The record-union., 1894-05-05

upon every object in the great distance
between city hight and mountain oase
| tinge of the opal's creamy pink.
The artist had not only reproduced a
remarkable scene, but had succeeded IN
conveying by it a volume of suggestive
ness, which is the highest possible ex-
preston of art. One seemed to hear the
| innumerable sounds of an awakening
city. Y ou listened before the canvas for
| the muezzin's call to prayers at the
mosques. The pigeons, soaring TAR
downward, not upward, into space, con-
centered gaze and contemplation, while
| half revealed animate and lnanlmate lie
/ III posture and tone told, without words,
| the mysticism, the sensuouSneSs ana Lhe
hopeless enthrallment OF oriental lie.
| Casselearth had chosen score OF sub
! jects, Among these were the bazars,
Moorish women at the fountains, ha-
| bayle caravans, Moorish women at the
| khouba where they are supposed To pray,
but in reality visit among the graves, an
Algerian cafe, negro sacrifices by the sea.
the Aissaoui, trial before a cadi, group
of camelS, MoSlems at prayer IN the
| grand mosque, an Algerian market scene,
street artisans of Algiers,a a Moslem burial,
and the flowers OF the terrace comprising
group of Algerian women emboWered
| in flowers and shrubs upon the roofs at
! sunset.
But none of these filled his measure of
ambition. Because the artists now re-
] allied what all should know, that no rep
resentatlon OF life in the harem has ever
been painted from living models actually
existing in Moslem household, he was
determined to accomplish that feat, II
within human possibility.
| Their wise servant, negro Moslem,
Mohammed Ben Lazi, proficient in
| French, English and Arab patois, and
cunning beyond all servants in extract
| ing coin for continually blasted hopes,
| had innumerable times pretended to
having all but secured the coveted PRIV
| ilege.
! sBismallah! Bismallah!" he would cry,
with tears of anguish streaming down MS
| shining face as he announced successive
defeats, "Aalah has otherwise wllled to
InglesyW
knowledge of their longings, their
| plots and their defeats had been whis-
pered along the terraces. Fair Moorish
women had even made merry at their
expense as they schemed and tolled
One group, dozen or SO terraces away,
had OF late been seen regarding them GU
riously with lorgnettes, apparently laugh
| ing and taunting as they looked.
II will accomplish it," at last desper-
ately vowed Casselearth, IF | am COM
PEELED to dig through roof walls and steal
my views OF genuine harems."
"And get dragged off TO a French
court with the populace of the Arab
wouldn't be bad study in ITSELF" re-
piled Madder nonchalantly. ''Pll paint
and sell the picture and get you out OF
hook with the proceeds. But what's up
now?"
| Mohammed Ben Lazi had come upon
the roof in a state OF great excitement.
After handing Madder letter he essay ed
to speak.
| "Wait a minute; wait minute, oh
most faithful of the faithful! Let's see
what this means first"
| Hastily glancing over the letters con-
| tents, with a sententlouS More trouble,
| Harry" he tossed the note to his friend.
"Well, Jack, Pm ruined if those Man
| ley women get here before I've accom-
plished something. Let's see. Why,
| Jack. it is poStmarked a month ago at
Luzerne. Zen to one they're here some
where at this momentW
| mighty kind of those little wretches-
| pretty lively sisters-in-law Emily and
| Cecil will make!-to disclose the inten-
| tions Of the party to test our loyalty to
Harriet and Edith, after we served the
youngsters that trick at Paris, isn't it,
now?o
"Grand; but I'd rather contend with
| the Old One than 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
sheeted mummies around US. Pm for
slipping away to Blidah, or even escap-
/ ing as tar as Biskrah.o
sNever! Well remain right here,
Harry Let them find us if they can.
| Well work away like little men mean
time. Perhaps we may turn their hui
/ NOR upon themselves. Blow Oft now,
Ben, the Lazy! What's the matter. any
how?"
"Allah smiles on the Inglesy." replied
| the servant sOlemnly.
swell, that's jolly, Jack" and "Good
| for Allah!" rejoined the artists.
/ At this sacrilege Mohammed Ben Lazi
said prayer into the palms Of his two
hands, rubbed his hands over his face,
and. as Harry observed, This is really
getting seriousv' proceeded:
"a sheik makes pilgrimage. He is
already gone. Inglesy shall paint his
wives who are little, little wicked for
/ once, like Inglesyw
BUSINESS with, 'Over the garden wall you
go this time, Ben, if this another of your
| tine trickS!"
But Mohammed Ben Lazi still greatly
concerned, half dragged them to corner
of their roof and pointed to the far ter
race where they had recently observed
! the group with the lorgnettes. They
now saw the same Moorish women re-
garding, with the greatest attentiyeness,
| the little play with their captive servant,
but the moment Ben Lazi pointed to-
ward them, they all disappeared precip-
itously with peals OF laughter within
their abode.
s.See, seel" said Ben Lazi triumph
antly. "Allah has so willed!'
,.lx Il. L. .o1p
with excitement and expectancy, but
Madder busted himself with essential
diplomacy.
"Well. Ben, if this proves true, what
are you to get?"
'ipglesy shall pay Mohammed Ben
Lazi only one hundred francs for the great
fortune"
..Good; but what are the absent sheik's
naughty wives 10 receive?''
"Not one soldi from Inglesy. They
venture all for jest. Thrice divorce
awaits them if the sheik discovers. Their
woman servant might reveal. Fifty
francs to her would not be much to pur-
chase her silence"
"Done! When are we to come?''
"To-morrow; three hours after first
prayers of day. But Inglesy must make
vows.n
"Jehosophat! More trouble. Jack,''
groaned Casselearth despairingly. "Give
it name. you willy Cerberusi'
"Inglesy must enter the house of the
sheik no further than hidden. They
must speak no word TO the women of the
harem. They must work only and go
away. Six times shall they come-no
more. When the picture is done, the
great lady (the first wifel shall have its
likeness for their venture.'
duplicate, or photograph, he means,
Harry. All right Fly, Ben, to your
houris and tell them we accept gratefully
all their miserable conditionsi" ex-
claimed Madder as Ben Lazi disappeared,
evidently remorseful at not having driven
harder bargain.
I'm the name of paint and canvas how