The Portland daily press., 1898-01-17
GALL RIGHTS REsERvED.l


"God is great, repeated omar.
Then he assembled the. steps and d1sap-
peared over the balcony like man ma WALK lS3
ing under SPELL Jonas and Otba stood
moment in the empty market place
watching him.
81 ghaIf mistrust him." said Jonas
"He's brave to excess, and that's cow
arilce.
Then they went off together.
Othman came painting from the ambush
of a door and called up at the balcony in
voice of fear, "Asna Aslnal Asma ~
The girl appeared in the moonlight,
hooded for their flight. care you ready,
Othman?' she whispered down.
ssYes-no-we must watt said 9th
man, in bewildered way.
whats amiss? Speak" said Asma.
"Hush There's to be murder in this
house tonight. Omar is to kill the
"Omari He's with my mistress now.
1 II tell her. -
ION your life-no,''. said Othman.
stBut as soon as he is alone tell the
Mahdi. Quick, girl, quick %
Asma went back into the house and
Othman hurried away.
Rachel was waiting in the patio of her
house. She was now true daughter of
her people-a woman capable of great
love, great hatred, great devotion and
great revenge.
n The patio was open to the sky 1.-THE night
was dark, but the stars were shining.
The moon was not yet risen above the
walls. A warm red glow came from q
window of room where in a lamp was
burning
Omar approached with slow steps, and
Rachel received him with a soft cry of
Joy. There were some whispered words,
and then Omar said, uneasily, "But why
did ycusbring him here?'
'sHush p said Rachel. care you vexed
that what I have asked you to do will
be SO much the easier done?"
"In another moment the people would
have done it for you, without deceit and
without treaohery. But for you they must
have stoned him to DEATH
Rachel. laughed. $50 he thinks, but he
is wrong,' she said. His shrewd
tongue had already divided them, and
then these merchants from Tadla-'
SAT least they would have driven him
out of Fez tonight" said Omar.
"And he would have returned to il in
the morning. said Rachel. mo, there
was but one way, Omar, call it by what
bad name you will.
"My love- my dearest What has he
done to deserve itp Mercy beseems a
woman, Rachel, if vengeance BELTS a
man."
Rachel threw back her head. 'fAnd SO
this madman,'' she began, in low,
deep, passionate voice
eff he is mad it is enough to pity
him." said Omar.
''The mad are sometimes dangerous"
began Rachel again.
'1What danger is there in him? If only
he was tyrant, a despot, Basha But
he is an outcast, a pariah, all but q beg
gar, and to lay hands on him is TO insult
calamity itself. / cannot do it. There
is nothing to prompt me, nothing to
Justify me, nothing'-he looked at her
significantly. Nothing save one
thing"
Rachel turned aside every well. Good
nightr she said coldly.
'fTell me what he has done, and will
do it, said Omar impulsively.
"He has injured me, deeply, very deeply
past mercy and past forgiveness said
Rachel.
"And you have chosen me to avenge
your"
81 have chosen you to avenge me-
"For what said Omar.
Rachel did not answer Immediately
tThat,'' she said at length, sis my Sc
cret.''
Omar began to stammer, 81 know that
he"
"Make no conjecture?' said Rachel.
"Is it, said Omar solemuly, ''is it
that
"Guess no more" said Rachel.
"If.' said Omar, still solemnly. "if it
is"
Rachel turned back to him and whis-
pered in his ear in low voice like
caress. "Come to me when it is done and
1 will tell you everything" Then put
ting her arms about his neck, Dearest,
she said, chance has delivered him into
our hands SO put no more arguments to
me, put them to Fate.
Omar started at the word. "Yes, Fate
has brought me here,' he said.
''Have you not come by my appoint
mentY'
"We drew lots-I, Jonas the Jew, and
Otba."
"And the lot fell to you?"
"The lot fell to me"
There was silence for q moment and
then Rachel laughed and said. "This is
great news. Who can escape his des-
tinyp'
'FWho. indeed?"
''Now you can have no fear. Heaven
has willed it,
SIT must be so. If there is any guilt
the guilt is not mine said Omar.
"Who dare say it is?'' said Rachel.