The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22
GULNARE'S RUSE.

An old Arab some 90 years Of age, feel
Ing something like King David In his an
dlulty, took young dninsel TO his heart
and home. The old story OF l6 and 90,
with dashing young gallant Of 25 be-
tween, again ensued, with the usual con
sequences Poor Gulnare was locked up
in her harcm and guarded by her tyrant
with jealou; care.
One day bdallAh-ibn.J .Jusuf brought
home fine watermelon wherewith 10 ~
gale himself and his fair bride and then
returned 20 bis business, whatever II might
be. In the meantime GulnAre sat at her
lattice window, her "julousle," and rincd
for the gallant her soul hdortd As she
sat thinking and pining and longing, a
rry Of Fish from tho lake Fish. o
lady struck upon her ear, and, ghzinP
down below, she bcheld u fisher boy with a
basket VI little fish for sale.
An idea-a sublime idea-struck the
loyesick GulBare, and, calling the fisher
boy, she let down basket and bought h
dozen Of his wares. with the greatest care
she then made as many incisions In thn
melon, and, carefully inserting the fish In
the holows, nicely closed up the apertuFes
with the light green rlnd. With height.
ened color and In a perfect fever Of excite
ment Gulnare awaited the arrival Of her
spouse. At last he came, and, greeting
him with feigned admiration worthy OF
her se1, she set the melon before him.
Taking his knife, AbdAllah, the son Of
Joseph, proceeded TO open the fruit when,
10 his infinite surprise, he found a fish i'm
bedded In the luscious crimson interior
The second cut discovered another, and Sc
on, each incision bringing fresh one "a
light.
God Is great Behold, o Gulnarep
cried a bdallah. "Some strife has been al
work here What Is TO be doDeS Let u
send for Hadji OsBnn, the deryish, to OK
orcise the fruit Those fish are the Il
uumuns ~ lanJa tBat were bound ny sol
omon, the king, and II we touch them W.
shall be ruined and they set free.
"Nonsenser' said Gulnare. "Tho melor
grew near the lake, and the fish have eater
their way into It. Dost thou think, o sor
Of Joseph, that thou alone hast likinf
tor fish, Qulet thy mind and thank Allal
that he enabled thee TO mike n double bar
gain with thy money. Quiet thy mind, {
my lord, and will prepare thee n suppe
Of fish such AZ thou never hust enjoyed
and hold, thy ket shall afLerward DO n
the first hour IN paradise umid tho u
hours a llah viii give thee "
Theroupou, like dutiful spouse ah
proceeded 10 cock th0 miraculous fish witt
her own fair hands. Altr rcmnining ab
sent some Little .tim0 4he returned with
perfectly innIcrnt Uir, snyIng:
"Sory Gm !, O ny lord, to hayo d.
tRincd you with ny tci.ct Let M rny
enjoy tLnfruit you7 Lorrty has provided.
Bat whero ,a tac fish"
"Fish? what fhhF'
"Why, tho ID W. found in the melon.
"Fish in tn' va'GTr'9nl Alluh nkhar
what does my lilo ueanT
"Wby, did we not fad ~ little fish II
the melon / brought from tho bazaar
Didst thon not say thyself thoy had oatc
their way into it2'
"AllGh, ha'c mercy upon mel Aman
Amnn Now think my lord Is wander
ing in his mind. Whoever heard Of u ils
living in u Waiernclonr"
'Sconng daughter of an improper pei
son, replied tie irato Ahdallah, "toas
thy foolish talk ard bring me the fish, o
by the beard Of tho prophet will chasts
thee for thy inpertincnce
"Fish IN watermelonl Ha, ha, ha
Pray to the prophet old graybeard, tina
he preserve thy senses V'AllRh (by A.
lah), fear me thou art possessedP
This was too much for A bdallah to beal
and, ssizing his wife by the shoulders,
Gava her sound box on thu anS