Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1908-09-09

little stand, lay the open Koran upon
which his eyes were fixed, while his
chubby forefnger was theoretically
gesticulatfng to the group OF excited
women about him. From the express
sion upon his face, and the sharp in
terruptions from his audience, 1t
seemed that at last, In his old age.
| after life filled with the thousand
theological battles. and crowned with
thousand victories. he had met his
Marathon, for the longer he argued
the louder grew the expostulations of
The women.
The Prophet-peace be upon him"
| repeated Abdullah for the tenth time
that day. and with an expression Of in
| creasing despair. received from Para
disc message that man might have
four wives. You. ladies of Mecca, de-
mand that II = man has four wives, n
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 women. 20 great Abdullah." they
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 Allah's will Pray
that he may reveal to you, you who
remember the Prophet, you who were
| among those to welcome him back to
Mecca. you through whom Allah has
already revealed so many things, IL a
woman may not have four husbands as
man has four wives"
Il will a3k Allah to reveal his will {"
he sighed. Next Friday / will impart
It to you"
Abdullah's past history had been an
interesting one. He was a small, bare
looted boy when the prophet Moham-
med returned to Mecca, and now of
all the people left in the Holy City,
ne 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
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
llhood 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 bis
reputed piety that he was consulted IL
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
Tor 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 a
single offspring. a daughter, whom he
had named Hanifa. This solitary plant
or the harem grew and blossomed into
a dark. slender, large-eyed Arab maid.
sending out her tendrils Of love until
they entwined about the old man s.
heart, as IL to compensate him for his
lack of sons. She was the only child
of 20 passing wives.
"Baba," tenderly said Hanifa. as her
father. leaving the crowd of angry
women I'm the mosque, had returned
home and squatted before the dish
OF pilaf, which he left untasted. ARE
you ill?"
No, child" replied Abdullah. with
an audible sigh, yet, without paying
his customary visit to the herem. he
retired.
The next morning when Abdullah
appeared, his eyes were sunken. for
he had passed sleepless night Dur
ing the dark hours his audience of
clamOring women was ever before
him, and although he had n 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 ell the
wisdom displayed in the past would
be in vain.
Thus tortured. he slept none and ate
little. Half dozen times daily Hanifa
urged MIN 10 impart to her the cause
Of his sorrows. and as often did he
deny that he was afflicted. yet before
the week was half ended Abdullah
had become so feeble that he even
neglected the book which was to per-
petuate his name; he remained In the
corner, silent and thoughtful.
"Baba,' said Hanifa. again stroking
his old bald head. tell me vour
troubles perhaps I can help you"
Il have none. child" was the holy
mans prevaricating reply. A deem
groan followed.
Hanifa vas too solicitous OF the old
mans health to be silent Long she
stood over him, stroking his head. vet
finally when the abundance OF sighs
and groans seemed to be well nieh