The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-06-11
closely the magnificent animal by your

closely the magnificent animal by your
side?"
''You are welcome, - replied Ickbal Ha-
noun, smiling with the instructive hospi-
tality of the oriental, and advancing to the
stairs she aided the princesses to land and
ND the water stained steps of white Mar
mora marble.
The moon illumined the garden and
house with a soft lighv The princesses'
bediamonded ornaments sparkled, and the
folds of their feredjes OF soft brousse silk
were silvered by the rays of this orb that
never seems SO beautiful as beneath an
oriental sky.
"Who are you, sitti?' asked the elder
of the two princesses. Tell us your story
and all about yourself. You look like q
fairy in the midst of all these flowers"
Ickbal Hanoum confided all her troubles
to the princesses, who desired to see her
embroidery at once. Iokbal brought forth
a piece on which were embroidered roses
surrounded by gold and silver leaves and
spread it before their delighted eyes.
"Why, this is superb" they cried.
"We shall take it as once. How much dc
you want for it?''
II would like to have s15 for it," VEN
tured Ickbal Hanoum timidiy. an
You shall have $50, and it's cheap at
that" said the princess. 1--WE pay much
more for such things from Zenope."
''He is the very Armenian who bought
my work" exclaimed Ickbsi HAnoum.
"Well, we shall take his place." the
princess declared.
Ickbal Hanoum, delighted and much
moved by their kindness, respectfully
kissed the ends of their wells after having
pressed them to her brow. "You are my
benefactors," she said. IT do not know
how to thank you for your kindness, +" and
radiant smile lit up her sad, pretty face.
The elder of the two princesses looked
at her attentively. 'You are young and
attractive" she said. why do you not
marry?"
II have not had time to think of it, nor
have any desire to do SO, for I am devot-
ed to the memory of my dear hey, whom
shall never cease to mourn"
1--WE shall see as to that" replied the
princesses, and they prepared to 60
Ickbal Hanoum respectfully attended
them down the stairs and assisted them to
embark in their pretty caique. Leaning
on the parapet-alone again, but consoled
she watched the skiff until it was lost
in the light haze toward the palace of Bey-
Ter Bey.
s'They are sultanas, she said to her
self as she turned toward the house, still
accompanied by Boso. She supped with
light heart, tete-a-tete with her dog The
disloyal little servant, divining her mis-
tress' distress, had not come back, but
had remained in the great harem near by,
where she was sure to get new gowns and
unlimited mutton pilau. In her place
hal into
old woman who had known misfortune,
and who was more devoted to her than the
little migrate had been.
One day the princesses sent the eunuch
In the caique for Ickbal to attend fete in
the harem. While the dancers were whirl-
ing, their heads thrown back, shaking
their wealth of hair strung with sequins
and the Arab musicians were making the
tambourines and tarabouckas resound, the
prince, Izzet Pasha, suddenly appeared in
the harem, in 1agrant violation of the
rules of Mussulman propriety, which for
bid man to enter his own harem while
strange women are there. He brought
the startling news that the Khedive Ismail
of Egypt had been dethroned and succeed
ed by his son.
AS many of the ladies were Egyptians,
this news concerned them deeply The
strange ladies retired hastily. Ickbal
Hanoum wished to follow them, but the
princesses detained her, and in spite Of
her confusion before the prince she was
compelled to remain, trying to conceal her
face as best she might with an end of her
veil. Izzet Pasha could not behold her with
out being struck by her beauty When a
Turk thinks he loves woman, he is vio-
lent and memorable. The next day he
learned who Ickbal Hanoum was, and the
young woman's security was destroyed
for his love was like a raging tempest.
One moonlit night Ickbal Hanoum saw a
caique approaching, in which were the
prince and january. Izzet Pasha quick
ly assembled the stairs and went straight
to the frightened young woman, who was
holding the growing Boso by the collar
II love you, he declared impetuously,
"and I can neither rest nor sleep until you
shall have responded to my love-
What would your wife, my benefac-
tress, 'says" Ickbal Hanoum replied, turn
ing pale.
THE princess need concern herself with
but one thing-to submit to my good
pleasure, - replied Izzet Pasha violently.
II will never be a party to treason
which would cause her SO much pain,"
Ickbal Hanoum replied. 'Be merciful,
prince, and leave me"
''By Allah, I will not!' cried the
prince, and he was about to seize her in
his arms when, with a fierce growi, Boso
sprang upon him and buried his teeth in
his shoulder.
In an instant the prince whipped out
pistol and fired a shot at the dog. It did
not kill him, and the prince was just fir
ing again when Ickbal Hanoum threw
herself between them and received the sec
ond bullet full in her heart.
With moan she sank dying at her muir
derer's feet, and the dying dog crawled to
her and began to lick her hands, whining
piteously the while.
/ The old servant, running up at this mo-
ment, stood frozen with horror at the ter
rible spectacle that met her eyes. The
prince stood motionless, the smoking pis-
tol still in his hand, his january few
steps behind him, with scimiter barred,
while Ickbal Hanoum lay pale and mani
mate among the flowers, her lifeblood
slowly ebbing from the wound in her
breast, and beside her crouched Boso.
AT this moment the sound of guzlas and