Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-27
THE HOLLOW RUBY.
Continued from page 3.

unfathomable. Injustice dwells not In
my heart. You will admit that you
have been Hospitality entertained"
Meryon stiffly inclined his head, at the
same time slightly lifting one eyebrow,
and Struggling the opposite shoulder
but it has come to my ears that you
have ventured to look upon and even
to address communications to the
princess, my daughter, apparently pre-
suming her capable of deigning-"
Once more Meryon interrupted.
prince, you employ words which I
won't take from you. 'Deigning" Does
the tom-tit condescend to the eagle? 1t
was my within to lay aside the cares Of
sovereignty (Which l must resume on
my return home) and masquerade in
this out-of-the-way little corner, for a
while. as a mere travelling artist. But
in birth, station and power you're sim
ply not in sight, beside me, not to men
ton your interesting family"
The prince, by nervous jerk Of the
elbow, upset the nargileh, which the
Nubian deity caught and replaced.
I've been studying your little princi-
pality," resumed tho other. with a
friendly disposition to do something to
improve it. I heard you had a daugh-
ter, and it struck me she might be the
means of my helping you. I'm unmar-
ried, and though l could get wife
worth dozen of her in New York or
Chicago, to say nothing of Boston, syet
l believe In occasionally crossing the
higher strains with humber blood, and
l have had thoughts Of honoring you
and exalting her by union with my
self"
A dozen things rushing at the same
instant to get uttered at his highness
single mouth, naturally got wedged,
like people trying to escape from a
burning theater, and the prince became
crimson, but said nothing at all. Mer-
yon went on:
But a serious objection has arisen,
for which You are primarily to blame,
and which you must remove if 1 am to
go on with the scheme. Terah-though
I'm confident she is a good little girl
and personally incapable Of evils,
nevertheless, conventionally speaking,
damaged goods. And it's your fault
The novelty of his sensations was
hypnotizing the prince. His eyes rolled
putwards, and his breathing was stem
torious. But he no longer attempted to
address the meeting.
"Qui facit per alum. facit per Sc.
the American continued; ''you are tt
blame for the crimes Of your hcad
eunuch, for you ought to have knowr
better than to intrust such Il clumsy
beast with such delicate responsible
ties. Either from brute carelessness o.
worse, this fellow, Hatipha. the other
day, suddenly sprung Terah on me with
her countenance in condition which
shudder to describe. It-she-I-iu
short, her veil was down." Here Mer
yon bowed his head upon his knees, and
tremors shook his frame.
Inarticulate gurglings came from the
princes lips. Drops of sweat formed
beneath the rim of his turban and rar
down into his beard. This was a grea'
day for him, never to be forgottenl
anyone less magnanimous and char
table than 1 would have turned hi
back upon her and you forever" the
artist went on presently. "Such ar
outrage upon an unsuspecting guest
can hardly be too severely resented
But compassion for Terah-who wa.
really as much shocked as I was-an6
friendship for you, led me to forbear
! caused word to be sent to her that, or
certain conditions, I would try to over
look the matter And I am now here
prince, to tell you what the conditions
are"
His highness, with eyes goggline
on vacancy, stretched out his arms IL
front of him and rapidly closed and ex
tended his fingers. 1t is uncertain
whether this indicated that he wished
to catch hold of an elusiv. word, or O.
something more substantial. Either
way it was expressive.
What / require" said Meryon, with
stern impressiveness, sis your straight
out apology; and to prove it's sincerity
1t must take the form of delivering w
Hatipha into my hands, to be annihi
lated as see fit" Having thus deliv
cred himself, Meryon took another CT
garette from his case, signed to the M
bian for light, and added composed
ly: II have spoken"
The spell upon his highness wa.
broken. A confused roar proceeded
from him, which perhaps set out to b.
sort of laugh, but went on like the
cry OF the tiger thirsting for meat HI
clapped his hands against his thighs
kicked off both his slippers (Which the
Nubian of the fan impressive restored
to him, receiving in acknov ledgmen
violent kick in the stomach), and be
trayed other symptoms of stronf feeling
Gradually the waves of emotion be
came less agitated, and allowed him Il
employ human methods of speech.
"Meryon Pacha," he said, II have
been indignant. I heard reports of yor
which made me wish to kill yc1. Yor
have spoken, and made things look diff
ferent. 1 am more indignant than be
fore, and somebody must be killed, blu,
l am willing it should not be you. 70,
have spoken of Hatipha; it shall be
/! will discipline him. I will draw of
ms hide in strips an inch wide viii
purn out his eyes with hot needles.
VIII tear ont his tongue, and cut off his
hands and feet. will rub his carcas.