The Portland daily press., 1898-01-22
CHAPTER vi.

CHAPTER vi.
When she was alone Rachel went to a
cupboard In the wall and took the wri
ting materials of the East-the reed pen,
the sand, the paper and the ink.
"At last, at last, the chance have
waited for has come at lasti" she
thought.
Then she sat ON the mattress and wrote
this letter:
"Otba the Berber, is a traitor, fallen
into the tolls of the Mahdi. With five
hundred men he will claim protection
from Fez. One of his company will be Q
certain great Mahdist in pilgrims skirt
and hood. Watch for him, receive and
reward him as he may deserve. This,
in haste and secrecy, from
The letter being finished she went to
the little door and called "Mubarak!
Mubarak p
A black boy came into the room.
"Mubarak," she whispered, ''you have
often promised me that you could find
your way back to Fee. The time has
come to go. Say nothing to anyone, sad
die the Mahdi's swiftest horse. Take
this paper in your hair-so.' She rolled
up the paper and knotted it in the boys
locks. tWhen you reach Fee deliver it to
the Basha. Show it to no one else. Now
90, lose not moment"
At the next instant the black boy was
gone. Rachel called again, "Asmai As
NAL"
Asma came, and Rachel said, "Let the
girls from the school bring their kettle
| drums to the mosque tonight. The
Mahdi is leaving for Fee with your father
Otba. We are to follow him with
Omar.
uplifted eyes.
II said Omar, child, Omar" said
aBut said Gilman, and 1 shall see
him again. o joy, jov, joyl"
| :As Asma went out by the little door
Omar returned by the colonnade. Ra-
chel saw him come in and made cry OF
Joy. But Omar's face was dark. what
| is this that Booker tells me?" he asked
what was it that I told youg'' cried
Rachel, sYou will live to see it, Omari''
| She was going toward him to throw
herself into his arms, but Omar recoiled
from her.
"What else did you say?'' he said in q
hard voice, "that to set foot in Fee was
all but certain death. Yet you are send
ing the Mahdi there-the Mahdi of al
men,"
She approached him again. "Do moi
touch me, know you now," he said.
"Omarl'
"From this hour all love dies out of my
heart. I hate you, loathe you, l de
| spise your
The words smote Rachel as with 6
blow. "Stop! What are you saying?
she said.
"Traitorous woman! murderess sait
Omar.
"Stop, stop''
"You are sending your husband to hi
death"
Stung and degraded Rachel recovered
herself at last. .'Even SO, what thenT
she said with anger. "Just punishment
for sending another to his death befor'
him.
Omar drew his breath hard. "What d.
you mean?'' he said.
$50 you have forgotten already!'' sait
Rachel. "Two years ago I begged yot
to revenge me upon the Mahdi. You
asked why? I promised to tell you whe,
the thing was done. 1t as my secret; ant
I have kept it until now"
Omar was trembling. "What is itP'
he demanded.
Rachel was laughing bitterly. :"
sna tohed him from the crowd and tool
him into my house in Fee; I, followed
him when you had failed me, ant
brought him to marry me when yo!l hat
meant-I always looked forward to it
At the height of his power, at the top
most reach Of his ambition, on that da!
when the dream of his life came true m,
bolt should fall"
'What is itP' Omar asked again.
Rachel came closer. She looked int
his face.
| "He killed my father
-"Oh, my Cog my God !" criet
Omar, burying his face in both hands
"Rachel," he cried in an awful voice
| "your bolt has fallen-not on the Maid
| but on me. I killed your father"
| Rachel fell back from him. "Youf'
| ''That night he had turnd me out O
| his house came back to taunt him-tt
tell him that if I could not have hi
money 1 should have his daughter, for
loved yon, and spite of father or faith OF
race you should be mine. He struck IN,
4 struck back-he fell. had killed
him. 1t was for love of you. Rachel; fol-
love of you. And now the fends them
selves must be making mock Of both O.
us. am your fathers murderer. but yor
have chosen me to avenge his murder
you have betrayed the innocent imam, bu
| the doom that was meant for him mus
fall on me-.
Omar went out hurriedly. Rache
sank back on the mattress; and the came
driver stial sang below the Window
| "Camel driver, camel driver,
Where rest ye fought?
BY the springs of the desert
| Tho w atere nf Ifpht -