Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-09-12


Qrom Town and Country New York. Reprinted by
Special Permission)
THIS is the quaint legend that
heard half-recited, half-chanted
by an old Arab, one evening when l
had Joined a 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 sultan great and just,
beloved Of God who blessed him in his
children, and dropped from Heaven the
souls of three hours, 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 q sad green like the leaves Of the fig
tree, but Of a 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 walt the coming
of the mysterious friend, as the first star
Of the evening,
Zone day some unbellevers 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 II 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
left, bearing away his riches-as If gold
a ray from earth, was worth more than
love, a 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
| TO find again our master. But It was too
| far from the land Of the faithful to that
| of the aceursed, and when they had
walked for a long time, they stopped and
! said to each other:
| 1T is here that we must die!
"And they died with hands Joined as
when they came into the world, But an
angel saw them in that hour, and cried to
Mahomet;
"'All powerful master, the three hours
have died while seeking their beloved
1.-The prophet felt a tear in his eyes as he
| looked at them, then he said
"'But they may be flowers-Leila pink,
| Medic white, and Hadje blue, like the
flowers of their cradle, and may have wings
| like the birds, that they may yet seek their
beloved, as they sought him when they
were women And the wind will be their
servant; II will carry them upon its breath
each springtime, from land to land, so
| that they may find again the one whom
| they seek; they will blossom everywhere,
| even to the last day of the world, where
! they will find him, when Allah will judge
all souls
1.-THE three flowers blossomed upon the
mountain, and the word of Mahomet has
| been accomplished ever since.
1T is not only the birds, but the flowers
also which have wings"
He drew from his bosom three
small flowers as large as violets-
pink, white and blue, as he had told
They were the three sisters. Then
the Arabs knelt, and their prayers
commenced.
eff you please, sir" said voice be-
hind me, at the moment l was going
turned and found myself in the
presence of an Englishman, tall, ele-
giant, handsome and distinguished.
Sir" said he to me, with bow, 81
am Lord M. l have been listen.
ing to the Arabs story, and noticed
that you wrote down his words. We
do not understand the language, and
my lady, who noticed his gestures
would be most happy to have the
translation. pray you to excuse
this request, which nay seem a little
bold, and I count upon your charity
to obtain this favor"
His courtesy was too genuine tC
permit me to hesitate, besides his re
quest was for lady, l answered
that was quite at my lady's orders
and would be charmed to render 81
slight a service.
'Will you, then, do US the favor tt
come and take tea with us this even
ing. at the consulate where we arr
, staying?"
That evening, in the consulate,
was duly presented to Lady M. Sh
!, appeared very pale and nervous, ant
! had the reserved air of the womel
t of her country, but without the at
fectation of prudery, which mad
Byron so angry. Her eyes were low
, cred without ceasing; but thi
! seemed natural, for she was not owe
p. IS years of age. She received me pc
. litely and let her husband remind m
of the translation promised. l Tea
it slowly, trying only to put into To-
! voice that kind Of indefinable melan
J choly note which had accompanie
the chant of the raconteur.
When 1 had finished, the youn
e woman, instead of taking part in IN
e usual reflections, remained seated a
: if lost in thought. A little aston
ished at that Indifference, ! al
preached her, and asked her opinion
: She slowly raised the long lashe
: which seemed to veil her soul, an
answered in low voice these words
"And l, also, have green eyes"
Eight days after l counted myse
If as one of Lord Ms good friend
IT and started with himself and wife fC
Naples. l knew now the secret
= the phrase;
:, "And 1, also, have green eyes"
u They had married my lady to n
n lord because he was most admiral
suited to her rank, age and forum
= AS he was a man of charming e
l. terror and exceedingly accomplish
p the poor young girl, at the most il
questionable age, loved him with
- the strength of her soul, The your
=, man, after the months consecrat'
!, to the honeymoon, judged that
as show love for his wife was almost u
dignified In q man destined to &c
tain future In the house OF lords,
q. the FDsom races. Now, when an En-