The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-09
y FIRE AND ICE. :.

ca dead baby awaiting us bier on the
bed did not prevent attack and defense,
They favor thee, sister, replied Bur
FAM suayeiy, ''in mind also, to judge
from what | see. Therefore i shall
await Gods VIII In the future ere
choose one TO educate"
Lagigan Uttered sarcastlcally, de-
spite her half-dried tears, "'Tls my
choice first, nevertheless. The best of
the bunch in looks, aye, in brains too,
perchance, marrles my brothers son
according to custom. Sure my mother
chose thus, and must do the same,
sister"
She spoke evenly, though for the mo-
ment the longing to strange something
had transferred itself to the saffron
eolered sugar drop all spaRgied with
silver, which had emerged from its
chrysalls of a burka, What business
had the poor thin creature with such
garments when her beauty was hidden
by mere rags?
Burfani laughed in her turn; an easy,
indifferent laugh, and stretched out her
slim henna-dyed palm with the usual
friendly offering cardamons,
Take one, sister" she said soothing
ly; "they are good for spleen and eX-
cesslve grief. Hal! Hail thou wilt be
forlorn indeed, now thy occupation is
gone"
LagIgan, with her meuthful Of spices,
Uttered again more artlticlally than
ever. ~ can do other things, per-
chance, besides sueltle babies Maybe
weary of it and am glad of change"
The saffron colored sugar drop, seat
ed on low stool in front Of the white
sheeted bed, with its solemn littly gayly
dressed burden, looked ut It's companion
dIstastefully through its long lashes,
cntchlng some loops of the jasmine
chaplets 1t wore, held them like a bou-
uuet close to the crimson-tlnted lips,
ut is n yirtuous task, my sister,"
quoth Burfaui, gravely, smiling away
at the heavy perfume as II she needed
something to make her environments
less Objectionable. Besides, 1t is ever
n mistake to forsake the profession or
ones birth"
"And wherefore should II" interrupt
ed Laglgan, selling her opportunity
recklessly. Hast thou forsaken II, and
are we not slstersg"
Again the cold critical look OF dislike
came from the long, narrow eyes with
their drowsy lids.
"Such words are idle, sister. Forget
them. Thou wouldst not find 1t
easier"
"How caust tell2" interrupted Lagi-
gan once more. "As well say that thou
couldst put up with my life"
The saffron and silver dalntlness
shifted It's look toward the bed, and the
henna-dyed hand Strengthened a wrin-
ke in the sheet softly
God knows" she said with a sud
den smile; anyhow, sister, It's not wise
to change ones profession as one grows
old"
AS one grows old! This parting shot
ranked long after the decent burka had
slipped like a shadow through the
swept and garnished hall, and so up
the dark stair to the wandering star
light shining feebly out into the sunset.
Long after the preacher and the bier,
and the family friends had carried the
gayiy dressed baby to its grave, ieaV-
ing the mother to the select and Sc
cluded tears OF her neighbors. Long af-
ter the little girls, wearied out with eX-
element, had fallen asleep cuddled to-
gether peacefully, inocent of that choice
of the future. Long after Zulkfar, full of
liquor, tears, and curses due to sur
plusage in the funeral expenses allow
ed by Burfani to parental grief and to
bad luck at cards, came home DESTROYS
of sympathy. He got none, for Lagt-
gan, despite her secluslon, had never
lost the empire which he felt she de-
served as the handsomest woman he
knew. Twas his own fault, she said,
CURLY; he could marry another wife,
atVNlt 10 much
as he liked II he chose. 1t was but
question Of money, and, II he were con-
tent to put up with a beggarly aims for
his sister, that ended the matter.
Whereupon, being in the maudiin
state of drink, he wept still more.
1t must have been fully three months
after the bahy's funeral procession OF
gone down the respectable street. and
so by a side alley found Its way into
the broad path leading alike to de-
struction and the graveyard, that Bur
FAM went round to her sister-in-law
again. This time she was In pink and
silver like a rose-water Ice, and her
words were as cold as her looks.
say what thou wilt, Lagigan, the
youth fingers. Have l not windows to
my home2 Have not eyes? And sucn
things shall not be bringing disgrace to
respectable families"
LagIgan Uttered as usual: 10 what n
coil because ar Idle stranger fingers at
the back instead OF the front. IT'S for
thy sake, doubtless, sister, though thou
art unkind. / wonder at 1t, seeing he Is
not ill-favored,"
$50 thou hast seen him. So be 1t. See
him no more, or tell Zulfkar."
Tell him what? That thou hast cast
eyes on a handsome stranger, and, be-
cause he comes not to thy call, would
fasten the quarrel upon me? Zulfkar Is
no fool, sister; he VIII not hsten!"
'If he listen not, he can leave my
house-for It's time. And, mark my
words Lagigan Bib, no scandal comes
nigh It."
Caesars wife could not have spoken
with greater JUNCTION, and In good sooth
she meant her words. since In no class
Is seclusion bound to be more virtuous.
So as the notes in the sunbeam Of
life danced along the broad path In
front Of the ice cream house and drift
ed up its dark stair, the painted and
perfumed little lady under the pale
green lamp kept an eye upon the virtue
OF her family. Thus ere long It came to
be Zulfkar's turn to listen to his SIS
tcr's warming; and, as he listened, he
sucked nercely. confusedly, at the in
laid hookah which stood for the use of
approved visitors; for In good sooth
there had been more money to spend of
late, and Lagigan was discreet enough,
save to those watchful experienced
eyes. The sound Of his hubblIngs and
bubbinps. therefore, was his only an
swer, and they llllcd the wide, low,whItc
plnstcred upper story, frescocd round
WING.