Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-04-30
Kisrraet.
BY EDITH L. JosLIN


cal sun shone with fierce white
splendor, the palm trees droopcd
with languid grace. the roses nod
ded as though sleeping and their
breath filled the air with a seduc-
tive fragrance, the splash of the
fountain was like the alluring voices
of genii and the occasional tinkle OF
herd bell distant and hazy, sound
ed like a fairy peal of enchantment.
On a hill overlooking the valley,
the white palace of the Raiah reared
Its stately turrets and spread its
proud length. within its walls
reigned the quiet OF the tropical
noon. Court and menials aln e had
yielded to the witchery of the hour
and Katwa's stately halls we're wrap.
ped in profoundest slumber. In the
Inner court where the shade OF the
palms fell thickest and coolest, lay
Ashyea, her head with its wealth Of
raven hair, pillowed on the sleek
coat of a sleeping tiger. One ray Of
sunshine caught and imprisoned in
the palms, cast soft, csressing light
into the shadows and showed a pic
ture of rare beauty.
And the Rajah in his hall, and
the slave in the office, and the maid
en- in the shade Of the palms slept
sqd dreamed, but not so Deid, the
tigerl
A soft shuffling sound of approach
ing footsteps grew nearer and near
er!
A dark face looked into the sha-
dows aud then with upraised arm
man sprang forward only to pause
In the face of a pair of cleaning
yellow eyes. For second there was
no sound save the regular breathing
Of the sleeping Ashyea and the low
swish of Deid's heavy tail. A frog
jumped into the fountain with a
splash and a bird in the palms piped
to its mate. The man drew back
with a stifled curse and the sud,
sud, of sandalled feet srew family
distant and Yerbo, the dervish, was
gone as he came.
1t was twilight. The languorous,
seductive twilight of the tropics. IN
the west the heavens were a mass
of indescribable color. while nearby
an opalescent gray prevailed. Deep
er and deeper grew the gray-faint-
er and fainter grew the glorious hues
in the West. Here and there sill
yer star twinkled in the heavens and
a nightingale, in a huge magnolia,
was pouring out its passionate love
notes to its lady love. The dew
laden blossoms sent up a delightful
offering of fragrance and the foun-
tain murmured joyously. Now and
then a snatch of song was heard and
from the garden came the sweet
tinkle Of a guitar Romance and
love ran riot in Katwa's stately pal
ace.
On luxurious divan in one OF the
inner courts sat the Rajah Katwa,
ant opposite him the dervish, Yerbo,
while near the doorway stood a
queenly maiden with clean cut fea-
lures and large glorious eyes and
soft bronze hair that fell rich and
ripping over the shimmering black
of her draperies. She was Fantina,
the hope, the joy, the ambition Of
the dervish, Yerbo; and the rich
young Ra!ah Katwa had just refused
her for his queen.
An hour later Yerbo and Fantina
had withdrawn and Katwa, all un-
mindful of them, descended into the
gardens. Everything, even the bal
my caress of the gentle south wind,
spoke to him Of love. His pulses beat
madly for the wind bore something
else besides its cares; it brought the
faint echo of a guitar and the dear
melody Of voice he loved. A hasty
turn or two in the direction from
which they came and he was fond
ling the sleek head of the tiger,
Deid, and his arm encircled the
graceful Ashyea. Heart spoke to
heart. lip to lip, and there under the
stars their troth was plighted. and
there. too, under the stars a ven-
geance was sworn, for Yerbo. the
priest. crouched in the shade of the
palms.
In a bower, on a couch of roses,
Ashyea slept and dreamed, bright
hued dreams of love, and at her
feet lay Deid. the tiger, ever wake
full. ever faithful.
A stealthy form crept across the
pavement. but none OF the glories
OF the night entered into the mans
soul for he was ruled and moved
with but one thought. revenge, and
FOR revenge murder, so bitter was
the disappointment of his ambition.
Straight for the bower he headed
Howly and carefully he came. Cau-
toOusly he crossed the threshold and
eTept toward the couch. Fierce hate
cleaned in his eyes as they rested
on the beautiful face OF Ashyea,
upon which the moonbeams fingered
90 fondly
He raisNl his right arm and a
sharp edge of steel flashed in the
moonlight. Hark! Was it the wind
that sounded so surely, Kismet. or
was II the swift movement of long,
1.-the body?
A moment the iewelled dagger
was held aloft. the next both man
and beast struggled on the pavement
in mortal combat. Seconds that
seemed hours ended and the mans
form under the tiger was a quiver-
ing. moaning mass.
A shadow fell across the pave
ment and Katwa, Prince and Ralah,
stood in the doorway. With vide
terrified eyes Tshyea sprang 10 him.