Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-23


the walls above were hung with tapestries
stained as with crushed roses and violets.
Higher still was wide border of dark
brown wood exquisitely carved and above
this the four windows, a foot high by four
times that width Silks of mellow tone
draped the ceiling.
Along three sides of the south end of the
chamber extended broad divan, part of
which served Meryon as a beti. Here and
there about this dim, lovely room stood
vases of wrought bronze and fine porcelain.
Within reach of his arm was a triple gong
on a carved wood stand. with a hammer
hanging by silken cord. Meryon struck
thrice upon this graceful instrument and
three soft notes of an octave's interval
tingled on the air AS they subsidized the
portiere was pushed open, and a graceful
figure entered bearing tray with coffee,
cakes and cigarettes.
Had the figure been fully draped, you
would have taken il for that of girl, so
refined and beautiful were the aquiline fea-
lures and the shaggy cloud of soot-black.
fine-spun hair, which fell on the shoulders
But the supple body. naked from the waist
up, that of boy of twelve or four
teen, tawny as fine bronze. Grt round his
loins was a skirt of dark blue gossamer
stuff. with silver lines running through it
and q silver fringe, and about his neck
double necklace of delicate silver links
hung halfway down his breast. Black as
night were the great eyes which met Mer-
yon's blue ones, and radiant the smile of
greeting which revealed his flashing teeth.
The ensuing dialogue, though carried
on In an oriental tongue. shall. for the sake
of uniformity, be here given in the English
equivalent.
1.-The top of the morning to you. Ebal. my
beauty said the American. You're a
sight for sore eyesi Did any one ever tell
you that You look surprisir gly like the di-
vine Princess Terah-God bless her! May
be only an artist who has painted your por-
trait as often as / have could see it in your
present rig; but pat on one of her dresses
and anyone would know it. The funny
thing Is that neither she nor you resemble
the prince: but Terah's mother, If she were
asked however, there's no fathom-
iEg the mysteries of orientaHdiplomacy."
"Honored lord!' murmured the boy, in a
tone of half-friShtened remonstrance, but
smiling still. He knelt and placed the tray
upon the divan beside his master. Then
taking cigarette from the enameled box
en- the tray he put it daintily between his
lips AMI lit Il at the silver spirit lamp. Hav-
ing inhaled a single Whit of fragrant
smoke. he handed ii to Meryon with a
charming obeisance, and he accepted it
with the conlplacency OF one who knows his
east and likes 1t.
81 don't know whether this is most like
Aladdins palace CT Slorifed Turkish
bath" said he to himself: and then to Ebal:
''Whlt news have you brought me- you ras-
cal? What of the rose who makes cab
bages of all other rOseS-the star that makes
a brass kettle of the sun? Have you brought
me nothing from HERO
Now. Ebal thought Meryon a wonderful
and worshipful being. but as q born orien-
tai he was frightened by the audacity of
his passion for the young princess. From
the fold of his girdle he took small rose
bud. such as grew on the gardens OF Saadi
or OF Omar, and presented it to the other
as il it were a fragile explosive.
Il know nothing myself. mighty lord
but Senuah said 1 was to give this to you
and 10 say that the lion must beware of the
pitfall which the hunter digs in his path.
That means Hstipha. the head eunuch-how
I hate tie old beastr' he added lowering
his voice to a whisper.
Meryon laughed. That's all right. my
lad" he said taking the bud and kissing
It. Don't you be scared. I'm looking out
for you: ard I'm wiser than a thousand such
old mules as Hatipha. I talk openly to
you because 4 love you. and Senuah is our
cOnfidante becaISe she's your sister and the
princess favorite maitland there's no one
to take her place. But i can hold my
tongue when / see fit And when the time
comcs"-here he bestowed upon the youth
wink of great signifcance-"I'n take you
along with us to America and make your
fortune. Well. now. be OFF, my beauty. and
leave me to drink my coffee and meditater'
But / may help my lord to dress 1ater?'
asked E.bal. reluctantly retiring from the
fascinating presence.
when I'm ready I'll hit the gong There
-Allah-ll-Aliah Bismillah, Clear outr'
AS Ebal vanished with a smile and a
sigh. Meryon fell upon the bud with am
Orou3 rapture. III Jared badly. as buds are
apt to do in the cause of love. After smell
Ing and kissing ii till it looked as if ruin
ed by premature dissipation, the lover
ended by deSCuring it, petals, Caliv and
all. as IL by Incorporating it with his bodily
substance to mysticGlly bind to his own
the soul of his beloved. Then he drank
his coffee and took counsel with himself
He American artist in search
of the beautiful. whose devotion to his art
was proved by his possessing a fortune
that made him more than Independent. of
the world. He had brought good letters
of Introduction to the prince Of this little
kingdom. and had confirmed his welcome
by painting a capital full-length portrait
OF his host. Great favor was his: u suite
of rooms In the palace. and servants for
his exclusive bchoof. The prince was not
only at all times accessible to him without
ceremony. but could not get enough of his
society. During his two months sojourn
he had made a lot of valuable studies in
many OF which E,bal. in all poses ard cos
TUNES. or with no costume save his own
boyish beauty. was the center of interest.
This was all very well.
But alas for Unsuitable human nature
and malicious fate, One day lowing TO a
concatenation of accidents which cannot
here be detailed) he met face to face and
unpremeditatedly the only daughter OF the