The Opelousas courier., 1904-08-13

10 @ mighty Caliph, rich in le-
20 \ gendary lore, flowed the
~CH River Tigris. The daZ-
cling rays of the evening sun, scintil-
lating like diamonds of a thousand col
ors, played upon the ripples of the
rapid flowing water. Thick rose
bushes hung over the rivers banks,
scattering myriads of leaves upon the
wavelets. Romping in elfsh glee the
water sprites chased the green intrud-
ers, and their laughter was like the
music Of countless silver bells.
On the broad marble terraces leading
from the city down to the waters
edge the people Of Bagdad sat luxur-
iating in the evenings cool after the
hot glow of the day. Softly upon their
ears fell the laughter of the water,
mingled with the strains Of d~ulcetAnu-
sic from secret trysting- nlaesS amid
the rose busheSMsmgs Of love and
longing sung to the accompaniment Of
guitar and lutte. Across the river the
mighty castle of the Caliph reared
above the water, its great marble
walls cleaning like the plumage Of a
proud white swan.
At one e@d of the castle a projecting
tower rose, strong and massive, from
out a little garden. On the ,battlement
blooming rose bushes crowned the
tower with a floral helmet, and, creep
ing downward, clothed it i'll a gown OF
royal purple. Among the branches
there sounded a nightingale's Ian
gushing, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS."
At the window Assam, the favorite
son of the Caliph, stood listening to the
voices of the evening, deep in thought.
Upon the bosom of the river he saw
drifting wreaths of flowers and
branches of olive and m~yrtle-night
gifts to the rver from Bagdad's beau
tiful women-night gifts that slender
hands had cast upon the water, and
wistful eyes had watched as they
glided onward attended by the bestow-
ers' petitions that the lordly Tigris
would be pleased to grant them that
for which their hearts most longed.
Assam knew full we'll all these pray
erful wishes, gliding carelessly upon
the water down to meet the ocean.
And he laughed-laughed so loudly
that the nightingale in the -tendrils
Of the roses ceased in alright her
music. At the sudden stiffness. Assam
checked his laughter and addressed
the invisible songster:
"Thou art silent, my sweet one!
Thou canst not understand that the
wishes that go with the wreaths and
branches there upon the water are
chains to make slaves of freemen."
ITO make slaves Of freemen, As
san?'
It was the silvery voice of a maiden
that suddenly and gently echoed the
words of the son of the Caliph. aAnd
while she vet was speaking two arms,
slender and graceful, were entwined
about his neck.
Hearts light! Thou star of Bag
dad! My Marghyla!" And Assam joy.
ously caught in his strong arms the
youthful partner OF his bosom.
Eyes, it is I, my Assam. Roses two
I bring thee, as a gift for our lordly
Tigris. See! the dark red one is for
you, and the white one-is for me.
And. see! together l have bound them
with a band of silk. To the waters
shall throw them, my Assan-our of
fering to the mighty river that our
wish may be brought to fulflment."
"Our wish?" murrhured the son OF
the Caliph, and his voice was as the
sound Of signing.
Que~stioningly then looked Marghyla
into the eyes of her beloved.
But Assam stood as a statue, and his
silence was full Of partent.
Bind thy roses!!' DIT last cried AS
san; "but bind them fast with an iroI
chain-or chain of gold, if the metal bt
heavy! Thy silken hand is far too
fragile!"
"No, light of my SOUL" said Marg
hyla; ''neither by golden chains no.
iron bands shall love, true love, b.
bound. A glance of an eye, a toucl
Of a hand, a breath or a kiss-tha'
shall bind love forever and for aye
My thread of silk, o Assan!-so thil
it is, it is like a cobweb-is to me onl1
as a symbol"
Saying which the maidan stretched
her white hands far out the window
and let the roses slowly drop into til,
river. Then once more she spoke II
her beloved:
Assam, o Assam, my loved one
What has kept thee these last thre,
days from the garden, there to tall
with me as was once thy habit? VIII,
hast thou secluded myself here in th
tower"
Over the brow of Assam furrow
formed and deepened Gently th
maiden stroked his forehead, as If sh
would smooth ont the wrinkles.
rs it not wen with thee, my Assam?
at is not he answered. ..and non
can help me. Thou sayest love j
bound by the breath Of a kiss in fet
tiers stronger than iron chains. All
that is why, o Marghyla! no can he'll
me-"
mo oneg'
mo onel BY the. beard Of th
Prophet! were it not for thee, all tn
swords of the CaIiph could not hinde
me-could not Hold met!'
"And | hold thee2 Oh! Assam, tie.
me what evil / do thee"
"Evil!-and the son of the Calip
laughed loudly-"I wish thou woulds
do me evilr.'