The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-26
(Chapter ID

The Mahdi stood some moments like a
nan in a trance. Rachel approached him
meekIy. "Mohammed!' she said.
"What woman sent that letter?'' said
Ahe Mahdi sternly.
ssMahdii" said Rachel, pleadingly.
"What woman sent that letter?" repeat
ed the Mahdt.
tHusbandl' cried Rachel.
"What woman sent that letter." thun-
dered the Mahdi.
II did" said Rachel and she dropped
her head, overwhelmed with her shame.
tGod of grace and mercy! Was this
what you meant to tell me?"
Yes"
"Was this the reason of your fearsS"
II see it all. Fool to think that was
the only man your assion paltered with.
There is another-Omar. my friend, my
comrade, my successor.
"Omarl"
ssYou have never forgiven him. said
the Mahdi. "He dishonored you by desert
ceased to reproach him. You have sent
Kim 10 his death. You have revenged
yourself at last
vet did the Mahdi know the truth. Not
oven yet did he rsalize the depth of her
treaohery. "Whab AN 10 say3 SIG
thought.
@The past was the past" said the
Mabdi HBut God himself had all but
wiped 1t out. You were not the mistress
of Omar because you were the wife or his
master. If Omar had Wronged you, you
were above him. Mercy becomes the great
and il would have been your glory to
forgive. But no, you must wait and
yafoh for your revenge. You must re-
member your dishonour when all the
world had forgotten 1t.
Rachel sank at his feet. 'God help
me. what am to say?'
The Mahdi laid hold of her hands with
terrible anger. Confess it!'' he cried in
an awful voice. sit was to revenge your
self on Omar that you sent that letter?
Confess it! On Omar, on Omar?"
Rachel could bear it no longer. mo,
no, not s on Omar; T The or oe wbomY"
yourself - said Rachel.
The Mahdi let go his hold of her. She
fell face downwards at his feet. There
HMyselfI Myselfp' muttered the
Mahdi.
IThe darkness makes me dizzy. Is
there no light in heaven? Myself! Ny
selfp muttered the Mahd1 again.
Have mercy Have mercyP' sobbed
Rachel. ssu.
did you dispatch your messagef NE
asked. :.
before Omar was chosen" she an
SHad you thought of it when you per-
suaded me to go with Otba?"
t'God forgive me! I had.
s'Were you still thinking of it when you
tainted in the mosquep"
Miserable woman, was.
''Did Omar know anything about 1t2
"No.'
II have been blind" said the Mahdi,
in the wretchedness of his soul. blind,
blind, blindl Not hatred of Omar but
love of him inspired that letter. y, heart
of womani who can read 1tf''
Rachel was still sobbing.
"Forgiye me, wrsNhed woman as L
an forgive me- she began.
"AIlahl Allah" cried the Mahdi,
and he smote his breast. You said to
yourself, The Mahdi shall go to Fee, put
my letter shall go before him.. NO?
Yes?''
Eyes. Mohammed, yes
HAnd when you saw Omar step into the
place you had meant for me, you thoughg
THE letter wrote to betray my husband
will kill my lover instead.
"HaVe mercyl Oh, have mercy, sald
The miserable woman.
''You meant to change your husband,
not your rank When the Mahdi mad
fallen, You were to be the wife OF the
Mahdi still,-Omar, not Mohammed.
That was your hope-deny IL.
LET me speak-let me explain
"And Omar-what of him? There has
been double treachery in this, and the
greater half has been his.
mo, moi" -,
az thought him my best friend" said
the Mahdi; che has been my worst enemy.
I could have sworn to his truth; but he
is guilty guilty, guilty"
mo, no; Omar is not to blame, cried
Rachel.
The Mahdi laughed scornfully. Eyes,
yes, the old story-it's a woman's ancient
artiffce to shield the guilty man. It's
only thu innocent one that she will sacri-
fee. But the trick has failed her this
time.''
"Hear me-" said Rachel. 81 alone have
been guilty. Omar"
Omar has fallen into the trap that
was meant for me- said the Mahdi.
geance. He is prisoner in the kasbah,
that issonly the punishment of his offence
against the Basha. But he has offended
against my honour and he shall answer
to me for his disloyalty and his sin. .