The Irish standard., 1909-11-20

Baraka accepted all these invenp
lions without doubling their veracity.
In her eyes Logotheti was a great
man., something like king, and vast
ly more than Tartar chieftain. He
could send men to the ends OF the
earth If he chose. Now that he was
sure of where Kralinsky was, he could
no doubt have him seized secretly and
brought to her, If she desired 1t earn.
estly of him. But she did not wish
to see the man, free or a prisoner. till
she had her beautiful new clothes.
Then he should look upon her, and
Judge whether he had done we'll to
! desp1se her love, and to leave her to
be done to death by her own people
and her body left to the vulture that
had waited so long on jutting point
OF rock over her head three years ago.
1t was a dreamy and sense-compell-
ing life that she led on the yacht, sur
/ rounded with every luxury she had
ever heard of, and constantly waited
on by the only clever man she had
ever really talked with. excepting the
old Persian merchant in Stamboul.
The vision of the golden-bearded giant
who had left her to her fate after
treating her with stony Indifference
was still before her, but the reality
was nearer in the shape of visible
| "greatman," who could do anything
he chose, who caused her to be
treated like queen, and who was I'M
deniably handsome.
She wondered whether he had a
wife. Judging marriage from her
point of view, there probably had
! been one put away in that beautiful
house In Paris. He was an oriental,
she told herself, and he would not
parade his wife as the Feringhis did.
But she was one, too, and she consid-
cred that 1t would be an insult to ask
MIN about such things. Spiro knew,
no doubt, but she could not demean
herself to inquire of servant. Per-
haps Gula had found out already, for
the girl had way of finding out
whatever she wanted to know, ap-
parently by explaining things to the
second mate. Possibly Gula could be
made to tell what she had learned
without being directly questioned.
But after all, Baraka decided that it
did not matter, since she meant to
marry the fair-beard as soon as she
had her pretty clothes. Yet she be-
came conscious that If he had not ex.
listed, she would think it very salts
factory to marry the great man
who could do anything he liked,
though if he had wife already, as
he probably had, she would refuse to
be the second in his house. The
Koran allowed a man four, it was
said, but the idea was hateful to her,
and moreover the Persian merchants
wife had told her that it was old fash
toned to have more than one, mainly
because living had grown so expen.
| sive.
Logotheti sat beside her for hours
under the awnings, talking or not, as
she chose, and always reading when
she was silent. though he often looked
up to see If she wanted anything. He
told her when they left Naples that
he would show her beautiful islands
and other sights, and the great fire.
mountains of the south, Etna and
Stromboli, which she had heard of on
her voyage to Marseilles, but had not
seen because the steamer had passed
them at night. The fire-mountaip at
Naples had been quiet, only sending
out thin wreaths of smoke, which Ba.
raka insisted came from fires made by
shepherds.
Moreover" she said, as they
watched Vesuvius receding when they
left Naples, your mountains are not
mountains. but ant-hills, and do not
care for them. But your sea has tho
colors of many sherbets, rose-leaf and
violet, and lemon and orange, and
sometimes even Of pale yellow peach.
sherbet, which is good Let me al.
ways see the sea till the fine dresses
are ready to be tried on"
"This sea-" answered Logotheti, els
always most beautiful near land and
amongst islands, and the big fire.
mountain of Sicily looks as tall as
Kasbek. because it rises from the wa.
ter's edge to the sky"
Then take me to it, and I will tell
Jous LII NY eyes nave looked on tho
Altai, and wish to see real noun.
tain again. After that we will 70 back
and get the fine dresses. Will Gula
know how to fasten the fine dresses at
the back, do you Think"
"You shall have woman who does.
and who can talk with Gula, and the
two will fasten the fine dresses for
you" Logotheti spoke with becoming
gravity.
eyes," Baraka answered. Spend
money for me, that may be good to
see. Also, I wish to have many serv.
ants. My father has hundred per.
haps thousand, but now have only
two, Gula and Spiro. The man I seek
will think am poor, and that will be
shame. While was searching for
him, 1t was different: and besides, you
are teaching me how the rich Franks
live In their world. 1t is not like ours.
You know. for you are more like US.
though you are king here"