The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-15
PART,u.

You may judge if those that fol-
lowed were anxious days.
Ny recovery, difficult enough in the
plaques of heat and flies. was now re-
tarded by my anxiety about my boy,
who seemed utterly changed from that
unhappy day when the heart scarab
was found. Neither he NOT ever men
toned the stone. and / cursed myself n
dozen times a day for my folly in sup
posing il could have any magic power
over him; yet L was unable wholly 10
disbelieve il.
Ny son had grown neglectful, or per-
haps l should say forgetful, of me- He
was kindness itself when he thought Of
me or my comfort, but oftener he would
sit in profound thought. as if puz-
zliLg over some problem, scarcely
noticing when Said YusiIf attended to
my wants Once only asked Arthurfor
some attention, and when saw that he
performed the little service mechanical
~, his thoughts far from il, it hurt me
SO that never asked again.
Indeed, was SO like TO relapse into
my former illness that Dr. Casaldi, II
clever Italian enough, but IND physician
of minds, was as puzzled as he was dis
tressed. II was in a state of half deliri-
um, presaging anything but recovery,
that lay one night when dark form
glided to my side and a welcome cup Of
cool water was held to my lips.
''Salam aleikum, Effendi. +" whispereda n
we'll remembered voice; "it is little care
thou hast since left thee, and thy son
was bewitched of Queen Ameniritis."
"Greeting to thee. Ali, son of Hasan,"
said / peevishly. for indeed / was ill
enough; "and where is thy club?"
,"The Effendi knows" replied Ali,
with the utmost composure, that /
meant him no harm. But he is a
strong man and j was fain 10 strike
twice, and even then failed in what
would have accomplished"
'I know that thou art as honest as q
fool may be-" muttered. What mag
got breedeth in thy brain nows?"
"Not in mine. Effendi. but in thy
sons" returned Ali. Thou art weak,
I know; but stronger thou shalt never
lie till thy sons madness Is cured. It
is best that thou sbouldst rise now.
Said Yusuf sleeps soundly."
1 am inclined to think that the en-
tire household was sleeping the sound
sleep which comes of Eastern drugs.
Said Yusuf was as one dead. The young
German physician left in charge by
Casaldi, who had been called eway for
the night, made no sound. The native
servants, whose sleep is usually Sd
deep, yet so light, made no stir as Ali
Hasan. with infinite tenderness, half
7ed half carried me. to the tent next
mine. where my boy lay sleeping.
Spite of my giddiness from the unac-
customed exercise, i could but feel
keen anxiety as / looked down upon
him. His young face was flushed and
damp with perspiration, his hair was
tossed and disordered. He slept un-
easily, muttering in his fevered visions,
and / could see that his right hand
grSpped tight the accursed heart scarab.
Bending over the sleeping figure, Ali
Hasan seemed, as well as could see in
the dim light of the moon, to hold some
substance to the nostrils. A pungent
smell filed the room, and Arthur, with
q Sigh, sank back upon his pillow in
sleep as profound as.Said Yusuf's.
is IL the will of the Efrendi that I
should take away the heart of the
witch?" asked Ali Hasan, and seeing
that was too weak to reply or resist,
be attempted TO wrest the stone from
Arthur's grasp. but in vain. Then from
the folds of his black gown Ali pro-
duced two small, smooth rods of ebony.