The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-09-05

THIS is the quaint legend that l
heard half-recited, half-chanted
BY an old Arab, one evening when I
had Joined small group which sur
rounded him:
at is not only the birds, but also the
flowers which have wings. In the kingdom
of the sun lived a sultan great and just,
beloved of God, who blessed him in his
children, and dropped from Heaven the
souls of three houris, the self-same day
that his favorite sultana brought into the
world three daughters SO alike that their
own mother was not able to distinguish
them from each other. She placed upon
their cradles three different flowers, pink
for the elder Leila; white for the younger,
Nedji blue for the third, Hadje. They
grew like the palm tree tall, and blossomed
like the lotos. Each had green eyes, not
Of sad green like the leaves Of the fig
tree, but of deep green like the waves of
the sea. The leaves fell from the tree of
life II times before they had felt the flower
Of love. They seemed to wait the coming
Of the mysterious friend, as the first star
Of the evening.
"One day some unbelievers entered the
country of the prophet with their chief,
who was Christian. blond and pale as the
snow Of his country, and with eyes the
color of the sea. When the sisters saw him
at his audience with the grand sultan,
they trembled, and all three loved him, for
their hearts were as one. Love is fire in
Asia, where perfumes change to poison,
but 1t is ice in Europe, where the sky is
covered with clouds and the rose without
perfume. But the avaricious Frank had
come to conquer gold, not women, and soon
ieft bearing away his riches-as if gold,
ray from earth, was worth more than
love, ray from Heaven. They did not
weep at his departure, but said: He is the
lover OF our soul, and we must go to him. ,
After embracing their brother, they went
IN the night from their gilded palace, alone
saying: We are going to the icy country
10 md again our master But it was too
iar from the land of the faithful to that
Oh the accursed, and when they had
walked for long time, they stopped and
said to each other:
1t Is here that we must dien
AND they died with hands Joined, as
"hen they came into the world. But an
anger saw them In that hour, and cried to
Mahomet:
All powerful master the three houris
nave died while seeking their beloved
The prophet felt a tear in his ewes as he
looked at them then he said:
put they may be f1owers-Leila pink
HeaJe white, and Hadje blue. like the
no"ers OF their cradle, and may have wings
Ihe Inc olrds, that they may yet seek their
oeioVed, as they sought him when they
we're women. And the wind will be their
servant; it will carry them upon its breath
.S en sprlnstlme, from land to land, so
.h haa tney may find again the one whom
sres seeh; tney will blossom everywhere,
., zen 10 the last day of the world, where
m vIha
oil souls "tii 'ouso
Inc three flowers blossomed upon the
mountain, and the word of Mahomet has
zen accomplished ever since
not only the birds, but the flowers
siso which have wings"
ne areW from his bosom three
shaii nowers as large as violets-
pink white and blue, as he had told.
.hey We're the three sisters. Then
.ne Arabs knelt, and their prayers
commenced.
II you please, sir" said a voice he
nino me, at the moment was going.
turned and found myself in the
presence OF an Englishman, tall. ele-
ean., handsome and distinguished.
slr' said he to me, with a bow, 81
g am Lord Nj. / have been listen.
ing to the Arabs story, and 1 noticed
,Ads you wrote down his words. We
~ not understand the language, and
my lady, who noticed his gestures
would be most happy to have the
translation. l pray you to excuse
,ms request, which may seem a little
o0id, and count upon your charity
70 obtain this favor"
His courtesy was too genuine tc
permit me to hesitate, besides his re-
Yues. was for lady. l answered
.ha1 was quite at my lady's orders
and would be charmed to render SC
shght service.
WIZ you, then, do us the favor te
come and take tea with us this even
ing, at the consulate where we ar.
staying?"
Ahat evening, in the consulate.
was duly presented to Lady NJ. sh,
ppeared very pale and nervous. ane
uso the, reserved air of the womer
~ heF country. but without the af