Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-08

a
manship and sports; indeed. fitted in all ways
to become Commander of the Faithful and
strong where others of the Filell had been weak.
IN Tablet. whence come the Fileli. far beyond
the passes of the Atlas Mountains and where
Europeans are unknown. dwelt a venerable
shek, Abu-Ben-kaSen afterward ka1d OF his
Province and most devout man. Prince Ell
Hasan, journeying thither, was guest OF the
shek. and to his ears came whispers OF the
wonderful beauty of the sheik' daughter, said
to have been of all her tribe the most fair and
gracious minded. None may tell how first
they met, of the course of his wooing. or whether
they met at all until the time she was carried
to the door of his tent; but the road OF Love.
although never the same brought the Prince
and che Berber maid together. and those who
knew swore that never lived happier man
and wife
They passed the early months of their mar
ried life in Mekinez; but the old Sultan, wish
ing for the presence of his favorte son. insisted
on his coming to Fee. Even then FL Hasan
would permit none to disturb his -oy, and SO,
although nominal resident OF the great palace
on the bank of the Pearl he bought this modest
place and fitted it as suited his taste. He
spared neither trouble nor expense to make
happy the girl who had known the freedom OF
the hills, the open sweep of the winds. and the
shade of boundess trees He feared that she
would pine away in the walls to which the
women of Fee were accustomed. that she
would not be COntented to see the morning
shadows and the nights blue from the root OF
| a terrace as do other women and so at inn
mense cost he bought the buildings that COW
cred the land of this garden. He bought also
| those around it, and RACED the whole that none
might profane this seclusion with their eyes
They tore away old walls and foundations
until not a stone remained. Hundreds OF men
worked at the bidding of Ell Hasan as if he was
| Aladdin who had but to rub his lamp to have
| his will. They built the great windowless wall
you see inclosing this space and shut Oft all
view from the outside. Strings. OF camels
grunted beneath loaded paniers of fertile soil
| with which to enrich this spot. Gardeners
| from the Sultans palace held their heads to-
gether and schemed for its Identification. and
| the most renowned scuptors OF Italy across
| the Mediterranean sent marble fountains and
graceful fabrications for its adornment. The
| waters from springs high on the hills above
were piped down to this retreat. that the BRIDE
| of Ell Hasan might drink and lave nothing but
| the sweetest and coolest.
"A year went by, and the great trees which
had been removed whole and reset by men S
! hands put out their shade the flowers doomed
| in masses, and the daughter of the shelk
brought gladness to the stern Ell Hasan by CIV
| ing him a man child. thus assuring his line OF
the Fileli to the throne for at least one genera
| ton more. 1t is known that his JOY was beyond
| boundS for the birth was announced IN FeZ
and throughout the land of the faithful and the
Sultan made 1t national ceebratlon 1t IS
vet told how on that day Berber chiefs who had
never bowed in heart to any living thing came
| in caravans and camped within the squares of
Fee to pay congratulations to Ell Hasan, whom
they loved, and to have held up before them
the tiny babe which would one day be the
Calf of the Prophet. the Sword of Allah.
| They brought rich treasures from the far hills
| and jewels which had known the crowns of
Bagdad. and Ell Hasan, trembling with hap
pness, poured them into the lap of the Berber
maid
His anxiety Tor her redoubled itself until it
became the theme of his life Nothing was
good enough for the mother of his child.-snows
| from the Atlas to cool her drinks, the pick
| of dates from Tablet for her trays. sweets
| from across the seas. and all that might be OBJ
| tanned by man who had thousand slaves to
| do his will. 1t in that time that the house
| where we sit built and rare artifcers
wrought upon its most minute detail Again
| the warlike BerLers sent donations for its
decoration, and beautiful shining arms to be
used by the son of Ell Hasan when he should be-
come of age 1t is said that this little house
contained some of the most priceless weapons
that the Berbers had ever known, famous
blades that had been taken from the dead
hands of conquered Kings.
MO one knows who whispered into the crafty
~ old Sultans that it was i'll for man
to have but one wife and that it was more beht
ting his son. who would come to the gate of
Justice when Allah called his father home. to
| respect the faith by taking at least one more.
There is nothing to show that anything save