Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-12-06

nightmare were little by little fading
away, and l heard that persistent voice
still singing in my ear: "Nissa Nissaw
The old woman evidently came from her.
/ hurried up to my room and got a small
revolver. Five minutes later we were on
our way. 1t was mad, absurd; l 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 thick handkerchief,
which she proceeded very deity to bind
over my eyes. l could see no longer. Then
she grasped my hand, and l allowed her to
lead me- BY the increased GOODNESS of the
air l conjectured that we were crossing the
river. In u few seconds ire old woman turn
ed to the right, but we were not quitting the
banks of the Xcnd-Dchroud 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 il whisper she said;
go up"
Five steps only, and then felt that my
feet were pressing a soft, thick carpet. At
the same moment she removed the hand
kerChief. ! found myself in "a small room
dimly lighted by copper lamp. Incense
was burning in Il richly chased censor rest
ing upon 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 neckla
From below came the duh and regular
murmurinS of the river. BY lifting lit
tie drapery from the window ] saw that
the water touched the very walls of the
house. Almost Immediately l heard
light rustling upon the carpet. l turned.
1t was Nissa. l was transformed with
establishment. 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 eyelashes, the tips of the
lids. and her lips were painted She
smiled us she gazcd mt 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 a little gong with
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 atfirst sight. Twas
beginning to lose my head when l 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 e'hnother so rapidly
that l had no time to analyze my feelings.
She ran to the wall, took down a slender
little dagger and half concealed it in her
sleeve. She turned to me, and with an
emphatic gesture, said, "Waitp Then
she vanished behind the heavy hangings.
A vague fear stole over me. 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 reappeared. She was very
pale-as pale as the pearls upon her neck.
She half 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 young wolf. She
took 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 corner and
with perfect calmness said:
sit was my husband. He would have
killed us. 1 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 tone that shall never
forget said:
ooh, these Frankish dogsl What nerv-
ousness"
She shrugged her shoulders and called
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. 1
confess that l was seized with wild ter
TOR. Without waiting longer ran away