New-York tribune., 1910-05-08


lurtively IN the night, creeping stealthily for
ward in the shadows OF the trees and standing
for hours in the heart of some miniature wider
ness, watching. watching, for something that
would further rend his heart; but nothing
came.
NOV in all this time there had been but one
person OF the household other than the
workmen admitted TO the little paradise. She
WAS a fierce and gnarled crone who had been
nurse TO the Berber girl. and then when given
her freedom had chung to her as TO a daughter.
When El HaSan took to his couch the descend
ant OF the Berber SheikS. this freed woman had
remained with the girl TO whom she was half
mother and wholly slave. A wild, untamed
creature she was. who bowed neither head nor
knee TO El Hasan and haughtily held her way
being tolerated 10 the extent that at all times
she had entrance to her mistress and to the
most Sequestered parts OF the palace. When
the first break came into the harmony Of these
TWO lives She comforted the Princess; but be-
came q person OF mystery. passing out into
the night. slipping here and there with noiseless
feet, and terrifying the others OF the house by
her unexpected appearances; but she said
nothing to the girl so II IS believed and tried
only TO unravel the mystery. She alone saw
the end, and took part.
She was awakened by q noise without, one
morning when the dawn was lust breaking and
before the sleepers OF the city had aroused and
Cre!}t from her rug 10 avoid disturbing the haT-
raSsed and mourning girl, who had dropped TO
sleep with the child in her arms, and slipped
out among the trees beside the fountain which
was aITnlessly pouring out its continual song
She stared through the foliage and saw FL
Hasan coming in His face was lined as by
tortures He was clad IN festal raiTnent which
he must have Worn the night before, a burnoose
Of silk with broad black and yellow stripes and
held by great diamond clasps. his legs IncaSed
IN flowing folds whose golden embroidery
sagged heavily and his feet shod in flexible
boots whose ornaments OF precious gems
would ransom q petty Province. His hands
We're clenChed. his lips compressed, and his eyes
rowing ike storm driven birds before furious
wind.
He paused as if uncertain whether to enter
the sanctuary he had built for the woman OF
his heart or TO seek farther along the paths, and
then. looking upward, gave q start and stared
a the farther wall for long long time. as
though wondering at some unant1c1pated
thing. Quite slowly. like man in dread. he
wllirled on his heels. took one more look at the
little house with its insensate white columns.
and then retraCed his steps TO the door leading
into the private garden.
:. Frightened bv his actions. the Berber Crone
held her yashrlak across her face with tre1ll-
bling hands and peeTed out after HIM. he
walked TO and fro inside the door. and presently
a slave brought long light Iadder Whlch ne
would have carried within but e. Hasan for
bade He gestured to the man to lay II beside
the wall, and imperlOusly told the slave TO
shut the door and remain without he stopped
for few minutes beside II with MS arms al
rest, and then picked II up He was man OF
great strength, and came balancing It on his
shoulder through the broad paths. looking
neither 10 the right nor 10 the left, but with his
eyes fixed blankly ahead ike a man who IS
walking 70 his DOOM
He vent 70 the far end and planted It
against the wall. raising II slowly and deter
1ninedly and then testing Il to see Il It's base
was secure. He gave a swirl to his brilliant
burnoose until It was wrapped round his shoul-
ders leaving his legs free. and then mounted Il
70 the very top OF the high wall where he
paused for an instant staring intently before
him. then reached out, whipped a poniard from
his girGTe slashed at something and descended
with i IN his hands He stopped when his feet
touched the ground and turned the thing over
and over. now looking above, now At the mar
bic house behind the fountain, and now at the
cold unfeeling skies. That which he held was
d weatherbeaten rope ladder, neatly rolled,
which had rested fiat on top of the wall.
o." He threw II down and turned tiercely
toward the paths again. his heels striking the
gravel and his face fiercely despairing. He
hall walked. half ran. to the gate, his garments
7uttering out behind Oh the course OF his flight
He battered on the closed door with both fists