The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-10-25

Ieau me. Ijy Unc increased cUTUTn1ss OF TYie
air l conjectured that we were crossing the
river Iii few seconds the old woman turn
ed TO the right, but we were not quitting the
banks of the Zend- Dehroud l could hear
its turbulent waters rolling by and break
ing for an instant against the arches of
the bridge. At last my guide paused, a
key grated and in whisper she said:
$50 up
Five steps only, and then felt that my
feet were pressing soft, thick carpet. At
the same moment she removed the hand
kcrchief. l found myself in small room
dimly lighted by copper lamp. Incense
was burning in a richly chased censor rest
ing upon Ia table of red and green mosaic,
and filling the room with those oriental
odors which intoxicate one like the fra
GRANGE of old wine. Against the walls
hung with yellow cashmere were musical
Instruments, and here and there arms in
the midst of pendent chains and necklaces
From below came the dull and regular
murmuring of the river. By lifting a lit
tie drapery from the window / saw that
the water touched the very walls of the
house. Almost Immediately l heard a
light rustling upon the carpet l turned
1t was Nissa. I was transformed with
astonishment. She could not have been
more than II or Is. Her thick, dark hair
fell upon perfectly formed neck and Shout
ders, and her face, slightly amber in color,
had all the changing lights of mother of
pearl. But l was especially struck by the
strange contrast between the exceeding
Wilderness OF her teeth and the blackness
of her eyes. The oyelashes, the tips of the
lids and her lips were painted She
smiled as she gazed at me with her still
and burning eyes. l thought of the aga's
words, and said to myself that this woman
could not easily be frightened However,
she took my hand and made me sit upon
the divan.
My husband has started for Teheran,"
she said, and smiled.
Then she struck little gong with a
copper rod, and coffee was brought in
She began to talk rapidly, telling me that
her life was very dreary and that she had
been Interested in me at first sight. Twas
beginning to lose my head when 1 heard a
noise in the adjoining room. In an in
slant she sprang up and stood erect and
trembling. Her welcome and her sudden
fear had followed each other so rapidly
that / had no time to analyze my feelings.
She ran TO the wall, took down slender
little dagger and half concealed it in her
sleeve. She turned to me, and with an
emphatic gesture said "Wait!" Then
she vanished behind the heavy hangings.
A vague fear stole over me. l recalled
the aga's warnings. Possibly had been
imprudent. Suddenly 1 again heard a
noise in the next room. There were sounds
of voices, then short struggle; at last,
silence. AT once the drapery was pushed
aside and Nissa rcappeared. She was very
pale--iS pale as the pearls upon her neck
She ha.f leaned against the wall, look
ing like white statue against the back
ground of yellow drapery. She was still
smiling, and in her smile revealing teeth
as sharp as those of Il young wolf. She
took II few steps into the room. Her knife
and hands were red.
"Great God! What has happened" 1
exclaimed.
Nothing she replied
She tossed the dagger into a corner and
with perfect calmness said:
cit was my husband. He would have
killed us. l preferred to anticipate him.
Come, help me throw his body into the
water.
remained motionless, gazing at her in
establishment. Then she fixed her eyes
upon me with an expression of complete
contempt, and in a tone that l shall never
forget said:
"Oh, these Frankish dogsl What nery-
ousness!'
She shrugged her shoulders and called a
maid, whom she commanded to open the
window. Then as If they were doing the
most ordinary of acts, they lifted the body
and dropped it into the river. The adven
ture WAS becoming too oriental for me. l
tl,.,4T Ixr-itb Tor
ror. Without waiting longer l ran away
like a madman Where l went l have no
idea. In ten minutes / found myself in
tho city, and ran through the streets as
if pursued ly Il legion of devils. When l
had reached my apartments, l fastened
myself in wi; h double lock, cursing Nissa
and all the ho;ris of the orient.
What Il night! L did not sleep till morn
ing, and then my sleep was like lead.
When l awoke, the sun was high ard
streaming into my chamber. / was com
pletely unstrung. What would happenP A
man could not disappear without the laws
taking cogniZance of the affair. Nissa had
not even made an attempt at cOncealment.
The servant had seen and aided her. /
should he implicated, and at the very idea
of being associated with crime l felt my
hair standing on end with horror.
All that day l remained in the same
condition, kecnly anxious and not daring
to go out. The evening came and still l
had formed no resolution, and no news yet
of NiSsa. Had she been arrested? What
had beGome of her? l retired early, but
could not sleep. On the second day could
endure it no longer and decided to see my
friend the aga l arrived mt his palace
about noon. l was announced, and then
entered. The aga was reclining upon ~
divan peacefully smoking his chibouk.
"Ah, it il you" he said, when he saw
me- "Have you heard the news?"
1.-The ncws-the news? No, IL have
heard nothing"
:"You remember Astoulla, the rich mer
chant, Nissa husband whom l told you
about?'' .......... .... ..
1t was all over, the crime was known. l
muttcred an almost inaudible Yes. "
'tThe poor devil, continued the aga
''My dear friend, he has suddenly disap
peared. .......
And the aga looked at me intently. l
could bear it no longer. 1 was about to
confess everything, when he said:
"He was just setting out for Tehenn.
And suddenly-vanished. Nothing has
been heard of him
For the second time the aga looked into
my face. There was short silence. Then,
putting out long thread of smoke, he
added calmly: ....
"God Is great '-Adapted From the
French of A. Delpit For San Francisco
ArgonauG.
Oldest House In New York.
One of the few relics left of the earl
colonial DAYS is still standing at South
ampton, n. Y. This town claims the pre-