Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-10-31

Sahag and bis wife.
My dear little friends. said Varyasa
to the girls, who stood in fear and
trembling before her. "a great happi
ness awaits YOU. You will soon be
surrounded hy luxury and riches, but
you cannot accept this good fortune
until you have passed through a novi-
tIate. | viii take the trouble of teach
ing you the art of pleasing your future
master and of being able TO keep his
affections.
And you," she continued in an iron
iCal tone, turning to Naome, the first
things that you must learn will be ODE
dienCe and submission. so let me give
you some good advice. Resign yourself
to your fate You will find an excel
lent master in Sahag, but if you are
refractory
''Ah, in that case" added the Ar
menian, who had Just entered, Il know
of certain means which have proved
efticacious on other occasions
So saying, he seized large whip and
made it whistle through the air with
such force that his pretty wife broke
out into loud, brutal laugh.
The prisoner made no reply. lowered
his head and yielded himself to their
mercy.
Sahag employed him at various work
in the house and gardens. NaOme prov
ing himself capable and willing. In a
months time the Armenian was suffi-
ciently well satisfied with his docility
to offer him for sale to a rich widow
who was desirous of purchasing 4
slave.
Naome cast a timid glance upon his
possible owner. She was graceful
slender woman Of medium height, en-
veloped In a blue cloak embroidered in
gold, and he noticed, in spite of he2
thick veil, that the dark eyes examined
him attentively Il am Offering you
Naome upon the shoulder: young.
strong, intelligent, good tempered and
of excellent family. You will find him
perfection, Xamira Ben OpoTto, and
warrant you would much prefer having
such face as that before you than
that of repulSive negro
Zamira made no reply. contenting
herself by making Il careful cEamina-
tion Of the merchandise offered. She
inspected his teeth. his muscles. his
arms, very much As she would have cx-
amined young horse in WAich She did
not propose being deceived and finally
giving him two vigorous blows upon
the chest she nodded acquieScently and
began bargaining with @ahaG. The
consumed considerable time,
but at last the price was agreed upon,
the widow paid for the new slave and
an hour later he was in her house.
Zanira was the widow Of n wealthy
She carried on an extensive
business with the Indies. dealing in
eastern stuffs - slippers, jewels, pipes
and arms-and her three merchant
ships plying the Black and MediterTa-
mean seas brought her in large in
come.
At first she was annoyed that Naome
SO little Arabian. She had
wished to employ him as salesman
and was obliged instead 10 place him
among the pCrterS who ull0aded the
goods and carried them into the ware
houses. Soon, however. auu.uer feeling
awoke in the pretty widows breast.
She discovered that she was interested
in the new slave: that he pleased her
more day by day; that ne intrudcd up
on her thoughts in spite Of herself and,
feeling that these emotions were IN
worthy Of her. she grew angry aud ex-
against this unconscious en-
emy Of her peace.
And Naome: Once only had the
ample veil floated back and revealed
the noble, spiritual face once only had
the heavy Turkish cloak been laid aside
and his eyes had rested for brief mo-
ment upon her graceful. supple figure,
but from that moment he was hers by
that divine right which knows neither
nor obedience. Her presence
filled his soul by day, and by night the
thought OF her controlled and possessed
him.
One day Zamira summoned him and
announced tnat henceforth he should
be one Of her personal slaves. He
gazed upon the lovely creature as she
rested luxuriously against the silken
cushions. Truly she was fair 10 look
upon. Her long Persian cloak, studded
In silver and lined with ermine, re
vealed the graceful outlines of her fig
ure, and her unhappy servant felt his
whole body thrill as with an electric
shock rs he listened in respectful
silence to her command
Letting her dark. piercing eyes linger
upon him for an instant, Zamira or
dered him TO put on her slippers, and
then bade him bring her coffee
Naome obeyed, but IN his trepidation
he stumbled upon the rug and upset
the precious mocha.
Stupid" cried Xamira, in rage. Il
shall have to give you a lesson"
She rose. seized the whip which was
always near al lHNh IoI Sutu tultI-
gencies, and despite Naomcs falling on
his knees before her and crossing his
arms iu submission she let the lash
whistle through the air and gave him
several cuts across the back, then
throwing her instrument of torture
behind her She ordered the culprit to
quit the room.
When he had gone she threw herself
upon the divan bit her nails in the
wild heat of ucr anger, and finally,
yielding to the feeling of shame that
overwhelmed her, reproached herself
bitterly and burst into n flood of tears.
But Naomc was kissing the stripe
upon his arm where his mistress lash
had fallen
That same evening the new moon
hung like q glorious jewel in the sky,
and Xamira, attracted by the beauty of
the night had thrown her veil about
her and wandered in the garden unat-
tended. The soft, consoling light Of
the moon shone for our poor captive as
well, and. uncousciously almost. he
found himself seated under a large
olive tree near the house. The green