Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-08-11
THE NAZIM'S JEM.


me that it was severe illness and
that the outcome was for many days in
doubt. Twice, they said, my feet press
ed on the verge of the dark valley, and
twice was drawn back. I know little
of this personally. For two weeks or
more was either delirious or uncon-
scious. Then, one bright May morning,
| came back from the land of shadows.
It seemed to me, as lay there, that
my mind was unnaturally acute. I fan
cied that my enfeebled physical condi-
ton accumulated the action of my brain.
1t seemed as if the rest had given it
the rest, at least, from lucid action
had reinvigorated it. l remember that
threw great deal of thought into the
construction of the first connected SEN
tence addressed to my man. This is
what | said:
"Any letters, George?"
He started up hastily.
Letters, sir? Yes, sir, letters and
telegram.
"Read the telegram said, after
another spell OF thought.
He tore open the yellow envelope.
"Just heard of your illness. Start
for home today. Mary. -
Mary is my promised wife. recalled
that she was at Colorado Springs with
her invalid mother when fell i'll l
looked at George He must have read
my question. He seemed to make a mo-
mentary calculation.
"If all goes we'll, sir, she should be
here today"
Mary was coming. The thought act
ed on me like tonic. l wanted to
throw aside the blankets and leap to the
floor Gods And I couldn't even raise
my arm.
"Get flowers. George" l murmured.
"Let in the sunlight. Hide these bot
ties.
He smiled and smoothed the blankets
above me.
Everything shall be as presentable
as possible, sir" he said.
As presentable as possible? That note
of exception must mean me. Never
mind, Mary was coming, Mary loved
me too we'll to take offense at my
changed appearance.
George" said, ''the world is still
outside there, Isuppose. Read the news
paper.
He read to me for half an hour or
more, read the news just as it came to
hand-telegraph local, political. For
time his voice has simply Il lulling
effect. Then I began to take notice Of
the substance of what he read. When |
had heard all wanted, babe him
stop and let the substance of his read
ing filter through my brain. As strove
to recall it all there was an item that
seemed to hold my fancy in peculiar
way. It was telegram which told that
a nizam of far Hindustan had been rob-
bed Of an almost priceless diamond
which it was understood he meant to
present to Queen Victoria at the time
of the coming jubilee This story. I say,
seemed to fascinate me--the diamond
Of the nizam, filched from its oriental
owner, cleaning mayhap from the
dusky corner of some squalid hut when
it should be eclipsing the jewels of a
queen. And Mary was coming. What a
gift for Mary that diamond would be
Mary, my queenl There was a strange
humming in my head, but out of it all
came one clear thought would get
that diamond and give it to Mary.
When l had determined on this, seem,
cd to grow cool and calculating. real
lied how helpless I was physically, but
my will power, thank God, was still
left me. I would concentrate my mind
on the thief. would will him to come
to me.
had read somewhere that the soul
in body purified by the fire Of disease
rises above the restrictions of common
clay. Was not my soul SO purified? I
fixed my thought upon the nizam's dia-
mond,
Red clouds rolling rapidly; out of
them touch Of blue sky, whirl of yell
low dust, sun that beat down fiercely
from midheaven; the walls Of a city, a
city with queer minarets and towers,
and strange palaces; city with huge
gateway through which passed in and
out motley array Of strange CARRIED
people: bullocks and carts, and then a
numbering elephant, and red coated SOL.
diers, and white turbaned men with
brown faces. And the air was hot and
dry, and a strange odor came to my nos
trils.
Then in corner by the huge portals
noted crouching fgure-a turbaned
native with strange rings in his ears
and an eye that cleaned with start
ling whiteness. And on him my
thought centered. Then he arose from
his bent position and skunk forth. As
be passed amid the snarling dogs that
fought and yelped beyond the city
walls noticed that in the folds of his
garments he held long, keen knife.
Ever and anon he looked over his shout
der as he slouched along. And the sun
elared, and the desert spread before
him, and the dust arose in yellow putfs.
Then came two native soldiers riding
on weary horses, and they cried out at
sight Of the footman. And when they
dismounted to seize him the knife
flashed, and one soldier lay silent at his
feet, and the other fled across the gleam-
| ing desert, and the knife was red.
There were clouds and confused
soenes, and out from them all the man
with the red knife pressed on, in his