The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-06

When the lady heard these lines repeat
ed in tone of gentle despair, she was
pleased with the delicacy of the allusion
and moved by the passionate air of the
poet. Thus twas that she cast on him a
long regard of sympathy, and then, maxi
ing sign for the merchant to approach
her, softly whispered: 'Who is this young
man, and whence cometh hep
He is Ali Ben Bekar," quoth the deal
err, "of a noble foreign race, and is as
honorable as he is handsome He is also
my dear friend"
Truly he doth please me-" she replied.
"See now. Abul-Hassan. II, after my de-
parture, l send one TO bid thee and him
come together to the palace. be not aston
ishedl l would have him know that there
are in Baghdad chambers as splendid,
and ladies' as courteous, and dancers as
skilled, and music as moving as any In
the land he cometh from" and the mer-
chant said, BE IL on mine eyes, and on
mine head"
On this the beautiful young lady re-
placed her veil with care. and went forth
from the shop. leaving behind her from
her garments the fragrance of candalwood
and jasmine.
The merchant had scarcely finished CIV
ing his explanations to his friends when
a little female slave appeared, withdrew
near and whispered in the ear to Abul-
Hassan, My mistress, the lady Seha nsen-
nahar, desires thee to come, thee and thy
companion" On this the merchant rose,
made a sign to All Ben-Bekar, and clos
ing the door of his shop, they followed
the little slave, who led them directly to
the gateway of the palace OF the khalif
In entering Ali believed himself trans
ported to the kingdom of the Jinns, where
all is beautiful beyond the tongue of man
to describe. But the little slave afforded
him no time to express establishment for
striking her hands one against the ether
at a silver-plated door. a nesress appear
ed with a great gold dish upon her head
loaded with roast meats and confection-
cry and fruits. The smell alone OF this
repast was too ravishing to neglect, and
while the visitors joyously partook tie lit
tie slave waited on them assiduously, and
at the end brought in a basin of gold
with perfumed water. and gave them en-
broidered towels. pouring from a ever OF
chiseled gold enriched with rubies and dia-
monds, and full of rose water, with which
they wiped their faces boards and hands
Afterward she brought them essence Of
aloe blossom in a crystal flask with which
she perfumed their garments. This lone,
she opened the door, and, praying thnm to
follow. led them into a noble apartment
of exquisite design.
1t was indeed a hall rooted with a dome
sustained by twenty-four pillars of -ure
transparent alabaster the bases and capt.
tails being carved with a most subtle art,
The sections of the dome were delicately
painted in lively colors on a ground of
gold. In the vacant spaces stood great
cups and vases cut In Jasper. agate and
crystal full of flowers; and this hall OPEN
ed by a pavement of pretty mosaic work
like the pattern of a carpet into a garden
green, and bright and fragrant under the
blue sky.
And there in the garden Ali and his
at,-.,l..
young girls with black eyes and rosy
cheeks. each of them holding stringed
instrument And at a sign from the lit
tie slave these struck up together pre-