The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-04-29
THE ABDUCTION.

Papa Demetrios's warning had come too
late. Even before the good papa" had
started from the Monastery of the Prophet
Elias for Marcus Kallimakis's farm, Aga
Yusef had left Retimo for the same destina-
tion. Yusef had gained his position of
"Aga" by INSCRIPTIONS service for his mas
ter, Mustafa Pasha, the Governor of the Sam
jak or Province of Retimo. With him was
the truculent swashbuckler Ibrahim, who
sustained thesam relation to him that he
did TO the Pasha. Behind them rode score
of heavily armed kayasses, the hated con-
stabulary, who do the Turks will upon the
people of Crete.
In the bright early morning Yusef, finely
mounted on q curvetting Arab, rode out
through the massive ancient gateway of
Retimo along the old Venetian paved high
way between interminable groves of olive
trees, over the curious Roman bridge of two
rows of arches, one above another, and drew
rein under clump of Expresses to wait for
the slower-paced kayass horses to catch up.
Thou kn0west my errand," he said to
Ibrahim
"Ay," growled the deep-voiced henchman.
I" 1t is to catch the sweetest bulbul in all the
island of Kiridi turkish name of Crete) for
the golden cage of the Padishah, our sov-
E-ereign lord at Stamboul."
"Say not the sweetest in Kiridi merely,
Ibrahim, but the fairest woman in the wide
ruling Padishah's dominions. Thou know
es. have seen them from Smyrna to Tiflis
-olve-skinned Syrians, fair-haired Greeks,
| Jewesses whose eyes are diamonds, vivacious
Armenians, Georgians with faces like apple
| blossoms but she excels them all. When
| the imans drone to US in the mosques of the
| houris of Paradise, / can think of none fairer
| than Ida Kallimakis. A year ago / had
| marked her for my own, but L discovered
| that Mustafa had also fixed his eyes upon her.
4 Now he hath thought it wiser in many ways
to send her to the Padishah, the Sovereign
of All Soyereigns, and We 90 to bring her TO
the Pasha."
at is an honor the daughter of dog of
an unbelieyer is little worthy off, growled
Ibrahim. "She should gladly come at thy
bidding"
"Ay, but she will not These stiff-necked
| Cretans hate US and ours with bitterness
that passeth comprehension. The sword OF
Islam came to free them from the oppression
Of the Venetians, and bring them to the trne
faith, but they have fought us as savagely as
they did the Giaours of the Italian isles.
But what else conid we expect? They have
always been vile. Their own prophet, st.
| Iaul, Saiu, lHc SIetdun arc diWayS lidis
evil beasts, slow bellies
=" fear that Marcus Kallimakis may get
some hint of the honor that we propose to
do him from some of these whining papas-
would that ibis would seize every one of
them. Were it not for them we could keep
the land in peace At the meeting point we
shall come to presently send one OF thy
| kavasses 10 watch each Of the roads leading
from Kallimakis's farm to the mountains.
| Let no one come into or go away from the
farm. We must not let those devils OF
Sphakiots know of our coming until we
have the girl safe in Retimo."
She hath lover, Basil Kanaris, whose
head fan would take" growled Ibrahim.
:" Be careful that he doesn't get thine.
believe that thou hast had some dealings
with him, heretofore, not at all to thy adj
vantage. Would that / had shackles on
/ him."
Il Papa Demetrios, Marcus Kallimakis and
his daughter were still watching with
earnest eyes the progress of the messengers
they had sent out, when they heard the
clatter of horses hoofs upon the stony road
& approaching the house, aud turned to SET
Aga Ynsef and his cavalcade dash up at full
Il speed.
Peace be 10 all in this house, said the
Aga, as he dismounted and strobe in.
Thou dost not bring peace, but wo to al
here, Aga Yusef," said Papa Demetrio.
boldly.
"Silence, dog Of false priest said Yusef
laying his hand menacingly upon his seine
tar. Marcus Kallimakis, | am come II
, bring thee tidings of great honor Th,
fame Of thy daughters beauty has extended
even 10 the golden gates of the Seraglio
Her presence. is desired there, and Mnstafs
Pasha has sent me to conduct her to STAN
bouln
But, Aga Yusef," pleaded Kallimakis
, "my daughter does not wish to 90, nor | t,
have her. She is betrothed to one of he
owp race and faith, and the marriage day il
fixed. The Pact of Halepa gives us a voice
in these matters"
"Still haIping on tho Pact. Have y,