The record-union., 1894-05-05
which fell in heavy folds from the ceiling

! faSteu IN place the1r large CANVAS, al III
such manner that the artists, as they
could judge from the structural relations
of what they had already seen. should be
/ given diagonal perspective of what the
| court might eventually disclose.
| Making the best of their enforced sltua-
ton, but still with much suppressed
grumbling and protest, they at last pro-
fessed themselves ready for work. Ben
1 Lazi disappeared, and. in moment more.
as if in response to the musical tinkling
of bell, the curtains in front of their
canvas were swiftly and silently parted,
when the two artists stood in amazed al
miration before the most gorgeous picture
their eyes had ever beheld.
1t was a genuine Moorish patio or court.
Slender spiral columns of onyx beneath
exquisitely carved marble horseshoe
arches formed a colonnade extending
around the entire quadrangle. These sup
ported gallery of precisely similar pat
term save that where the arches reached
the quaint tiling of the roof, an entab-
lature of marvellous fretwork, as dainty
as lines of driven foam, was set in daz-
zling whiteness beneath the ends of the
red, projecting tiles.
/ Above was a reach of sapphire sky. In
the shadowy depths OF the gallery, op-
posite where the artists stood, were dim
outlines of white interior arches, hung
with curtains of crimson and gold, half
/ IcOnC6dllI3, Net Hall QISClOSlllS. bHO cCF-
eral apartments of the harem's occu-
pants. At the rear of the court cluster
of banana trees and a huge palm hid the
kitchen and other offices of the dwelling.
i Gorgeous vines clambered wantonly over
column and arch to the roof tiles and
seemingly disappeared in the sky's blue
| depth beyond: while in dazzling contrast
to the marble whiteness of the gallery
/ balustrade were scarfs, or jackets, or
sashes here. and there carelessly flung
upon the rail, as if from idle female hands.
More bewildering still to Casselearth
and Madder was the human interest be-
meath. Just opposite them, little TO the
left Of the center of the court and q trifie
beyond the murmurous fountain, was
group of Moorish women. A master
painter could not have more effectively
composed their attitude and accessories.
Five were evidently the absent sheik's
wives, or other inmates of the harem.
Two, ravishngly beautiful and forming
the nearest central figures, were half re-
clining at full length upon gorgeous
Persian rugs. They were facing each
other, their lovely heads resting in their
henna-stained hands, in turn supported
by their elbows, giving the artists full
view of the face. neck, breast and arms
of one, and of the profile, head, arms.
shoulders, back waist and limbs of the
other; while their attitude was one of
loving embrace.
Behind these, giving three figures to
the central group, was another, younger
if not fairer, leaning against a column of
the colonnade and softly drumming a
guitar. To the left, the eldest, still a
rarely beautiful woman, was sitting with
her side and back to the artists, mon
strous bare-armed negress, whom they
afterwards knew as Fatma. lazily plait
ing the heavy folds of her sable hair;
while to the right of all, her bare feet
dabbling in the spray Of the fountain.
and her bare shoulders like creamy mar
BILE in the sunlight, was the youngest of
the harem, one arm reaching back to the
floor tiling in dainty support, and the
other stretched outward aud upward to-
ward white and huttering doves. which
she lured from the roof above to her tiny
finger tips with protfered food.
Never before were artists so thrilled by
canvas or by scene. Never were artists
so ecstatic and impetuous IN their work.
And never were artists so Increasingly
bewildered as when, coming day after
day to their hourly sittings-interrupte
only by drawn curtains for the harems
rest and their own refreshments of coffee
and violet sherbet, silently served by
Fatma on seeneeyeh of silver and koorsee
of inlaid mother pearl, in cups and
fiagons of gilt, with spoons Of tortoise
shell-to find every pose, every attitude
and every accessory reproduced for them
i'm the most faithful and minute detail.
They had toiled like heroes, fearful of
the harem's captiousness or some unfore-
seen mischance, and not until nearly the
end of the fifth days labor had they felt
| sufficiently secure for an inStant'S COM
ment upon their subjects or their extra
ordinary situation.
sGreat Scott!' ventured Madder, sure
of their models ignorance of the English
tongue, 'now if we are ever lucky enough
to marry into the Manley family and the
ladies would only let their limbs out like
these, our fortunes would certainly be
NADER
"Nonsenser' returned his companion
warmly, american and English women
are about as tractable as cast iron to an
artist. Finest wives under the sun; but
grand as those Manley ladies are, put
them in poses like these, and in ten sec
onds they would be all drawn into the
shape of sawhorses with perfect collie of
assumed modesty."
"Or would shrek in horror and run
away. Confound it, Harry, let's waylay
the Sheilz and elope with the entire out
fitn
agreed Jack. I've noticed more than
one kindly glance already from their
kohl-circled eyes. Ben Lazi would do
away with the old wretch for less than a
hundred francs. Bring our work right
into the place, eh? Whew What would
Harriet and Edith say ii they could hear
US going on this way?"
lived get the sack, sure! But Harry,
do you know you're painting all those
Manley ladies here. rather than these
Moorish womenY'
Cant help it, Jack. I've tried my
best to keep their forms and features out
of the composition. | can't do it alto
gether; what's up now?'
The artists were here startled by the
quick drawing of the curtains, while
smothered laughter from the harem was
distinctly audible.
"Short shift to-day! Times not nearly
up, either. They can't defeat us now.
You're bound for the Paris salon, Harry,
Edith or no Edith ~ With which they
withdrew to their workshop on the dis
tant terrace.
They were promptly at work the next
morning with the flash of victory upon
them, for drawing and detail were now
so perfected that nothing short OF COM
plete destruction of Casselearth's canvas
could prevent it's successful completion.
In this condition of feeling they were
indulging in further light and airy badi-
mage.
jack insisted Casselearth with some
feeling, m half in love with the entire
harem, and wholly in love with that CEN
tral figure facing US. To me she IS EDITH
woman. If lose Edith, I'll return here
for that houri if have to murder the old
sheilS myself!'
by Jupiter! That's precisely my
feeling for her companion, the one with
her face half turned this way. III make
the same confession about her. Well be
companions In crime, and divide the
harem between uSt'
The words were no more than spoken
when the silvery bell again rang and the
curtains closed in upon them.
sOur sentiments seem to have an odd
! offpct 1,nor the machinery of this DiaCov'