The Cairo bulletin., 1906-11-07

By Joseph Heating

/ ESSylll, nclu III tne mouse OF the
brides father-a company of merry
friends with their harp-player and
sweet singers were present
Green woods and golden fields, en-
circled the house to keep and hold
! which Essyllt's father would forfeit
his own life. The tribal element
grips these people. by inheritance
the house and its farm lands came
from his father to him, by inheri.
lance it should go down to his son.
And for this son he sacrificed a
daughterl
A mere glance ut the pale face Of
the bride, seated at the head Of the
table, would tell you that instead OF
smiling in sympathy with the festiyi
ties, she felt the horror Of beholding
a company feastng at the death OF
her soul. Her gorgeous robes Of red
and blue and green Knocked the sor,
row in her dark, frightened eyes. in
her hollow cheeks, and pain-drawn
mouth.
The boisterous bridegroom at her
side pretended not to note his new.
made wife's distress BIT sometimes
the flush in his face gave way to sud.
den paleness.
A guest suggested;
"Essyllt Will sing She will give
us Il merry song to-day!"
The others applauded and laughed
at the happy hit. Essyllt looked to be
on the verge of weeping
Excuse her; excuse herr" quickly
requested old Rhys She is too much
overcome to-day"
Grafog, her husband, turned with q
tender look in which elation and feal
mingled, and said:
Are you too happy to sing
Essyllt?7
II cannot, L"
Essyllt bowed her head and mid /
her face in her hands.
Grafog looked at her a moment in |
silence Then turning upon the others
boisterously called for a song, The |
elation in his look and manner, con
yayed the idea Of victory, the senee
Of achievement by the defeat of an
other, As he called loudly for
song, a cruel line came into his face
4 CLEAN Of hatred into his deep-set
gray eyes, they rested On the face
Of a young man opposite, whose gaze
vas riveted on Essylt.
The pale, intense face and large,
'orrow-laden, brown eyes OF this youth
the agony Of the bride The
lash Of triumph that lighted Grafog's
ace revealed the secret. Here the
-ictor met the yanquished
In his fierce elatiOn Grafog. lacking
the chivalrous sense. could
lot resist the temptation to torture
his by and girl between whom he
TODD
Come" said he hoarsely, "Emlyn
lloyd shall sing"
Clapping hands, moving chairs
bout and settling in new places. the
ompany kept up hilarious calls in or
er to ensure Emlyn's compliance. A
lnning fire of complimentary phrases
-ent round for the same purpose.
And Emlyn? AS Grafog and the !
theirs persisted, he at last Yielded. A
lange came over him. Sadness deep I
ned in the lines of his white face
ito his eyes came look of anger. I
sense of outrage crept into his ex
'ession. He stood mp The fierce J
lords with which the harpist pre-. e
ded the song heralded an indignant 7
ltburst {
The singer moved forwa d till he !
God in the midst Of the gathering.
In voice of liquid, golden beauty, 2
orious as a mountain sunset, be v
ns an Old, old melody, THE Love.
lken' Upon a finger Of his lcft p
md there cleaned a ring of gold, u
1ich his right hand invountariIv s
uchcd as he sang With every u
le the terror in Essylt's eyes deem.
ed, and the triumphant citation Of il
r husband Increased. Grafog looked
)m the singer 10 his bride with a G.
lille of satisfaction
The company first nodded approval. ~
lie pathos and the sweetness of the
lgcr appealed TO them moro power. -
ly than ever But presently they
gan to exchange looks of wonder b
the intensity Of his manner.
The song told OF a ring which 1T
liden gave 10 n youth rs a token of ar
r true love, then told Of her for. III
sing him at the bidding Of ambi OF
n; of her union with one better a!
IN than he; Of the bitterness of the
nth. who broke in twain the ring di
! threw these fragments az her feat. Nv
The passion Of the singer as ne OF
cit on the woman's falsity thrilled IA
who heard him. Essyllt covered. tn
eping at her fathers side. Grafog ha
tched her and laughed. w
When the singer came to the line.
ow here is a token Of love that ST
3 broEen'-he seemed to lose all
trol over himself Heart broken m
pair overpowered him His voice I TO
ed and sank into sobs To tho vs.
azcmeHt Of his friends he drew the / hir
Z ring from his finger. crushed It up
his hands TIL it snapped I'm two. IA
threw the pieces N Essylit's feet in
'ssyllt- with A moan foll rsiutinc.
Ter father in great SORROW bent he