The Portland daily press., 1894-04-10

ed around. No one was IN sight. She
went to the divan, removed the shawl.
and beb aid with frantic Joy the magic fal
con. ALL at once appeared in the doorway
Assan's dearest friend, her foster sister
Jusephi Assam, startled, hid the precious
bird in her shawl, but she could not hide
her agitation. Jusephi, coming nearer.
asked:
"What dost hide from me?"
"Nothing, absolutely nothing. What is
there new from the fountain?
II know not, but 1 do know that thou
dost hide something from me-"
tNo, no, assure you"
''Well, let me see what thou hast in that
shawl"
'sNo, no, dear Jusephi, no. 1t is ter
rible secret, T"
ges ssAh, thou fearest thy Jusephi. So be it.
1 shall act the same with thee, and shall
not tell thee what my husband hath
brought back from his last excursion. y
'sDo not be angry, pray. Think. On
my discretion may depend my husband
life. Judge, therefore, whether i should
not be discreet"
II Judge not, but shall also be dis
Greet with thee"
ssWell. then, two words, but ask nc
more In this shawl have falcon OF
the first order. and if eat it, says sooth-
sayer, shall become mother"
"Dost speak truly"
"Really and truly"
ooh, star of my eyes, give me part
of it,"
"Not for any price"
"Only leg"
oNot a particle.
"Assan, heart of my heart, only piecs
of the wing, little bit, mouthful."
Jusephi EN- braced her friend and prayed
and lamented with such ardor that poor
weak Assam gave way and presented hel
foster sister with an entire wing of the
falcon.
''What good fortune!'' cried Jusephi.
~ also will be mother. How Murchs
and Bella will envy usl'
'tNo doubt. But, dear Jusephi, not .
word''
sttCanst thou suppose it?"
stBecause, thou, seest, it is the favorite
falcon of the prince. ..,a
s"In truth! Why, the thought makes me-
afraid. But how to arrange it,"
isMy husband will say that the falcon
udbn uOWn. L AOpC LA chAS W 0y ~ "AAA =
main unknown, and none will know of it,
The two women, talking OF their future
maternity, together devoured the mlracu.
lous bird and separated with reciprocal
promises of secrecy and discretion. Not
withstanding her promises, Jusephi coulc
not retain her secret. She conflded 1t t.
the first woman she met on her way home,
with strict injunctions as to silence. By
nightfall all the tribe knew the story
The prince on his return called to him
his faithful Chatym, and, after a varied
conversation, asked for his favorite falcon.
Chatym Frustrated himself at his master s
feet, and with q sorrowful voice informed
him that the falcon had flown and had
probably been devoured by eagles.
ssRise," said the prince, displeased, but
still merciful, lit is misfortune, and we
shall seek to repair it.
But by night the prince heard that
which the enemies of Chatym were joyful
ly relating, and, ordering Assam to be
brought before him, he soon drew from
her the whole story. Furious at having
been betrayed, the prince resolved to pun
ish his old servant in a most exemplary
manner. He ordered him to be conducted
before him and then said:
"For 90 years have placed my trust IN
thee, and thou, miserable one, hast be-
trayed me. Who knoweth how many
times thou hast wronged thy lord and lice
to him? Prepare to die. Tomorrow i
thy last day an earth"
The cavaliers surrounded the condemn
ed and prepared to conduct him to prison
The weeping Assam approached her hus
hand and asked his nardOu
"Rend not thy veil, said Chatym sor
rowfully, "nor tear thy hair. I pardon
thee. May the will of Allah and the prince
be DONE And We, friends, come near ano
hear what I have to say"
bags of gold.
I will need it no longer. I wish to dis
tribute it among those love"
At these words all around came near
looking at the bags with avaricious eyes
'sNow," said Chatym, with an ironica
smile, 81 wish to divide evenly without
disseminating any one. ! shall give par
to my wife, another to the cavaliers wht
were so long my comrades, a third to my
adopted son Aster, and fourth to thai
person who, executing the orders OF th'
prince, shall tomorrow strangle me. /"
The cavaliers, fascinated by the shining
gold, murmured among themselves.
"Well," said Chatym, "who among "
will execute the orders of the prince?"
"Listen," cried the boy Aster, advanc
ing to the prisoner. "Why should thos'
nearest to thee abandon this task to 9th
ers? | myself will execute the sentence
of the prince"
"Ah, son of viper" cried the startled
Chatym. CHOW, indeed, know thee"
He then turned to his custodians.
'What think We now?" he asked thu
cavaliers. "Have I not proved the justice
of my three maxims: First, allow not thu
praise of friends to make thee proud; sec
ond, confide no secrets to woman; third
love not as thine the son of others?' Thi