The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-02-03

naruR when cnorus OF screams came ring
ing ont of the remote darkness beyond.
Baruk was let alone. There was fun ahead
that prohibited dallying.
1.-The inner chamberi'' screeched the
guide "The inner chamber, my lord May
God and the holy prophet protect metz he
added to himself tragically. surely l
shall be burned alive for this and never
taste the bliss Of the faithful. Never were
, the sanctities of the hareln and our holy re-
ligion so profaned before"
Sulelman, in another mood, was using
unhallowed language in front, because we
were again In a mage of deep darkness, from
which there appeared to be no outlet.
"Perdition seize thee, where art thou
now. thou varlct of the bedchamber?" he
called angrily to Baruk. by the prophets
sword, this dagger quivereth for feshy
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 his
mouth" answered Baruk promptly. THE
press is lessened. / will lead"
Let me take hold of thy skirt then. for
] have not the eyes of cat )" said Suleiman.
Thou feelest that point--yea, that shrink
ing answereth for thee. Now, my gazeile,
get us on if thou wouldst not be in the hall
OF Eblis this night"
We passed on through sufrocating waves
of perfume, past rustling curtains of ines
timable value, over Persian rugs that were
like deep beds of moss under foot-up stairs
aud down stairs and around more corners
than Christian architect ever dreamed Of.
Another door few into splinters, and we
found overseves in a Eorgeously decorated
apartment ilumined by swinging lamps
that emitted delectable odor and full of
struggling men and women. Crumpled,
dishcvelcd embrOideries, 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
A few of the women were negro slaves, in
coarse, scanty raimcnt, but the majority
were delicately 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,
poor 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-
casionally 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 an unoccupied spectator the details Of
the scrlmmage would have been comical
enough. Sometimes t'so 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 swift appraising glance
about tho room
THE queen--which is the queen" he de-
manded of Baruk.
''She is not here, my lord" answered the
quakinE Baruk.
Not here, thou dog! And wherefore are
we here? Wouldst thou have thy blood
spilled ere thou art minute oldcrf BY
this red blade, will have none of thy tar
rying and wavering,"
Baruk took step forward in quiyering
IrepluhllOut 4NOl ull bLtlublG NlAlpub
cause, for some Of the women spying him
were ut him like tigresses, soreeching that
| be had betrayed them.
This is unseemly,' said Sulciman, In
tervening. "Nedo your loveliness wrong. =
| "rhe wretch Is n traitor they Cluinored.
''lIe hath betrayed us. We will have his
eyes out for the dishonor"
NAY, nay, my charming ones" said Su-
lehman, with the most gallant air imagin-
| able. "Ie do him injustice. Never was
| keeper Of beauty so faithful to his trust
| He hath conducted us hther, o lights of
our souls OH tue sharp compulsion Of steel
| Unreasonable man, 10 deny us entrance to
such a paradisel l protest | nearly slew
| him at the thought of what lie would
| withhold from us. Far and fast have we
ridden on unniatchable ones for the heav-
emily joy OF looking upon you, aud now we
PROSTATE ourselves at your feet
In spite Of their rage, the ladies could not
| help smiling at the lnsinuating sweetness
| OF Suleiman.
BE comforted, ye who are as the stars in
glory and Brightness he went on. This
guardian of your angelic slumbers hath
not been false. But the times are strange,
| opeerless prncesses. Men are not masters
| In their own houses. Even the mighty
Amood Sim hath tasted defeat and is no
longer able to rule his palace"
Such of the ladies as were dsengaged
clasped their hands, turned their eyes to
heaven, and with one accord screamed.
"Slay me for cuusinS yon pain, ye ador
able ones,' pleaded Suleialan. Il VOW we
deserve death for thus disturbing yonl
meditations. Yet MUST ] nAk one question
Is the beauteous flower, the queen, withini
Business brooketh no delay, else would W.
tarry to sip honey off your lips, . ye en-
| ehautressCs"
Jealousy is an ever active fire in til,
harenl. There was probably not one amons
them who would not have rejoiced in he
heart TO see the rcigning beauty cast from
the window, but deceit knows how TO b.
| discreet Never would they permit unhal
lowed strangers to pollute their beautita
queen by looking upon her, not so long a
| they had breath to defend her. lntimatinl
this, as many rs were free holtcd througl
an inner door, slamming and fastening
behind them.
Make haste,n said Suleiman. ave mus
not lose them. They will guide us to IN
Queen"
[ro NE CONTINUED