The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-02
THE APosTATE.

-dusSa rather OF his sons love affair
The stern old man was enraged becaus,
his son was trying 10 deceive him IL,
gave him sound thrashiag. and immedi
ately directed his footsteps 10 R4suey
/ house.
For some reason or other Sfussa' s
father had never been on friendly terms
| with old Risney- He was very angry IS
| he entered his house. Without greeting
! Rlsney, who was the chief CT the vii
| lage, he commenced 10 reProach hin
! Tor neglecting to look after his daughter
| 1 should not wish my horse 10 have such
| a name as your daughter has made TO-
| herself. Risrey," he said.
The chief turned pale; his hands began
70 culver, and he exclaimed:
You have never liked me. Aiaton,
! therefore I cannot take your words for
| granted. I'll speak To my daughter in
| your presence. But beware: you shall
! fare III If IL is SANDER that speaks III
| you,''
| s'4iakhra. come i'm he ordered, angrily.
/ clapping his hands.
| The young girl entered the hat slowly
and cast down her eyes.
! rs il true that You love Mussa?' the
chief asked in stern voice.
1t is true. father" replied Makhra;
| Il do love him
without your fathers order?"
Makhra shuddered and maintained 81
lence.
"Begonew cried Risney, hoarsely. You
art not ny daughter any longer
You were right. Afiaton," he turned 70
the guest. You have brought me Ill for
tune
But what is the use of talking now?"
Afaton interrupted him. 1t is too late
and we must act Tell me, how much do
YOU want for your daughter? l don [
want my son TO act dishonesty
Two mares and five rams said Ris-
ney. You are the richest man in the vii
iage. This is a trifie to YOU"
Aflaton made q wry face and clasped
his hands.
You must have been drinking too much
koumiss today" he SAID. bursting into
laughter. You want two horses for that
girl of yours, For two horses 1 can
surely get better bride for my son.
What good is there in your daughter?
She's as thin as a herring"
Old Risney grew pale, but said nothing
in reply.
Really think it over, or it win be too
late" said the guest with q sneer.
You are my guest" cried the chief in
trembling voice, but remember that
4 guest must also respect the host
Il am simply telling you the truth"
said Afiaton. IF you don't change your
mind. your daughter will not be my
sons wife"
she shall not be his wife under any cir
Cumstances." calculated Risney slowly
She shall not be his wife 1 don't want
it,
THE worse it will be for you" sneered
Aflaton. If you wish to know the truth.
[ would not give you even one horse for
your daughter"
"Begoner' Numbered Risney. rising to
his feet His eyes flashed fire.
And Afaton left the house before the
bargain was closed.
This was the end of the matter. The
fathers prohibited their children TO meet
again, and when Risney once caught
Mussa and Makhra speaking to each
other among the pine trees he save them
q fearful thrashing.
Then Mussa ran away from home. pen
niless, with his fathers curse upon his
head. His father told him that he would
not give a dead dog for Makhra.
Mussa ran away 10 look for work IN
the city. Not knowing the Russian Ian
guage, ragged and penniless, 1t was hard
for him TO hnd work. He had 70 pass
many a day in police stations, among
Migrants, thieves and paupcrs.
All Bashkirs who leave their people and
90 TO work In the cities suffer in a sim
liar way. The Russians regard them
with suspicion and contempt, and their
own people rcnounce them as apostates
Three years had elapsed since Mussa
left his home-three years OF suffering
and humiliation and hard labor.
After long hesitation. A1ussa resolved TO !
go back TO his native village Of Mainubi. I
He decided 10 so there on foot, SO rs not /
to spend the scanty savings he had /
scraped together as a waiter in a restau- I
rant There was a distance ~ about a /
hundred and fifty miles between the city |
and the village. but as the winter was 1
very severe the distance seemed much /
longer. In-tEeated by the Russians on 4
the way finding no shelter in time Of /.
storm, he walked along through the deep /
snow. towards his home
1t was just on the eve OF Christmas 1
that Mussa reached his native village. /
HIS heart was beating fast when he 4
neared his fathers house. Something /
foretoid him that he would not get 4
warm welcome from his people, and his
1resenument did not fail him. As he was
advancing towards his fathers house, q
group OF Bashkirs recognized the new
conner. and ran away from him as from a
pest Afussa was To them an apostata, a
stranger. an accursed pagan. dead man.
with sinking heart the young Hcshkir /
opened the door Of hts fathers house,
,rossed the threshold and paused breath
ess.
over the holy b0oig seemed 10 be praying.
Ie did not notice the newcomer.
Father" called Mussa softly father
The old man shuGdered.
who IS there" he asked, hoarsely.
Niussa-You p
I. replied the Young Bashldr IN
scarcely audible voice. T.
CO" said Afaton. family waving his
land. You are lot my son
Zr..s-, @~a---f-Taz IN nsar-- t-rran frlr
NAMED as petrlded near The door.
CO.. repeated the I'D man, louder.
The young Bashzir stood II silence.
With downcast eyes.
Co cried AaatOn. turning red Fl the
ace. You are accursed.
4 crowd OF Bashklrs rushed into the
DOM.
Drive him away cried the Old man
7 have buried my sen. I haFe no son.
,hase him away, I order yen 20 % so IN
he name 81 Allah.
The Rashl1irs we're about 20 rush upon
i'm. when stoop!ng figure fel %
Iussa' & feet. sohbins-
NV son. my dear son" she uoaned- Il .
.as Musss OLD mother
Chase him away Numbered the ola
"A, we don't want e have such men
/ o,,r midst. Those that forsaEe rs and {
IN 10 The accused Russlars 30 not be- {
,nE 70 our people any longer Chase
in away. he exclaimed Why o. goa
tand Idle therse Al apostate is -sfore Z
our eyes
NV poor Sonr' uoaued The old woman 4
laintIvely. ,-1ssa- rnF sor
49, --a Rsshxlrs dared not touch !
80 vrhlis a.z mother was sohhilg.
-, 49, from as thsy uuttered- :
IRE INK Rashkir grew pale and est
s.-4r-s IL the nru-e ~ bis mother
-os--~-. .r the grouu1. De f-Tle- and
alked 1,.t ~ the holse
49, -afes.f7 Tho ciG women. using s