Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-03

their arms crossed. After Haleb Bey had
slipped his fifth cup, he went back to playing
| with his string of beads.
Haleb Bey was the only child of his father
the twelve daughters his fathers seven wives
had given him for sisters counting for nothing.
Haleb Bey was spoiled. not only by his father
and his own mother, but also by everyone of
the other six wives. who, disappointed at hav-
ing no son of their own fastened their affec-
lions this vicarious child of theirs. If it is
harmful for boy to be spoiled by one mother.
how infinitely demoralizing must it be to be
spoiled by seven! And Haleb Bey was a
twenty-five years of age now. and looked
thirty. What his mothers had begun, Paris
had completed. And so one after another the
European houses closed their doors against him
upon his return from Paris; which seemed to him
unjust, considering the idea of Christians he had
brought back with him from that capital.
The slaves removed the coffee utensils when
he signifed that he had had enough. Presently
he clapped his hands, and the slave reappeared.
"Send Mustapha to me, if he has come back"
Mustapha entered while his master was ex-
aiming himself in the mirror with a critical
ness that yet could find no flaw. Unembar-
raised. the master turned to the man.
We'll, have you found out what desired
eyes, Effendi.''
Haleb Bey crossed both feet under him and
leaned forward. Speak he commanded.
Mustapha spoke as if reciting lesson learned
by rote: Englishman; name, Steban Veer:
| American legation; Hotel Petala."
"Have you been watching him?"
"Yes, Effendi."
"Any communication with Takshan Pasha's
NO. Efendi."
Hanum Rhasneh?" Haleb asked jealousy.
81 have heard nothing that you had not
already told me-" he answered.
"Housein must be a fool. or thinks to use
me as one" Haleb Bey growled to himself;
Then to Mustapha, watch him closely, and
if anything happens to him"
| From Haleb Bey's expression it appeared
that he would not be inconsolable He nodded
to end the interview, and at once his eyes
again sought his image in the looking glass.
Was it likely that Hanum Rhasneh would de-
sire another man, when Haleb Bey was wait
| ing for her?
| As Mustapha was crossing the threshold, he
fell on his hands and knees, prostrating himself
before the entering figure of Haleb Bey's
father. Osman Pasha had a worried expression
that seemed to give warrant to his unceremoni-
Gus entrance, and without greeting he said to
Haleb Bey:
"Have you heard the bad rumor, my son7"
| "What rumorl" Haleb Bey asked, assum.
ing his hardest and most unconcerned air.
His sons manner did not tighten the troubles
of Osman Pasha. II grieve to be the one to
tell it to you," he began: yet some one must:
It is that your future wife has an infidel lover"
1
asked with his scornful manner. "She is not
my wife. Why don't you go to her father?"
| Osman Pasha stared at his son. A lover
who could receive such news in such a way
was not one he yet had known. Then he
shrugged his shoulders, though his tone as he
answered was not devoid of bitterness. "Her
father is receiving every day new marks of
| confidence from our Padishah." He bowed
low at the mention of the Sultan.
Haleb Bey insolently kept on smoking. with
no sign of reverence at his masters name.
What of thatl" he inquired.
| ut is not easy my son, to go to a man who
stands SO high with our master, another bow,
"as Takshan Pasha, and ask him what he
means by deferring the marriage of his daugh-
ter, and then to throw into his face the rumor
have just repeated to you"
Osman Pasha had more than an mixing of
the kind of life his son had led the last few
years, and was desperately anxious for him
to settle down with some good wife. He had
rejoiced when Haleb Bey had told him he
wished to marry Hanum Rhasneh; but when
he heard of the Sultan's heaping favors on
| Takshan Pasha, he knew quite as well as the
latter what that was likely to mean in regard
to his sons promised wife.
Haleb Bey clapped his hands, with the palm
of one on the back of the other, producing
quite different sound than when he clapped
them palm to palm, and two slaves came in
bringing the narghies Without waiting for
his father, the younger man stretched himself
out and began enjoying his smoking.