The state herald., 1910-03-11

thinking the matter over.
II could not offer to pay you five
per cent" she said after time, "be-
cause you are king. but could give
you one of the fine rubies have left,
and you would look at it sometimes
and rejoice because you had found
Baraka a good husband"
Logotheti laughed low. She amused
him exceedingly, and there were mo-
ments when he felt new charm he
had never known before.
why do you laugh?" Baraka asked,
a little disturbed. Il would give you
a good ruby. A king may receive
good ruby as gift and not despise
1t. Why do you laugh at me? There
came two German merchants to me in
Paris to see my rubies, and when they
had looked. they bought good one.
but not better than the one ! would
give you, and Spiro heard them say
to each other in their own language
that 1t was for their king. for Spiro
understands all tongues. Then do
you think that their king would not
have been glad IL had given him the
ruby as a gift? You cannot mock
Baraka. Baraka knows what rubies
are worth, and has some still"
II do not mock you," Logotheti an
swered, with perfect gravity. 81
laugh at my own thoughts. / said in
my heart: If Baraka asks me for a
husband, what will she say II | an.
swer. Behold, l am the man. II you
are satisfied This was my thought"
She was appeased at once, for she
saw nothing extraordinary in his sug-
gestion. She looked at him quietly
and smiled, for she saw her chance.
ut is emptiness" she said. Il will
have man who has no other wife"
Precisely" Logotheti answered,
smiling. 81 never had one"
Now you are indeed mocking mel"
she said. bending her sharp.drawn
eyebrows.
mo. Every one knows It who
knows me. In Europe, men do not
always marry very young. 1t is not
fixed custom"
Il have heard So" Baraka an.
swered, her anger subsiding, but II
is very strange. II 1t be so, and II all
things should happen as we said
which Allah avert. and II you desired
me for your wife, would marry you
without doubt. You are n great man.
and rich, and you are good to look at,
as Saad was. Also you are kind, but
hah hu,
for he beat every one. every day, and
| should have gone back to my ia.
Tiers house. Truly" she added, In a
thoughtful tone, you would make n
desirable husband for Baraka. But
the man ! seek must marry me II I
find him alive. for | gave him the
riches OF the earth and he gave me
nothing and departed. leaving me to
die. have told you. and you under.
stand. Therefore let us not Jest about
these things any more. What will
be, will be. and II he must die. Il is
his portion. and mine also. though Il
is n pity"
Thereupon the noble little features
became very grave, and she leaned
back in her chair and folded her hands
In her lap. looking out at the violet
light on the distant volcano. After
that, at dinner and In the evening.
they talked pleasantly. She told him
tales OF her own land. and OF her
childhood. with legends of the Altal,
OF genii and enchanted princesses:
and he. In return. told her about the
great world in which he lived: but
OF the two. she talked the more, no
doubt because he was not speaking
his own language. Yet there was n
bond OF sympathy between them more
natural and instructive than any that
had ever drawn him and Margaret to-
gcthcr.
When the sun was up the next
morning and Logothcti came on deck
TO drink his coffee alone. he saw the
magic straits not many miles ahead,
In an opalcscent haze that sent up n
rapor of pure gold to the pale blue
enamel OF the sky. lie had been lust
where he was now more than once be.
Tore. and few sights OF nature had
49, oU
the left. the beautiful outline of the
Calabrinn hills descended softly into
the stiil sea. on the right tho noun.
tains OF Sicily reared their lofty
crcHiS; and far above them nil, twice
ms high as the highest. and noblcr In
form thnn the greatest. Etna tow.
cred to the very sky, and vast cloud
OF smoke rose from the summit that
nroamcd westward as far aa the eye
could reach.
Lot her 70 half speed. captain"
said Jogotbotl, m his sailing master
came up TO bid him goodmornlng. II
should like my guest to see the
straits"
Very good. sir. We shall not 20
through very fast In amy case. for the
tide In Just turning against ua."
Never mind" Lorothcu answered.
THE slower the better today. TN we
have Etna well aa,crn."
rAAnrHn NO