The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-14

1SNCtfetbfD oCtfStebN ~
pTayer from the min cloak.
aret of the mosque. lLoosoonoA-a Moorish
Nqbdf-leader. coin of small value.
I-.stnb-a castle. Reeja1l-native of the
a SRA chief. reef mountains,
R1sho-a governor. BeFber-a tribe in Mo-
EaIeefa-a lieutenant. rocco.
Sog,-Iuarket-place. KGdj-a judge.
,5eiiab-a male outer 44doot-a notary
garuept Unldnd--a revenue Oh
ficer.
Part II.
Chapter I.
It was high fair in the Sok ell Fokis the
marketplacc Of Fee, moving mass OF
white haiks, grey jellabs and Maghribi
blankets. Here and there the shaven
head of the Reefan; here and there the
Matted crown lock OF the Berber; mere
and there the dark gabardine and black
skull cap OF the Jew. stalls, with pent-
house shields, wooden booths open to the
sun. wares piled up on the ground. At
fha hack the wall of the old city. and
havcnd the wall the mountains cleavlDg
the sky.
Water carriers were tinkling their heels
and selling water for copper coins. A
black muie-driver was crying "Arrah
Arraht' man on an ass was crushing
through the throng and crying "Balak
Ealak!" A blind beggar was sitting In
the shade of balcony and crying Allan
Allah!'
If was evening. . The sun was setting
on the domes and minarets OF the mos
ques Suddenly there came peal OF
noisy laughter from lane that Went OIL
from the marketplace. The murmur OF
voices ceased. All stopped haggling
and listened.
An old woman was selling dates.
''That's nothing!' she said: "How
much did I say for the basket. Ten moo
zoonah? By the Prophet, l cannot bate
it.
There was another peal of noisy laugh
ter, ard the people began to move off in
the direction of the noise. cts nothing
l say. Only idle clowns killing time.
Six, you say? L am the loser at that
price Yet come
She offered her dates, but the buyer had
disappeared Most of the people had gone
BY this. time Only the stall-keepers were
left, and they began to gather up their
mo use trying to keep an honest roof
over your head these days. said the old
woman, packing her basket. 'Best live
in a tent with those black-faced begging,
chewing Berbers-that's what say. -
A young man came up at the moment,
dressed rakishly. His name was Gilman;
he kept q shop at the other side OF the
market place. $50 dol, o little mother. :"
said he. 'sNow look at this son of the
desert. this men of the book, this brand
new Mahdi--"
s'Oh, it's l. again, is it" said the old
woman. wit, a motion of the head
towards where the people had gone out.
ssNo. but Jellalli making fun of him. "
nThen where's the preacher?" said
another of the stall.keepers.
1.-THE Mahdi?" said Othman. Not
down from the mountains yet. o, therell
be fine doings when he comes tonight.
Those black Berbers are thronging into
The town by hundreds. p"
The old woman packed up quicker.
''Then I'll pack and begone,' she said.
"Plague take the black-faced, thieving
Berbers out of..their dirty tents"
$50 say l, o little MOTHER said 9th
man.
ss"And plague take this Mahdi too, :"
said the old woman, going Off.
1.-The demons fly away with both of
them-both of them-both. -
He was twisting about, laughing to
himself and unconscious of the presence
of a spectator, when he came face to face
with q young girl who had slipped out
on to the balcony of a big house at the
eastern side, and stood leaning with
folded arms and looking down. The
sunset was on her face. She was swarthy,
beautiful.
abashed.
said the girl coldly.
Gilman began tc stammer. I'll
didn't meant didn't know-you'n not
mind what said-will you, AsmaT'
About the MahdiT'
'sNo the Berbers."
The girl mimicked Oth1nan's vcac9 and
manner. 1.-The demons ny away WIN
both OF them eh?''
She was laughing roguishly, and 9th
man Joined her neryously.
'sThat was only to get rid of the old
black cat, and leave the place clear for
a word with somebody, you know, ne
said. Besides, you are not Berber,
.Asma, If your father is one. Why, It's
two years since you came to live with
Rachel, the Jewess.
why aren't you at the Kasbah today?"
said the girl.
Gilman looked amazed. Haven't you
heard the commotion? Jellalli has come
-Jellalli, the poet. -
for?''
ITO make mock of the Mahdi-so
there likely to be sport tonight, can
tell YOU"
And is that why you have put4on your
best new turban, Othman?"
DON'T you make a mock OF me,
Asma," said Othman; and then with an
upward turn of the whites of his eyes,
"Oh, Asma p
''Well, Othman!" said Asma, knocking
him again.
us It two years or two centuries since
your father gave you to Rachel, the
Jewess?"
HGracious saints! Do I look it9" cried
Asma.
mo, but I feel it, said Gilman.
t'Asma, your father is sure to be here
tonight and I'll ask him again. I'll
offer him something for your dowry, and
If he takes it we shall be married within
a week. :"
''But if not-what then?"
''Then I'll poison myself, I'll drown
myself. I'll burn myself, and everything
have. l will, by Allah!' :,
"And by Allah the more fool you,
said the girl. 'EOtbman, you talk big OF
the Berbers, but if a Berber wanted
camel and offered to buy it and the owner
wouldn't sell it, though he couldn't want
it for himself. and had lent 1T to some-
body who didn't prize it-what do you
think he would do?''
WhF what?"
Why take it, you donkey, take it for
nothing" said the girl.
Gilman olapped his hands. HAsma!
hat a girl you arel You ought to he
la'ni"