The Portland daily press., 1898-01-18

sok-market-place. Kadi-a judge
,JeLInb-a male outer | 4GOoL-a notary.
garment Unld7,G--a revenue OIL
fcer.
CHAPTER V. CONTINUED
Omar looked in at the window of the
room where the lamp was burning, and
his breath was coming fast.
What is he doingT" he asked.
'sThe Tadla merchants are with him.
When he is alone will take you to him.
Then it will be man to man.
LAY, man to man. said Omar IN
hushed whisper.
tAnd when all is over everybody will
say, The rabble that would have stoned
him to DEATH
ayes, yes,'' said Omar, eagerly. "The
rabble, the rabble. No other man sus-
pected.'
q that would have stoned him to death
but for the daughter of Isaac LAREDO
have broken into her house and killed
him.
Omar started uneasily at the name.
.'RacheI,'' he said, sometimes l think
that you and l should not be-to each
other what we are.
The woman put her arms about his
neck and LAUGHED a soft laugh "My
dearest, when is thatT'
sWhen / am alone in the night-when
I cannot sleep.
There was another moment of heavy
silence. The woman's arms dropped from
his neck. n
"Come, GOMEZ said Rachel, cheerfully,
"chase away those heavy looks. What
are differences of faith to those we love?
When this turbulent babbler is silent
forever you shall have your reward. :"
chill I Voice jew Where sis is hep
"In my fathers room-the room where
nv father died. said Rachel, in a low
tone.
Omar drew back suddenly. There?
No-not shere," he stammered
"Ah, he seems to fear no ghosts, said
Rachel. bitterly. ,,,
Omar embraced her passionately. "Ill
do it, he said. "My hopel My stay !
My Lowell For your sake it shall be
done p
He broke from her arms with passion
ate kiss and sigh and stepped into the
house. 1t was.now late, and the moon
was dipping down into the patio.
Chapter VI.
The Mahdi was in the lamplit room
opening on to the patio. Booker and
the merchants from Tadla were with
him.
ssMahdi,' said Asad, "Fez turns its
back on you-come with US to Tadla: -
Patience, said the Mahdi. Fee is
my mother, 1 am her son, and she shall
yet receive me.
g Stretch your leg according to your
shawl'-it's good saw" said Boopker.
life is not worth pins purchase.
"Tadla is waiting for the truth. Come
and deliver it, said Asad.
The Mahdi considered for a moment.
Then he said Everything is ordained
1t is written that should go with you.
When do you leave Fez?''
"Within the hour, said Asad.
81 will follow on tomorrow. Mahd1
or prophet, am a man with man S
affections, and Fee holds all that are dear
to me, my sister, and her son.
"iWe will wait, said Asad.
'sGod requite you abundantly. The
present is patience, but the future
breathes of revenge. 1 am driven away
as a beggar but l will return as con-
l.Good night! God bless your morn
ing!, said the merchants, and they left
him.
AS well as the window to the patio
there was anopen doorway to the market
place. The Mahdi stepped up to this
doorway and looked out on the housetops
sleeping under the white light of the
Ii.
wing of night lay softly over it.
sHIake your last look, Mohammed- err
Rabman l'' he thought. :" Farewell, my
mother, farewell! Tomorrow you will
have the earth for your resting place and
the heavens for your tent.
The Mahdi was turning away when
Rachel drew the curtains Of the door from
the patio and softly entered the room.
e'The night is far gone" she said. 'You
mist he very tired -
II will lie down and Sleep" said the
Mahdi eyes, yes, long, long sleep, -
said Rachel The sleep would have been
longer, and the bed harder but for you,
Rachel" said the Mahdi, say no more
about that, Mahdi,'' she answered.
dare not betray; she was seeing the room
at that moment as it mad been on the
night when she found her father lying
there dead. She drew up mattress and
thought "Thst is the very spot. Then
she said aloud Come, lie here"
The Mahdi lay down. ''You saved my
life. Rachel. God will requite you, "
he said.
'sHe does not remember" thought
Rachel. Then aloud as before, Il will
turn the stove, Mahdi. My father Away
liked 1t So. She turned the brass stove SO
that the soft red glow might fall ON the
Mahdis swarthy face.
''Ah, yes, your poor fatherf' said the
Mahdi "God rest him y
"Amen Amenp' said Rachel. HHe
does not care" she thought. A harp stood
In 8 corner Of the room. '.Shan l sing
you to sleepy' she said sweetly. "My
| father always loved it,"
| The Mahdi looked at her and smiled
YEARLY. You are still anxious about
me, Rachel But there is nothing to
| fear now. Go to your rest. Good night p
81 shall never sleep until you are
| sleeping said Rachel.
"Tho world and all things in it are
good. but the goodliest thing in the world
| is a good woman,'' said the Mahdi.
"Now hush! hush! said Rachel.
She played softly and sang In low tone
that was like q lullaby:
The heart of the Mahdi was touched.
sAh Rachel said he, but for the
freaks of fate what joy of life there might
have been for you and me.
Rachel stopped. ''How can I sing,
Mahdi, if you talk So" she said.
"How beautiful you are Rachel, how
very beautiful
| sINot a word mora now-not a little