The Portland daily press., 1895-11-09

away, and I heard that persistent voice
still singing in my ear: "Nissal Nissap'
| The old woman evidently came from her.
I hurried up to my room and got small
revolver. Five minutes later we were on
our way. 1t was mad absurd; confess it
| freely. But there are follies about which
one does not stop to reason.
When we had come to the Dioulffa
bridge, the old woman stopped and took
from her pocket a thick handkerchief,
which she proceeded very deftly to bind
over my eyes. 1 could see no longer. Then
she grasped my hand, and allowed her to
lead me. By the increased< oolness of the
air conjectured that we we've crossing the
river. In few seconds the old woman turn
| ed to the right, but we were not quitting the
banks of the Zend- Dehro,id. I could hear
it's 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:
"Go up"
Five steps only, and then I felt that my
feet were pressing soft, thick carpet. At
the same moment she removed the band
kerchief. I found myself in small room
dimly lighted by copper lamp. Incense
was burning in richly chased censor rest
ing upon a 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 lit
tie drapery from the window saw that
the water touched the very walls Of the
house. Almost Immediately heard
light rustling upon the carpet turned
1t was Nissa. l was transformed with
establishment She could not have been
more than II or 10. 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 was especially struck by the
strange contrast between the exceeding
Wilderness of her teeth and the blackness
of her eyes. The eyelashes. the tips of the
lids, and her lips were painted. She
smiled as she eazed at me with her still
and burning ewes thoupht Of the aoa,s
words. and said TO mvself that this woman
could NOT easilv he frightened Horuaver
She tool NV hand and made ma I'll uno1
the diyan
untn b,,st,ond has s+.rt,a f,n nj 49,,
ah "a a,,a'..;1as go - - : >
Ill.,, IT, st,,za1r ,;++,. ;4b
oonnar rad and noffaa .,o s Snas,a ~ =,
81 - eli ,,s;,,., 4,,',- IL, -
- -. - 80 o .La ~ ~ y hS
f,,s+ s;s.bt 80. .a
I 49, 100
~ 10 ~ 80 = 80, i,..,i ~
.41 - IL, S,.o ~
~ -. '.d hon,,,sa,,
e.. ~ eolIa..d .oI, o+I,o,, - ,,s,.ssl-
that 7 had No time 10 anc.,vza NV fealinns.
Cbo ro1, - tba vail tor Ss,own 4 slenfe,
little dagger and half concealed If in her
sloova She turned 70 me- and with an
en,nbatic gesture said nWait,n Then
She vanished behind the heavy haneines.
vao,1e fear stoIa over me- recaIled
the apa's warnings. Possibly I had been
imprudent. Suddenly l again heard
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 reappeared. She was very
pale-as pale as the paris upon her neck.
She half leaned against the wall, look.
ing like a white statue against the back.
ground of yellow drapery. She was still
smiling, and in her smile revealing teeth
as sharp as those of young wolf. She
took few steps into the room. Her knife
and hands were red.
'sGreat God! What has happened?" ]
exclaimed.
ssNothing" she replied.
She tossed the dagger into corner and
with perfect calmness said:
sit was my husband. He would have
killed us I preferred to anticipate him.
Come, help me throw his body into the
water 4 &
remained motionless. gazing at her in
astonishment. Then she fixed her ewes
upon me with an expression of comnIete
contempt, and in tone that 1 shall never
forget said:
8sOh. these Frankish doesf What merry.
ousness!',
She shrupoed her sbonlda,as ! nd called
maid whom She CON, randeS. - ono, ss1,o the
window Than as If thew .s,ara d,ni,, ., ths
most ordinary Of acts thew lifted tba body
and dronned # into the riyer Tho ad Won,
ture was hecomino foo orienta1 for mo
confess that was seized With a .,;id Ton.
ror without waiting longer ran a,ya,