The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-03-23
her agitation. Jusephi, coming nearer

dShtu.
"What dost hide from meP"
Nothing, absolutely nothing. What is
there new from the fountain?"
81 know not, but l do know that thou
dost hide something from me-"
''No, no, l assure you"
"Well, let me see what thou hast in that
shawl"
''No, no, dear Jusephi no. 1t is ter.
rible secret"
'Ah, thou fearest thy Jusephi. So be it.
shall act the same with thee, and shall
not tell thee what my husband hath
brought back from his last excursion"
do not be angry, pray. Think. On
my discretion may depend my husbands
life. Judge, therefore, whether l should
not be discreet"
81 judge not, but I shall also be dis
Greet with thee"
"Well, then, two words, but ask no
more. In this shawl have falcon of
the first order, and if 1 eat it, says a sooth-
sayer, shall become mother"
"Dost speak truly2"
"Really and truly"
ooh, star of my eyes, give me part
of it."
NoG 1or any price.
"Only leg"
mot a particle"
"Assan, heart OF my heart, only piece
of the wing, little bit, mouthful.
Jusephi EN- braced her friend and prayed
and lamented with such ardor that poor
weak Assam gave way and presented her
foster sister with an entire wing of the
falcon.
"What good fortunel' cried Jusephi.
II also will be a mother. How Murcha
and Bella will envy usp'
mo doubt. But, dear Jusephi, not a
word"
"Canst thou suppose itP"
because, thou seest, it is the favorite
falcon of the prince"
"In truth? Why, the thought makes me
afraid. But how to arrange it?"
"My husband will say that the falcon
hath flown. hope in this way it will re-
main unknown, and none will know of il. "
The two women, talking of their future
maternity, together devoured the miracu-
lous bird and separated with reciprocal
promises Of secrecy and discretion. Not
withstanding her promises, Jusephi could
not retain her secret. She confided it to
the first woman she met on her way home,
with strict injunctions as to silence. BY
nightfall all the tribe knew the story.
The prince ON his return called to him
his faithful Chatym, and, after varied
conversation, asked for his favorite falcon.
Chatym Frustrated himself at his masters
feet, and with sorrowful voice informed
him that the falcon had flown and had
probably been devoured by eagles.
Rise" said the prince, displeased, but
still merciful, ''it is misfortune, and we
shall seek to repair it"
But by night the prince heard that
which the enemies. of Chatym were joyful
ly relating, and, ordering Assam TO be
brought before him, he soon drew from
her the whole story. Furious at having
been betrayed, the prince resolved to pun.
ish his old servant in most exemplary
manner. He ordered him to be conducted
before him and then said:
"For 20 years have placed my trust in
thee, and thou, miserable one, hast be-
trayed me. Who knoweth how many
times thou hast wronged thy lord and lied
to himP Prepare to die. Tomorrow is
thy last day on earth"
The cavaliers surrounded the condemn
ed and prepared to conduct him to prison.
The weeping Assam approached her hus-
band and asked his pardon.
"Rend not thy veil, ;" said Chatym sor-
rowfully, 'nor tear thy hair. 1 pardon
thee. May the will of Allah and the prince
be done. And ye, friends, come near and
hear what have to say"
Chatym threw upon bench two large
bags of gold.
Here" said he, "is my treasure. Soon
I will need it no longer. wish to dis
tribute it among those love-"
At these words all around came near,
looking at the bags with avaricious eyes,
"Now," said Chatym, with an ironical
smile, 81 wish to divide evenly without
disseminating any one. shall give part
to my wife, another to the cavaliers who
were so long my comrades, third to my
adopted son Aster, and fourth to that
person who, executing the orders of the
prince, shall tomorrow strangle me-"
The cavaliers, fascinated by the shining
gold, murmured among themselves.
"Well," said Chatym, "who among ye
will execute the orders of the princeY"
"Listen," cried the boy Aster, advanc-
ing to the prisoner. "Why should those
nearest to thee abandon this task to 9TH
ers? l myself will execute the sentence
of the prince"
"Ah, son of a viper,' cried the startled
Chatym. "NOw, indeed, know thee"
He then turned to his custodians.
"What think ye now?" he asked the
cavaliers. "Have l not proved the justice
of my three maxims: First, allow not the
praise of friends to make thee proud; sec
ond, confide no secrets to woman; third,
love not as thine the son of others?' This
is the experiment which promised to
make. Ye now have no reason for envy
ing me. And / shall continue in the faith
full service of my lord"
"WhatP' exclaimed the stupefed cava-
liers. 'And the falconP"
Chatym turned to his wife.
"My beloved Assam" he said, "thou
hast eaten a vulgar chicken. Go and tell
the prince that his falcon, safe and sound,
is confined in one of the halls of the pal
ace. TRANSLATED From the Italian For
St. Paul Pioneer Press.