Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-08-17
A LOVERS TEST.

young girl whose father and mother, dy-
ing, had left her snug fortune. More
over, her parents being dead, she was at
liberty to choose husband for herself.
Now, Fatima-that was the girls name
was very particular about one thing in
the man who should be her husband.
She wished him to be brave man. Su-
perSition at that time hung like pail up
on the Turks as we'll as the Christians.
But Fatima was more enlightened than
others and had contempt for any young
man who would be terror stricken at
supposed apparition.
Three lovers sought herhand. To the
first she said: MY father last night ap-
peared TO me in dream and told me that
if would send one whom thought of
marrying to the sepulcher in the cemetery
where his body and those of others Of
our family lie he would appearto the suit
or and give me to him. Go there and
receive me from my father, and in the
morning return 10 me. Then will mar
ry YOU"
The young man, whose name was Alb
dallah, reluctantly accepted the situation
and said that he would goto the sepulcher
as soon as it was dark and wait for the
ghosts appearance.
Then Fatima told the second lover,
Hamid, what she had done, adding that
if he would go to the sepuIcher and ap-
pear TO Abdallah as ghost and scare him
away she would accept Hamid for her
husband. Hamid was quite pleased at
what he considered an easy way to get
rich wife and agreed TO abide by the re-
suit OF his effort.
The third Suitor, BiSmillah, was an in
dependent fellow, and Fatima preferred
him TO either of fhe others. She told him
OF the arrangement she had made with
them and said that she would also give
him a chance for her hand. Whoever OF
the three was found in the sepucher in
the morning SHE would marry,
"NonsenseW replied BiSmillah. "Tm not
going to make guy of myself by sleep
ing in tomb"
ooh, thought you loved me-" replied
Fatima.
$50 do, but not we'll enough to risk
my life by remaining all night in cold
sepulcher. What good would it do me
TO win wife and die?"
at is very plain" said Fatima, "that
you do not love me-"
"a don't call loving giving way to
whim."
at is not whim; it is test"
every well, test these oiher men. !
have no mind TO enter such an absurd
competition"
He turned on his heel and left her.
She was very disappointed. She had
given her word to the other two TO marry
the one who should fulfill the conditions,
relying on Bismllal, whom she knew to
be brave and free from superstitions, to
occupy the Sepulcher and thus win her.
His refusal upset all her plans and would
give her husband she did not wish TO
marry.
She lay awake all night bemoaning the
miscarriage Of her plan and thinking how
foolish she had been 10 undertake it. She
knew BiSmillah would not fear to remain
all night in any uncanny place, and she
respected him for not being willing TO
win her in such fashion. Besides his in
difference only made her more anxious
to have him for her husband.
She fretted over the matter till just be-
fore dawn, when she determined to 90
herself and try TO frighten away the suit
ors she did not wish TO marry. Dressing
herself, she wound sheet about her and
hurried to the cemetery. Approaching
the sepulcher Of her ancestors, she heard
a sound and stopped TO listen. Could it
be snore? Surely it was a snore. One
of the men she had sent there had got rid
of the other, gone into the Sepulcher and
fallen asleep.
All now depended on Fatima's fright
ening away the man in the sepulclTer.
The moon had risen, and there was light
enough from this and the coming OF dawn
for her to be distinctly seen, though it
was too dark for her to see the man in
the sepulcher. Standing before the door,
which was open, she gave a shrek.
There was a sound as of some one turn
ing, the creaking Of some sort OF a.oed,
and voice came:
"Go away from here and cease to dis
turb my slumber."
Leave this abode OF the dead" said
Fatima in a sepulchral voice, "or will
drag you with me 10 Tararus."
"That would please me greatly" re-
Piled the voice inside. "By coming here
have put myself in an unpleasant posi-
ton. A girl told me that if would.occu-
py this place till morning she wouldimar-
ry me. refused; then lest she. would
think me cowardly,II came. brought |
my bed with me and drove away two
fools found here. Now suppose ]
shall have TO marry this girl. ] would |
prefer going with you TO Tartaus."
There was silence for few moments,
then Fatima gave a sob, then laugh, and
Bismillah, who knew from the first il was
she, sprang from the cot he occupied, took
her in his arms and checked her sobS and
her laughter with kisses.
Then, taking up his bed. he carried It,
walking home beside her.
There wasn't any trouble about her