The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-11-24

not wise to have waking Dreams" he
observed very quietly; s'if you are now
thoroughly aroused we will direct our
attention to business"
With the gravity of sultan discus
sing the alternative of war or peace,
Boabdil selected his purchases, bar
gaining without loss of dignity, and
even condescend;ng to pleasantries on
the subject ofSpanish prices. 1t tneed-
cd all the wits of the jeweller, alert and
aulacious as he was, to complete with
his stately antagon s..
''Is that ALL" Lorenzo asked at
length, rapidly counting and slowing
away his money in a leather wallet, as
he spoke.
Boabdil reflected for moment zone
thing you have not, which I should
wish for" be said slowly; "a forehead
ornament of flawless rubies, rubies
blood red'
Lorenzo started slightly, as if in the
voice of the Moor he had detected a
hidden menace, but the face of Boab-
dill preserved it's unruffled calm.
Shaking off suspicion, the jeweller
answered briskly; at is true that, at
present, have no forehead ornament
of rubies, but next week / shall he
coming up again from Tangier to WIS.,
it the house of Mahomet Ali; I then
might find something to please YOU
"Bnt to take you from your path, :"
Boabdil courteously suggested.
Not at all, not at all,' Lorenzo
FASTENED to assure him: "Certainly
next week you may expect me with
the ornament The Spaniard gayly
threw his cappa over his shoulder, and,
taking up his PACK, salaamed respect
fully, as he left the presence of the
Moor
For moment Boabdil stood by the
fountain, observing with absent gaze
the trinkets in his hand. The f1utter
of a woman's robe disturbed him. He
raised his eyes and beheld Ayxa. In
al hour her whole demeanor had
changed. The spirit of fiendish and
exultant hate cleaned in the long
kohl-blackened eyes, and trembled or
her pale lips. Still she refrained.
'Have I permission to speak, she
asked, humbly touching the edge Of
his robe with her lips.
Boabdil, regarded her attentively,
said slowly: "Speak!'
"My lord hath been dishonored.
She, whom he exalteth above the poor
Ayxa hath brought him to shame. l
have proofs, proofs, if my lord will
listen."
Without replying Boabdil advanced,
and seizing the woman by the wrists,
threw her on her knees. "Yon lie,"
he Missed, ''and, by the prophet, you
have looked for the last time upon the
sunlight. You speak truth, and next
week you are sold in the slave market
at Tangier. Listen, dog!"
Ayxa stared dumbly at him, with
eyes in which not even extreme terror
could subduc that wild joy Of trium-
plant hate.
"My lord shall judge for himself"
sue gasped, trembling violently, 'if my
lord will follow me, and remember that
when last he beheld Zoraya she wore
q crimson scarf embroidered with gold.
Allah ackbar, am the slave and hand
maid of lord. Let him destroy me ut
terly if | lie or speak deceitfully."
A week later, to the day, Lorenzo
Ga Mandajo again knocked at the gate
of the Moor, Boabdil Aspetuan. The
Nubian servant who admitted him
showed him to the outer court. and
bade him wait.
Very soon the Moor appeared, in
snowy robes, tall, dignifed, imposing,
bringing with him his own atmosphere
of serenity and composure. In his
had he carried small basket, which
he placed on the pavement beside him.
s'And the rubies, were you able to
secure them p he asked, aftera kindly
greeting.
''Behold them!' Morenzo proudly
exclaimed, holding up the really beau
tiiul ornament sparkling in the sun
light. Boabdil admired tue stones
carefully, praising their color, and paid
the heavy price the jeweller demanded
without demur. Then, lifting the
basket from TIE pavement, he said
quietly, but with smile that froze the
very marrow in the bones OF Mandajo:
Last week you had the pleasure of
showing me many ornaments, whilst
|, selGshly, kept all my ornaments hid
den. You were fortunate enough,
however. to discover one hy stealth
a pretty face, was it not? Obliye me
by re, ,u.lIg if this one is the same,
for, in that case, | shall ask you, with
your own hands, to place upon the
forehead the ornament of rubies, blood
red
He lifted the lid of the basket, and
held up to the Mortified gaze Of the
Spaniard a severed head.-N. 7. Home
Journal.