Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-09-13
H|l!an1a
By Edgar J. Banks
Copyright. by shortstory Pub. Coz


little stand, lay the open Koran upon
which his eyes were fixed. while his
chubby fOrefinger was energeticaliy
gesticulating to the group of excited
women about him. From the express
sion upon his face, and the sharp IN
terruptiOns from his audience. II
seemed that at last. in his old age.
after a life filled with the thousand
theological battles. and crowned with
a thousand victories. he had met his
Marathon, for the longer he argued
the louder grew the representations OF
the women.
The Prophet--peacc be upon him
repeated Abdullah for the tenth time
that day. and with an expression of in
creasing despair. received from Para
disc a message that man might have
four wives. You, ladies Of Mecca. de-
mand that IL a man has four wives. Il
woman may have four husbands. Had
that been Allah's will be would long
ago have revealed It."
but Allah did not say that We
should not have four husbands. cried
tHe Noiutu ~ 'H>|
continued. Allah has revealed many
things through the Prophet. and We
are obedient to all his laws; other
things are yet to be revealed. There
fore, learn for us Allahs will. Pray
that he may reveal to you, you who
remember the Prophet. you who were
among those to welcome him back to
No. 10 a
already revealed so many things. If
woman may not have four husbands as
a man has four wives"
Abdullah grOaned, for his reputation
as holy man was at stake; he hah
employed every argument to bring
these wives of Mecca to contentment.
yet they had defeated him, and de-
manded from him special revelation.
Il will ask Allah to reveal his will
he sighed. Next Friday l will impart
IT to you"
Still groaning in spirit. he arose
from the floor. feebly moved across
the straw mating to the door. poked
his fat, bare feet into his sandals. and
went home.
Abdullah's past history had been an
interesting one. He was small. bare
footed boy when the prophet Moham-
med returned to Mecca. and now OF
all the people left in the Holy City.
he alone had seen him. Inspired by
that rare privilege, he marked out for
himself the career OF a holy man.
When his chin was first fuzzy with the
down which evolved into the largest
of patriarchal boards, he wandered as
a dervish, but to suffer from hunger
and thirst, and to lacerate his own
body. soon ceased to be pleasures. and
finally he settled down as an immam
in the Holy City to gain an easier live
Iihood by fleeing the visiting pill
grims. In his profession he prospered.
He alone was intrusted with the keys
of the Kaaba, and so great was his
reputed piety that he was consulted IN
every religious controversy. All his
decisions were law. and now he was
passing his last days recording for the
benefit OF posterity his theological
views.
During his long life Adullah had
seen but one sorrow-his wives had
died one after another, yet that was
not the cause of his grief. for never
for long did he lack his full quota OF
wives which, both living and dead, he
could count to score. The one thorn
in his flesh was that this score or more
Of wives had presented him with but
single offspring. q daughter. whom he
had named Hanifa This solitary plant
of the harem grew and blossomed into
a dark. slender, large-eyed Arab maid,
sending out her tendrils Of love until
thew entwined about the old mans
heart, as II to compensate him for his
lack OF sons She was the only child
OF 20 passing wives.
Bahia" tenderly said Hanifa, as her
father. leaving the crowd OF angry
women in the mosqHe. had returned
home and squatted before the dish
q pilaf. which he left untasted. ARE
you ILL.,"
No, child" replied Abdullah. with
an audible sigh, yet, without paying
his customary visit to the harem, he
retired.
The next morning when Abdullah
appeared. his eyes were sanken. for
he had passed a slcepless night Dur
ing the dark hours his audience of
clamoring women was ever before
him, and although he had q thousand
times successfully interpreted the
laws Of the Koran. now he had failed;
his wits had deserted him. and no
revelation came: his reputation as an
immam would Be ruined and all the
wisdom displayed in the past would
~ IN vain.
Thus tortured. he slept none and ate
htfIe. Half dozen times daily Hanffa
urEcd him to inpart TO her the cause
of his sorrows. and as often did he
asny that he vas afflicted. Jet before