The morning call., 1893-08-20

u
to circus which had been touring in
India. and which mad lately arrived in
Cairo. And the Pasha, requiring little
. persuasion, in view of the attractions de-
tailed to him, accompanied his visitors
that night.
Next day the Pasha's only surviving
. snouse. Rakiyah, VINO had not seen her
husband for twenty-four hours, called to
her presence a particular man servant,
Murad, whom she had brought with her
from ConstantinOple on her first entrance
into the harem.
"Since the Pasha has not returned" she
said. you shall now relate what passed
last night Who were his companions? ?"
"The EnglishmeD whom you saw walk
ing in the gardens. and two others who
had rot come here with them"
"And these two?"
Were Morton, the Katib at the English
consulate, and his friend. Osman the
Yuzbashi.''
The woman's eyes quivered strangely
and dark flush suffused her face.
And this girl whom they went to see ;
who starts up after a lapse of twelve
years as my rival in every sense; what of
her?"
"They cali her Miriam"
"Well?"
Like yourself in earlier time. the girl
Is a suake-charmer and a dancer"
This l knew before. Make me not i'm
patient. Describe her person."
"I need not do So" said the man
calmly.
"Why?"
Because you mean to see her yourself.
You mean to judge of her face and form,
TO be a critic of her skill, to witness the
impression she has made on your husband,
and on others; because | have already ar
ranged for you TO do all this-yourself un-
discovered"
That night, indeed. Rakiyah, attended
by Mural. both carefully disguised, stood
among the spectators attracted by the new
artist. The Pasha's wife looked ,on
woman quite nfteen years younger than
ber.elf distinguished bv an order of
beauty which Rakiyah. with a sinking
heart, felt that she had never seen eQualeG,
woman going through her various featS
with an ease and grace which the uD-
known observer might, indeed, have rival
ed on occasions In earlier DAYS, but never
surpassed. Rakiyah glanced from the per-
former to the onlookers. Her husband
sat far away to her right-the most promi-
nent among a circle of joyous and vigorous
applauders. A little away from him was
a fair-halred EngliShman, with a quick
with frank pleasure. Next 10 him sat
young man, handsome, with the grave,
dark beauty OF the orient, but with
neither its heavines5 nor its efeminacy
He was dressed in the uniform of a
captain in the Egyptian army, which set
off admirably his alert and graceful
figure. His eyes were fixed with pro-
found absorption on the girl in the arena.
And when that girl swerved her head In
his direction, which happened Dlore than
Dat
municatng lights of intelligence cleaned
in the eyes of both. The Pasha's wife
gazed long at the Egyptian officer Then
she turned glance upon her servant, who
seemed to divine her every movement,
and they both arose without waiting for
the end of the performance and went
away.
for six days Rakiyah remained secluded
iAther apartments, untrOubed by the con-
fFtsation OF her husband. and speaking 10
NG one else. It seemed as II she would no
More care to look upon the light Of day.
NardIy did she betray a sign Of life. And
amid the unutterable darkness and soil
tude and torpnr of her spirit, Murad stood
unannounced before her.
WHAT passed between them in two
hours' exchange of condolences, at first
constrained, then more and more vehe-
meut and unreserved, effectuaIly dlspelied
her ianguor. Her eyes blaZed with an un-
holy fire. Her whole frame writhed and
trembled with new and terrible life. She
painted forth command to him to go and
do her will, and he left her.
Next morning he once more came sud-
your husband will be here within an
hour" he said with an abruptness that was
hahtual to him.
You have seen the snake-dealer?" she
exclaimed in an agony of impatience.
"And I have chosen the snake"
"One that will serve its purpose ."
"It has eaten nothing for many daVs. 1t
is not an animal. 1t is an incarn alton OF
ferceness, voracity and slaughter"
at is large and stroBgY
II will not say that it could crush one of
the blocks of the great pyramid to powder
In its embrace" answered MuIad, with
a grim smile; land yet should not care to
he reanonsibe for the safety of the night
est elephant that could be opposed to it,"
And now. my husband. These many
nights he has been doubtless at the cir
cus?'
Yes"
This doomed creature has drawn her
usual following OF spectatorsY
"All that you are interested in. Think
YOU know the Pasha's object in coming
now"
what is it?"
"Shal | indeed tell you?"
She brought her smiling murderess's
face nearer to his.
"If there be in it that which should
grieve me-" she said. "do not spare me.
If there be wrong or humiliation threat
ened to me, | have one follower at least
who will chance the worst to see me
avenged"
"Be sure of that" rejoined the servant,
with but a slight increase of resolution in
his enthusiastically firm tones.
Say, then, why is my husband coming?"
''To tell you that before week is gone
by he means TO marry this performer"
said the man, leaving her while lie spoke
with the suddenness with which be had
entered.
1t was less than an hour later that
Rakiyab, radiant with smiles, DrOdigal of
the tenderest caresses, received her hus-
band. He broached to her. somewhat
hesitatingly, the project named by Murad.
She laughed away his doubts and vel
coined with delight Miriam's proposed en-
trance into the harem-"one trained like
herself, with tastes and accom- plishments
like her own"
And. indeed. va asadi" she continued,
81 have one boon to crave of you.''
What is that?"
You will mock at me-"
\ e..