The Portland daily press., 1898-01-24
fALL RIGHTS REsERvED.l

Rachel tried to speak, began, stopped,
began again, and finally said, Il do not
know-I cannot think. But 90 not let
Omar go with Otba. "
Booker exchanged glances with Asad.
Fatima looked eagerly into the Maho1
face. Omar's eyes were on the ground.
Rachel was violently agitated. The
crowd caught the contagion OF her emo
ton. The one man in the mosque with
self control was the Mahd1 himself.
"Why not?" he asked calmly.
Rachel began to stammer an explana-
tion. "I-I-I-'' She could get no fur
ther. "What shall say? How can /
speak?" she thought. Then she cried
aloud, ''Do not torture me-"
There was murnur of establishment
among the people, but theSMahdi .smiled.
Rachel, my wife, understand you, -
he said tenderly. "Your pride has con-
Islam, and you would fain see no man
but your husband at the head of it."
Rachel drew her breath with relief, but
Fatima Cried -"No, no, noP
And Booker nodded bis head.
The Mahdi was still unmoved. "Fati-
ma, my sister, I understand you also, -
hesssaid as tenderly as before. "Your love
hour of lslam's danger, and you would
fain see any man but your brother at the
front of it.
/. The commotion in the mosque was now
great. Omar made one step up to the
rostrum. "Mahdi,'' he said, 81, am
ready; which is it to be2''
The Mahdi hesitated for moment.
Then he said, "The people shall decide.
Congregation of OadIa, you have heard
voice and give il without fear. The
MehdS oy Omar-Which? '
At that there was q universal shout of
"Omar Omarp'
The Mahdi listened, bent his bend and
answered, Omar it shall be! And do
not fear that grudge your choice. That
name is soun1 more welcome TO me
than rain in desert island" Then
takine,a step down to the place where
Omar stood he put one hand on his
shoulder and said, "Omar, my successor,
my friend, my brotherP'
Amid the tumult in the mosque
Rachel's emotion at that moment was
observed by one man only; that man
was Omar He slipped to her side and
Whispered: ''Be silent; your secret shall
die with me. Let mine end with you"
But Rachel could not control herself.
"No, OPP she cried aloud.
ssLoye him, honor him. Farewell ~
whispered Omar.
at shall not be- cried Rachel. Then
turning to Asma she said in low voice ::
"Run, girl, run; search the town again,
see if the black boy is gone. Tell him
not to go"
Mahdi had returned to the rostruTn.
"Larby,'' he called, Ego for my own
horse it shall be my parting gift to
Omar"
Lsrby went out on the errand.
"And Rachel" said the Mahdi, 'slet
all the honours that you meant for the
Mahdi be done to Omar"
st cannot, will mott Rachel began.
MAY" said the Mahdi; lido not
grudge him one of Them
Rachel's emotion was mastering her.
"He will never come back" she mutt
tered.
BOOKER had returned to her side.
"What did you say?" he asked.
And Fatima, who was. near. repeated
theIquestion.
Rachel was caught in her own trap.
Nothing, nothing but" she said, and
stopped again as she looked in the faces
about her. "How they twatch me?' she
thought.
Boobker's little eyes Etwinkled suspic-
iously. "Would you still have the Mahdi
go?" he asked.
Rachel was in torment. ''No, neither
neither rnow-neither Omar nor my
husband. 1t is death"
Booker lifted his eyebrows. "WhatS''
said Fatima.
Omar touched Rache's gown. 'Hush,
hush % he whispered.
Rachel's tongue was tied. She could
neither speak nor make sign, neither tell
her husband of the fate that awaited
Omar in Fez. for that would be to betray
her design on his own life; nor suffer the
murderer of her father to go to the death
she had prepared, for that would be to
kill him for the crime that came OF his
love of herself.
hCome, Rachel" said the Mahdi, "the
sheepskin HAITIAN of the pilgrim-these
lham-with your own hands you shall
dress him.
There was no help for it. She was
compelled to do to her lover as she had
promised to do to her husband. With a
mighty effort she took up the garments,
where Asma had left them, and put them
onto Omar. All eyes were on her. The
Mahdi was watching every movement.
"Now, my girdle," he said.
With vet greater effort [she took the pill
grim scarf and girded it onto Omar.
CHOW. my sword, "..said the Mahdi.
Shegg ,rded the sword onto Omar.
"Goodp said the Mahdi.
There was sound of distant music.
"What noise is that?' cried Rachel.
"A
of the mosque playing on tabrets.
"Your maidens, hRachel, your / maid
ems p said she Mahdi-
But Rachel was now beside herself
with terror. "Who sent for them2' she
cried. Then she checked herself. All
was not yet lost. "Where ia Asma9" she
thought
Larby came back to the Mahdi's side.
ssYour horse is not in the stable, my
lord p he said.
At this Same moment Asma returned TO
Rachel. "The black boy has gone," she
whispered.
"No matter" cried the Mahdi. Rachel,
lead your. maidens before him to the gate.
Are you ready?'
'Whet must be. must be-" thought
Rachel. Then snatching a tambourine
from one of the girls and laughing s-hys-
terically, she cried, Yes ready readyr'
"The music! Strike upn cried the
Mahdi He stood on the topmost step,
snatched & torch from a bystander and
held it high over his head.
The crowd parted. Rachel took her
place at the head of the girls. With a
terrible effort she tried to walk on, jaun-
tiIy, and play the taInbourine that was