Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-11
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER AAt.
Il wonder II that Greek will come to her
senses and supplant me-" unused Ferende.
IF she keeps on at her present rate Kos
takes will soon get over his infatuation.
Lord! but she's growing ugly, with that
sallow complexion and those big black
marks under her eyes. She never saw the
day she was half as beautiful as / am.
Going to Panayota's room, she took down
the key that was hanging outside the door
and went in. Locking the door on the In
side, she stood for a moment looking at the
girl, who sat on the side of the bed, her
face buried in her hands. Panayota glanced
up when Ferende first entered and then
took no further notice of her visitor. She
knew that this was the favorite, although
Ferende consulting her dignity, had had
! little to say to her.
Panayota, very sweetly, Il am your
friend: l. too. am a Greek. and was
brought up in the Greek religion but the
Turks killed my father and mother and
took me away when l was very young l
cannot help being what am. but If were
In your place would let them kill me be-
fore they should turn me into a Turk And
you priests daughter too!'
The woman spoke Greek with a native ac-
cent. sudden wild hope thrilled Panayo-
ta's bosom. She sprang to her feet and ran
toward Ferende with arms outstretched.
1.-The Holy Virgin bless you! So you have
come to set me free?"
Now, Ferende could not do this. however
much she would have liked to. Could Aye
sha and Souleima once fix upon her the
blame Of having disobeyed command of
their common husband. subsequent wiles
could save her from complete degradation.
oh, l dare not set you free now she
faltered, somewhat embarrassed by the
suddenness of the demand, but"
Then save me. Holy Virgin!' cried Pa
nayota, the bright CLEAN Of hope dying
within her. leaving her soul darker than
lie ut haly fnr
Aren't you ashamed. coming here to mock
me? What else do l want except to get out
of this place-this brothel? You say you
are a Greek and l believe you are from
your accent. But what could l expect from
you? You worse than Turk, for
their women believe at least that they are
honestly married. But you-bah! You are
a common thing!'
Ferende WINGED under this torrent of
abuse, but there was certain point which
she wished to make sure
You talk very bravely now, my lady"
she replied. MANY Greek girls have talked
like that before. But after Kostakes has
had his way with you by force, then what
will you do? No Greek will want you then
and there will be nothing for you to do ex-
cept to become one of US. It's easy enough
for a girl to remain Christian as long as she
can save her honor. but after that is gone
the Christians are more cruel than the
Turks. Then the only way to remain re-
spectacle Is to turn Turk
Il swear to you by the soul of my father
whom Kostakes murdered that I will die
before 1 will yieldr' cried Panayota
Ferende with difficulty suppressed an ex-
clamation of joy. Stimulating a sorrow
which she was far from feeling, she laid
her hand on Panayota's shoulder and muir
INJURED:
me. Panayota, for speaking so harshly, but
you were very hard on me. Now we can
sympathize with each other. indeed. Both
my parents were murdered by the Turks
7 met h1f nhnr
friend. Hold out against Kostakes and
will find some way to help you"
She turned to leave the room. but Pana-
yota caught her by the sleeve.
Help me to escape from here" she sob
bed. II beg of you in the name Of your
| Christian mother. and will pray the Virgin
| every night to bless you"
Ferende locked the door behind her and
hung up the key. 81 1'
| "Kostakes will never have much fun with
| her. she soliloquized, and she went down
stairs humming a popular Greek song
Finding Ayesha and Souleima still in the
| court exchanging gallant condolences, she
strolled up to them with the insolent air of
| q queen.
Get up, you women" she said, land pre-
| pare dinner"
Poor Ayesha and souleima looked in
| quiringly into each others eyes Thus was
| Ferende wont to act after some special
| confidence. They arose slowly. The favor
! lite 1erked away the rug and spread it in an
attractive nook OF shade beneath the null
| berry tree. Sitting upon 1t, she removed
her gold embroidered slippers and crossed
| her stockined feet beneath her. AS the two
older wives glanced at her. their hearts
sank within them. She certainly did not
| have the appearance Of a deposed queen.
| Her eyes, recently treated with belladonna
had a melting, lustrous look. suggestive of
passion. The little touch of henna under
the lower fringe of lashes added a slight
| look of abandon. Her trousers of magenta
silk. and her sleeveless purple Jacket EN-
broidered with gold thread. were immacu-
of dust. which she removed with dainty fin-
ger tips. Twisted carelessly about her
waist, with the knotted ends hanging loose
| ly at one side, was a broad sash with vel
| low and magenta stripes. Passing her hand
| beneath this, she extracted a silver cigar
| cite case. Putting brown cigarette nc
| larger in diameter than a slate pencil ons
| of the sort that is two-thirds paper tube
| and one-thfrd tobacco. into her mouth. she
called out lazily between her closed teeth:
orl