Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-06-06
AT ATL0TE,SC0HMAND
By JOHN 4. sTEUART.
copyright, 1885, by John Alexander steuart.!

He wrling his hands and would have
weot but that the point of 4 dagger made
him leap in the air.
Thou hast forgotten that we are in a
hurry" said 5uleiman. Go on"
He made another effort and failed as be-
fore.
1.-THE thing cannot be done, my lord,n
he gibbered in despair.
1--WE will see," replied Suleiman.
The dagger pricked and Baruk screamed.
Like plunging horse, he sprang as the
solid mass and came back like water from
a rock.
Thou art of no avail in thy own house."
said Suleiman. do thou guide and will
make way for thee"
Keeping his dagger on a-level with the
small of a mans back, Suleiman drove
ahead, the other covering close behind him
for protection, and we reSolutely support
ing. Progress, however, was slow, for the
light was bad, the block exceedingly great
and the fallen were troublesome under foot.
But Suleiman's dagger was very busy
quietly busy, dealing blows that were un-
failingly effective and we made steady way.
Baruk wept Historically at intervals, de-
claring his master would have him behead-
ed, and leaped Ike Il roe at every prod from
behind.
Back, far back, we went along such
course as hope never to travel again. at
last Baruk, writhing as if the death agony
were upon him, touched with the tip Of his
finger what seemed to be a panel in the
wall. The next instant there was crash
of splintering wood and rending iron. and
through the broken door came gush OF
warm perfume. "The hours, my dove"
said Suleiman. 'The houris." The men at
hisback, shouting, wildly strained for para
disc, all except the guide, who groaned dis
mally as if he were on the brink OF the pit.
Surging forward, we entered narrow
passage heavy with incense and darkened
by massy curtains Then, bursting an
other door, we came to q tapestried cham
ber Suleiman growled at finding it empty
and was turning to have satisfaction out of
Baruk when chorus of screams came ring
ing out of the remote darkness beyond.
Baruk was let alone There"was fun ahead
that prohibited dallying.
1.-The inner chamber!" screeched the
guide 1.-THE inner chamber, my lord! May
God and the holy prophet protect me!' he
added to himself tragically. Surely |
- snail Uc DuEItil llhC loiS pAllS 'tiA't ~ -
taste the bliss of the faithful. Never were
the sanctities of the harem and our holy re-
ligion so profaned before!'
Suleiman, in another mood, was using
unhallowed language in front, because we
we're again in maze Of deep darkness, from
which there appeared to be no outlet.
''Perdit!on seize thee, where art thou
now, thou varlet of the bedchamber?" he
called angrily to Baruk. ''By the prophets
sword, this dagger quivereth for tieshy
sheath. Thou shalt never escape alive if
there is more trouble or delay"
Surely my lord, know these passages
as blind man knoweth the way to h,
mouth" answered Baruli promptly. ''r9e
press is lessened. will lead"
~ Let me take hold of thy skirt then, for
have not the eyes OF Il cat" said SUleiman.
Thou feelesJ thai ponJ-yea, that shrink
ing answcreth for thee. Now, my gazelle,
get us Oh if thou woudst not be in the hall
of Eblis this night"
We passed on through suGocating waves
Of perfume, past rustling curtains OF ines
timable value, over Persian rugs that were
like deep beds Of moss under foot-up stairs
and down stairs and around more corners
than Christian architect ever dreamed OF.
Another door flew into sp!interS, and we
found overselves in Il gOrCeoUSly decorated
apartment illumined by swingin" lamps
that emitted Gclectable odor aid full OF
struggling men and women. Crumpled,
disheveled embroider.es torn fans, broken
musical instruments and various articles
of toilet were strewn about the floor, for
the ladies and their attendants, not sus-
pecting the fate of their lord, had been
taken by surprise in the midst of music,
gossip and needlework.
I A few of the women were negro slaves, in
coarse, scanty raiment, but the majority
were delicateIy clothed ladies of the harem
whose manifold charms were an eloquent
testimony to Amood's appreciation OF di-
verse kinds of female loveliness Fair Cir
cassians there were, and tawny Egyptians,
and thick Tipped Ethiopians, and black
eyed Arabs, with other bellies Of indefinite
hue and varying attraction. Most OF them
were young, indeed some were mere girls,
and all were plump and fragrant as a
musk OK.
They were in sad plight and disorder,
Door things, their wells being rUdcly torn
from their faces, their gauzy robes made
into ribbons by men who respected not the
sacredness of .Amood,s domestic circle. Oc-
casionaIly the elder ones fought with their
captors, displaying no small skill in the
use of their claws, but the younger ones, to
whom the mere sight OF strangers was pol
luton, shrank into alcoves and corners,
painting like captured does, and were easier
prizes.
TO IN uroccupied spectator the details Of
the scrimmage would have been comical
enough. Sometimes two men strove for
one woman, and sometimes one man tried
desperately to secure two ladies. Generally
speaking, however, one lady was as much
as the boldest could well manage, and, in
the case Of the older vixens, at times more.
Suleiman cast q swift aprcaising glance
about the room.
1.-THE queen-which is the Queen?" he de-
manded of Baruk.
'iShe is not here, my lord," answered the
quaking bGruh.
Not here, thou dog! And wherefore are
we here? Wouldst thou have thy blood
spilled ere thou art minute older? By
this red blade, l will have none of thy tar
rying and wavering."
! Baruk took step forward in quireriDg
trepidation. Nor did he tremble without
cause, for some OF the women spying MN
were at him like tigresses, screeching that
he had betrayed them.
This is unseemly," said Suleiman, in
tervening. 'Yedo your loveliness wrong"
1.-The wretch is n traitor" they clamored.
HE hath betrayed us. We will have his
eyes out for the dishonor."
''Nay, nay, my charming ones" said SUI
LEHMAN, with the most gallant air imagin-
able. ''Ye do him injustice Never was
keeper Of beauty 50 faithful to his trust.
He hath conducted us hither, O lights Of
our souls, on the sharp compulsion OF steel.
Unreasonable man, to deny US entrance to
such q paradise! l protest l nearly slew
him at the thought Of what he would
withhold from us. Far and fast have we
ridden on unmatckable ones for the heav-
enly joy of looking upon you, and now we
PROSTATE ourselves at your feet"
In spite of their rage, the ladies could not