The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-20
7hs Story Of
Celia and kais.


Hatih the Persian, who was born ~
Korassan about 14I5) -. ,o.o
"And you must leave me, KaiJ!-leaFe
me never to return?"
The young Arab, slender anu BtaSSa
full, answered with hesitation. Ihe "oIs
is spoken--your father, the CHIEF. mas a say \,
It, ] may not tarry, and never eatd aeat,d
Will the eyes Of Kais rest upon { ~ ne ~
never again will he know the SOIL ~
sweet things bestowed by Allah. kais
goes to the desert.
"AIas-Kais, Kais-not 50. He may
relent,- peradventure the heavens iiaS
even yet smile upon u.s. repneu ~
''There is not hope" he answered, "Oh
fairest Of all the maids OF Persia, theIe
Is no nope. II were a golden KEY oiliy
that would unlock the door Of consent
Kais. son of an Arab chief IS not nt-
those were his words, to win TO wear,
the jewel the fair Lelia-and kais, ne
will say farewell to the places that nays nave
known him, he will say farewell TO hght'
to Joy, to lfe."
Somewhat longer they spoke after this
wise, then Kais was, indeed, gone, Liila,
moaning, and with the tears streaming
down her fair cheeks sought the seclu-
sion OF her own bowers.
After TINS day there came no Word
from Kais, and 1t seemed to LEILA as
though she were shut within a wall OF
dread silence Though her heart was
ever aching with injury she heard MOTH
ing. knew nothing. until at last, Wnen
months had passed. she noted one gay
a whispering among the ladies OF her
court.
What is It that you say to one an
other. whisperin-?" She asked. what IS
the matter Of discourse? l will have 1t,
speak"
ALAS. my lady" one Of them replied,
I'VE were but telling what is said OF
Kais son of the Arab. who went to the
desert months agone. and now hath be-
come quite mad. Leader of caravan,
but Just arrived declares that his state
Is already well known to those that go
much upon the road, that he Is utterly
mad and is called no longer "Kais, but
Mejnun," the distracted one"
Leila listened in silence though every
word was dagger, and after that time
she was more distressed even than be-
fore, and 50 heavily did she grieve that
the chief, her father, gave orders that
the ladies OF the court should see to 1t
that she went abroad, and be not per-
mltted to dwell in such seclusion
SO preparations were made. and on a
fair day the camels and Arab steeds
were In readiness. while Leila, placed
on her own camel beautifully decorated
for the occasion, came forth to start
with the rest. 1t was early morning
when the party set on from the city
gates and there was laughing and mer-
my-making as to please the Lady Leila,
but she said nothing and went so heav-
lly that II was but foolishness in her
ladies' to make pretense of 1oyousness
Farther and farther they journeyed
and after a while. when the horsemen
had gone some distance In advance. the
camels, drawn by signt OF green here
and there, began to separate, and the
Lady Leila faint Of heart and body
fell asleep as she sat upon her beast and
letting the reins fall upon its neck. did
not know that II went aside according
to its will. thus straying from the others
Of the company.
So it chanced that when Leila reused
from sleep she was quite alone in the
and no sign Of human habitation. She
called aloud and drove her patient beast
hither and thither. but 1t was as though
all save herself OF the human family had
suddenly been swept from the face OF the
globe.
But on a sudden she came Upon wood
ed place and here was shade. and one
standing who silently watched as she
came. 1t was a wild dusky form, but no
terror seized the heart of the maid for
she thought on the instant, ALAS, my
kais, my own Kais. may dwell in such a
state as this, and this stranger mayhap
can tell me OF him and of his fate, so
she asked very gently:
whence comest thou? and why
amongst these deserts dost thou roam?
Tell me thy name-what destiny has
lured thee from thy friends and home?'
and the poor creature replied:
"Seekst thou to know what slave am
l., forever doomed a wretch to rove?-
It's Kats, spent with misery ,-'tis helpless
Metnun, mad with love-
Then Leila, with sudden bound sprang
from her. camel to the ground: "Ah Kais
Kais." she cried. look up-'tis Lelia-I
am sher'
His mind awoke That magic name
| had broke the spell. and to the earth lost
Mejnun fell.' while beside him. his head
| drawn to resting place upon her bosom
| her tears falling and her heart throbbing
In unutterable tenderness. was Leila.
Suddenly. rousing he gazed into her eyes,
| but was silent. and She bending over him
cried. Beloved. tell me all thy will;
| Oh Kais. let us never part: what is the
world to thee and me?" My universe is
AT this Kais ciasped her to his heart.
he kissed her fair brow, and his lips
| quivered, but he answered slowly "Shall
selfish Mejnuns heart be blest and Leila
prove the Arabs jest? The city gates
though we may close, we cannot still the
tongues OF foes. A thousand deaths let
Mejnun die. ere but a breath by slander
blown should sully Ielias purity"
| At this moment. only short distance
| away, could be seen the camels and at
| tendants Of the chiefs daughter. They
| were calling and making diligent search
| for her. and kais rising cried in broken
| hearted tones, Fly from my arms that
| clasp thee yet. / feel my brain. with fren-
Ey burn! transport! could / thus for
The tramp OF steeds was heard near at
hand and kais dashed of towards the
desert while Leila fell unconscious where
/ he had stood.
They lifted the maid and bore her away,
| but only few weeks passed before they
| carried her father still. even to her last
resting place, and Kais ?-into the desert
he went alone but not for long; sleep fen
upon him one still, sunlit day and in their
/ death they were not dividsd.-Anna R.
| Watson In Memphis Commercial Appeal.
i