Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR JANUARY IL. 1907

door to her. The slave returned presently and re-
ported that Hanum Rhasneh was awake, and
Takshan Pasha passed through the door that con-
nected the two houses. AS he walked through the
corridors, the slaves yelled themselves at his ap-
proach and did not try to let him their charms.
They had all given up hope of becoming Hanum
Effendi by marriage with their master, and hence
were becomingy modest
Takshan Pasha did not even notice their lack of
coquetry but went on and entered the room of his
child When he saw how wan and miserable she
looked by the morning light, his plan to keep her IN
ignorance of the postponement OF her marriage flew
to the winds.
My beloved and adored one, breeze of the night,
and sunshine of the day. he said, if my words
can bring any comfort to thee may comfort be with
thee! NY sweetest child, l cannot tell you why l
in haste to dispose of you in marriage; cannot
open mans heart to woman's ears; but SO much
l may say that, for weighty reasons of mine, the
the wife of Ha1eb Bey. although the marriage itself
shall be deferred for sometime-indeed, until you
choose to accept it.
Rhasneh put her head on her fathers breast and
cried out the relief in her heart at this opening of
new horizon, where before there had seemed only
the blacklist gloom. Father" she said at length,
raising her head since l am again dear to you,
will you not give little more of your confidence,
and tell me why you wish this arrangement"
No my child; for he who shall place confidence
in the bosom of woman deserves destruction
But if there is anything that my little daughter
has to say, may listen to it"
The eyes of the girl again grew. dim at this re.
DUH. one kueW tIldI du lIeI olu lloI liiiilh VI
in this way, and it grieved her, as it grieves
many child, to find her parent SO backward.
There silence after this Rhasneh wished to
ask her father why he had taken away her books,
yet her pride held her back. Takshan Pasha lin
gered on in Rhasnehs room-longer, perhaps, than
a stern Turk, who recognized the evil of PAM
pering womankind would have deemed wise. And
this unwisdom was presently proved when Rhasneh
plucked up courage to ask:
my lord father must 1 marry Haeb Bey some
day.
Whom would you like to marry, if not hin?"
he asked playfuly; for what could she know of
other men?
The girls heart beat so hard that it seemed to
her to fill the with its noise She hung her head.
Some one else, she murnured, so low that her
father had to bend his head to catch the words
"Rhasneh!" he cried, his voice trembling, do
you mean 20 say that there is man, man know
not of, man, perchance, whom you among
the Greeks in their mmodest manner, who has
neither your faith your habits?"
The intense contempt in the tone of Takshan
Pasha dashed her to defiance. Yes, there is
not of your faith habits with the words she
almost repudiated the religion of her father; but
/ have not met him among the Greeks, nor have
spoken with him! Yet do love him, and would
wed none but him.
Then by the Prophets mantle, thou wretched
child, thy marriage to Haleb Bey shall be cee-
brated-" he hestated to fix the exact date for
even in his wrath wave of love for his wayward
daughter swept over him, and he would not COM
nit himself to definite date, which his pride would
force him to adhere to.
But Rhasneh did not notice his hesitation Her
eyes famed. She snapped her fingers in her fathers
face. "Takshan Pasha, l defy you'll" she cried.
'Haeb Bey may hold my cold corpse in his arms;
but my warm body-never!