brought in four small gilded saucers,
! two Of them containing some sort of
snow white delicacy and two filled with
ounce Jelly almost done to a candy.
/ ssThe room was the most elegant bou-
| doir eve ever rested upon, with rich
rugs, ottomans, statues, vases and no
4 ,s,5 - ,-;a~<+a1 ,r,,,,,a;+1 !. c.xvao+ r,;1,,.