Morning journal and courier., 1894-05-05

The roof in state of great excitement. After handing Haddsr letter he essayed to speak.
 .Wait minute, wait minute, oh, most faithful of the faithful Let's zee what this means first"
 Hastily glancing over the letters con l tents, with . ssntentious "More trouble, Harryl" he tossed the note to his friend.
 ssWell, Jack, I'm ruined If those Msnley women got here before I've accomplished something. Let's see. Why, Jack, it is postmarked Q month ago at Luzerne. Ten to one; they're here somewhere at this mo-
 "Mighty kind of those little wretches-- pretty lively siaters-in-law Emily and Cecil will makel-to disclose the intentions of the party to test our loyalty to Harriet and Edith, after we served the youngsters that trick at Paris, isn't 1t nowa" "9rand; but I'd rather contend with the Old One thvn lot of mischievous women with plenty of money, nothing but merry making on hand, no end of invention, and perhaps half convinced that we are really flirting with these shseted mummies around even escaping as far as Bishrah." "Nsyer! We'll remain right here, Har- ". Lst them find us If they can. We'll work away like little menlmeantims. Per haps we may turn their humor upon them selves. Blow off now, Ben, the Lazyl What's the matter, anyhow9" "Allah smiles on the Inglesy," replied the servant solemnly.
 "Weil, that's jolly, Jackl" and "Good for Allahi" rejoined the artists. -. :, At this sacrilege Mohsmmed Ben Lazl said prayer in:o the palms of his two hands, rubbed his hands over his face and as Harry observed, "This is really getting seriouel" proceeded: "A sheik makes pilgrimage. He is al ready gone. Inglesy shall paint his wives, who are little, little wicked for once, Ike Inglesyi" They sprapg upon him In mock ofiieious- ness with "O7er the garden wall you go this time, Ben, if this is another of your fine tricksR'
 But Mohammed Ben Lszi, still greatly concerned, half dragged them to corner of their roof, and pointed to the far ter group with the lorgnettes. They now eaw the same Moorish women regarding with the greatest attentiveness the little play with their captive servant; but the mo- msnt Ben Lszi pointed towards them they all disappeared precipitously with peals of | laughter within their abode.
 'sSee, seel' said Ben Lazi triumphantly. s!Allah has 80 willedW
 | -C Casselearth was nearly beside himself | with excitement and expectancy, but Mad | der busted himself with essential diploma
 "well, Ben, if this proves true. what are | you to get4"
 "Inglesy shall pay Mahommed Ben Lazl ! only one hundred francs for the great for tune."
 | 'sGood; but what are the absent sheik's naughty wives to receive" | "Not one roldi from Inglesy. They ven ture all for jest. Thrice divorce awaits | them if the sheik discovers. Their woman servant might reveal. Fifty francs tc her would not be much to purchase her si lence."
 "Donel When are we to come9'
 Tomorrow; three hours after first prayers of day. But Iuglesy must make vows."
 ''Jehosephatl More trouble Jack; groaned Casselearth, despairingly. "Giv, 1t a name, you willy Cerebusl"
 s1nglesy must enter the house of th' sheik no further than bidden. They mus speak no word to the women of the harem They must work only and go away. Si1 times shall they come-no more. Whel
 the picture is done the great lady (th
 first wifel shall have its likeness for he
 venturei"
 | "Duplicats, or photograph, he means
 Harry. All right. Fly, Ben. to you
 houris and tell them we accept grateful.
 all their miserable conditioner" e1clsime
 Madder, as Ben Lazl disappeared, evident
 ly remorseful at not having driven hard CT bargain.
 "In the name of paint and canvas, ho,
 am to do anything under these conditions
 We're to do nothing, say nothing. ba nc
 body but couple of peeping Tomsl Hoy
 can I compose . study under such circum
 stancess It's impossible" Remember the old adage about beggsr and choosers, Harry. We'll go, ready fo work and trust to luck. You catch every thing possible in form, color and exprei sion pertaining to the women, in whateve outlandish posture we may find them. r work in the architectural detail all aroun you. We'll do the lightning artist ae j that way; and may be get more than ou
 moneys worth after all from these caK tious and sinful women." Jack Nsdder's prophecy was happil more than fulfilled.
 II On arriving at the glaring white an . tomb-like walls of the absent shiek's abod Fl they were admitted behind the grate | street door into lofty vestibule, wher } the master of the house transacted bus 1 ness and received his male friends. The light was immediately excluded b rich hangings being drawn across the grai
 ing. From the vestibule they were brough through other grated doors to little col ner of the inner court. This had evidentl |. been temporarily cut of from the remain , der of the interior by curtains which fe in heavy folds from the ceiling to tn
 floor.
 T~ o14 -II G11
 med Ben Lszi proceeded to unpaek thei
 easels, arrange their paints and brushe
 and fasten in place their large canvas; al
 could judge from the structural relation
 of what they had already sssn, should b
 given a diagonal perspective of what tn l court might eventually disclose. Making the best of their enforced situs
 ton, but still with much suppressed grum
 bling and protest, they at last professe
 themselves ready for work. Ben Lazi dis
 appeared, and in 8 moment more, as if fl
 response to the musical tinkling of bell
 the curtains in front of their canvas wer
 swiftly and silently parted, when the tw
 the most gorgeous picture their eyea ha ever beheld.
 It was Q genuine Moorish patio or court ! A : quisitely carved marble horseshoe arche
 formed a colonnaile extending around tn
 entire quadrangle. These supported gal
 lery of precisely similar pattern, save ths
 where the arches reached the quaint tilip
 of the roof an entsblature of marvelou fretwork, as dainty as lines of driven foam
 was set in dazzling whiteness beneath tn
 ends of the red projecting tiles.
 Above was 8 reachiof sapphire sky.
 the shadowy depths of the gallery, oppc
 site where the artists stood, were dim out
 lines of white interior arches, hung wit
 curtains of crimson and gold, half conceal
 ing, yet half disclosing, the several apart
 ments of the harem's occupants At tn
 rear of the court cluster of banana tree
 and huge palm hid the kitchen and othe
 offices of the dwelling. Gorgeous vine
 clambered wantonly over column and arcl
 to the roof tiles and seemingly disappsare,
 in the eky's blue depths beyond, while Ii
 dazzling contrast to the marble whitenes
 of the gallery balustrade were scarfs, o
 jackets, or sashss, here and there care
 lessly flung upon the rail as If from idl
 female hands.
 More bewildering still to Casselearth an,
 Hadder was the human interest beneath
 Just opposite them, a little to the left O
 the center of the court and trihe beyont
 Aoor1sh women. A master painter could
 not have more effectively composed thei
 attitude and acesssories.
 Five were evidently the absent eheik'
 wives, or other inmates of the harem
 Two, ravishingly beautiful and formin,
 the nearest central figures, were half re ' fS1rRo at fFr1I vAr, IL