Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-09-22


Within an hour the Grand Vizier,
with his escort of 500 men, left the cap
ital; Osman, as he parted with his
friend the Refs Efendi, observed sim
ply: The game of chess is adjourned.
The Grand Vizier, on reaching Adri-
anople, proceeded Immediately to the
house Of the Governor of Roumelia, and
had him executed on the spot. Having
also put to death several of his creatures
and officials who had been guilty of the
grOSsest tyranny and eXtoFtiOn. and
also those who had been in any way i'm
plicated in the projected rising, he re-
placed, to the great Joy OF ALL his father
in his former position of Governor Of
ROumelia. and fastened back TO report
to his majesty that the province was
now perfectly contented and loyal.
The Sultan was delighted with the
prOmptitude and energy of his new
Grand Vizier. He began from this time
to rely on his judgment and to take his
advice on every occasion, and for a
time Osman ruled the empire with I'M
questioned authority and conspicuous
success, and whether the games were
lost or won-and Osman was too pru-
dent often to win-the terrible claws
of the imperial tiger remained sheathed
in velvet.
One afternoon he took occasion on
winning a game to address Osman as
follows: MY good Grand Vizier. no
tice that in these little friendly contests
of ours you seldom win. Now. I like
not to play with one who puts not out
n esre.
smile he continued: Probably the
stakes are now too trivial TO make It
worth while for you to exert your full
powers. This must be remedied. on
my part will stake one of my daughters:
you shall, If you win have her to wife,
and with her a dowery of two hundred
purses OF gold. And you on your side
must / suppose, play for the stake you
played for at first, and then, you re-
member, you won in five moves, and
easily enough"
Your Majesty" said Osman. who
saw at once that the temper of the Sui
tan had changed, and who entertained
no doubt but that his own fate was al
ready determined upon. whatever
stakes you decree must, of course. be
accepted, but this time I have no new
gambit to pit against your unrivalled
and ever victorious skill"
The Sultan appreciated the compli-
ment, but it did not cause him alter
his decision.
The afternoon of the next day was
liked as the time appointed for the
! playing of this fateful game During
| the interval Osmah pondered deeply on
the best course to pursue in the pre-,
| dlcament in which. be now found him
self. He was in little doubt that even
though he should win this game. an
| other equally mOmentons would follow.
and that nothing could avail 10 keep
| his head on his shoulders il Murad had
as he shrewdly suspected, determined
to get rid of him. Yet it was clear that.
under these circumstances, to win
would probably be less Immediately
fatal than to lose; it might for a short
time delay, if ii could not avert, the
end that seemed inevitable There
fore, when, on the following afternoon,
the Grand Vizier faced the Sultan at
the chess board each of these good
! players sat down determined to wiz
if he possibly could manage it.
They we're not alone. A large num-
Der of the great officers and high Off
Gals Of the state and the palace werc
watching the game which might so
suddenly terminate the brief and bril-
liant career Of one of the players
Every move was followed with the
keenest interest. The game was fought
with great skill and indomitable pa
tience by both contestants. II lasted
! long, and the chances of victory and
defeat still held an even balance.
It was the Grand Vizier's turn. He
moved his piece, when suddenly it
flashed upon him that the move was a
mistaken one. Virtually it sealed his
fate. Unless the Sultan should by
some extraordinary Obtuseness over
look the opportunity afforded him.
three moves would at once terminate
the game and cut short the life of Os-
man. He dared not raise his eyes
from the board, lest his glance should
! involuntarily betray to the Sultan his
consciousness Of the blunder he had
committed.
For some time the whole assembly
sat silent and motionless. The Sultan
made no move What could be the
cause of his delay? Was he gloating
over the assurance Of victory and pur-
posely prolonging the anxiety and APP
prehensiOn of his victim, or could it
be possible that he had really failed to
observe the opportunity provided for
him and was still considering undecid-
ed his next move?
The pause continued so long that Os-
man ventured at length to raise his
! eyes to his adversary. Rather than
such suspense it would be preferable TO
| know the worst AS he looked up a
strange sight met his gaze. The Sui
tan sat with his head bent down; the
| afternoon was sultry and at the very
crisis of the battle he had fallen asleep.
There was little doubt that when he
awoke the first glance must reveal the
opportunity that was presented to him.
Meanwhile none dared to disturb
! him. and the unhappy Osman was COM
PEELED to await, with as much patience
and fortude as he could command,
the tragic and inevitable result
No man in that large assembly eth
er spoke or stirred With calm, I'M
rufied demeanor truly Oriental, they
sat silent and watchful till the Sultan
should awake and deign to continue
the game which his sleep had so sud
denly interrupted Silence reigned in
the court without no less than within
the hall itself.
At length the call to prayer of the
Muezzin on the mosque resounded
through the heavy air: Come to pray
or. come to prayer. God is most great
,,1n,.n f. No Cod hut Cod" Still the