New-York tribune., 1907-01-13
CHAPTER vi.
The Picture in the Frame

"HERE is such thing as love at first sight,
even in these days; and IN Turkey, love, If
- it comes at all, must come at first sight What
other sort would wish in land of lattiCed win
dows and veied ladies, where man may not even
her: In the West, the free mlnglng OF men and
maids develops the ability withstand the glance
from the eye In the East, when eyes do meet eyes,
they pierce quickly to the heart.
Weir wasted box of good American cigars
the evening of the day after he Rhasneh
He would light one stride teTlpestuouslv about
his sitting room, find that his cigar had gone out,
and throw it away.
L want YOU to help me-" he kept repeating TO
himself. Help YOU! I'd kIdnap the Sultan, if that
would do anv good. She can't be the wife of one OF
these-theSe-' he hesItated for the proper Oppro-
brious term for a nation that would keep pearl
ike this girl with the violet eyes hidden from HIM.
here at an ungodly age He did not stop to re-
fleet that her age seemed an improper one only for
rnatrimony with another.
How often had Weir ridicued the idea that
any one woman could be the only woman IN the
world to man, if circumstances prevented his
getting her. Now he did not even debate the propo
sitiOn. =" But how | find her.: his thoughts
ran Why don't they run society on some de-
cent principle here" He had come 70 Turkey
especially TO see its peculiar mode OF life Then
| could 90 TO Madame NavroCorthatO's fiesta to-
night and be reasonably sure of meeting her
The violet eyes and the lovely oval face OF the
girl, half hidden by the yashnak, rose before his
mind eye, and another cigar ended its career
TO help yOu.' he repeated aloud and grOaned.
How could he help her: Ridiculous as It was, he
had sent word 10 Captain BaSCombe, OF his Yacht
the Bueblrd, TO keep up steam on her, and 70 have
everything ready to slip anchor and dash out into
the Mediterranean at a moment notice. But what
was the use of steam Yacht capable OF twenty-sIx
knots hour without the prize 70 race for.
OF a sudden Weir Sprang 10 his feet Il had
flashed across his mind that Turkish women some
times went the entertainments OF foreigners pax
tcularly of Greeks, although their participation
them consisted IN staying apart and enjoying only
the echo OF the festivities. 1t Just possible th
the girl he sought would be at Madame NavrOco--
thato garden party. At any rate II was possible
chance, and he could see no other
l. was glorious moonlight night and on the
banks and the waters OF the BOSpoTJIS thousands
OF all nationalties We're dlsPortlng themselves This
full moon was perhaps the last OF the season when
it would be enough for this outdoor diversion,
and few were losing the opportunity. The boatne1
We're singing in the kd.ckS, and bands OF veici
Turkish women. with the curious license thai IS
permitted them, were calling InvItlngly and p-o-
voCativelv 10 such paSSerSby as they fanCled-t
license that if presumed upon by those they Is L
dressed would have meant little less than death -r-
the men.
Weir was OF stature to invite airl:-t,.,-
and IN the many times he was spoken % he listened
for the voice that he felt he should recognize al
though he had never heard It. Bur he reached ne
villa OF the MavrOcOrthatOS unCOnvInced by any
Voice that had reached his ears.
1t was a splendid fiesta that Weir found n
the Greek villa the last OF the season u Therar.
The moon and Chinese lanterns produced that et-tc-
of beauty tranSCending reality which has much -
do with the popularity OF nocturnal festivities he
world over And a brilliant Poyglot society DIS
ported itself among the ShrubbeTv OF the lawn. q
shr,bbery which contained is patches ot shadow,
as necessary TO complete enjoyment Is tie general
Madame Mavrocorthato one OF the most charming
hoSteSSeS in Therap;a, perceived the ArleT-can a5
soon as he entered and greeted HIM with more Khan
ordinary warmth of courtesy. The TWO had become
very good friends in the short time that he had been
Turkey. Like many Others OF those that dream
OF better things in Europe and the East, Madame