Smyrna times., 1913-02-12
The CROSS AND
THE CRESCENT
A Story of the Balkan War
By F. A. mitchell

DLACCA <AIluuI AuuTeWS, du
living in Servia. in a condition calcu-
lated to drive him mad. few years
before. having come of age and in
heriting a fortune. he went abroad to
travel for pleasure. The Balkan PENN
sula attracted him owing to its rugged
scenery, the gay costumes of its peO-
pie and its general oriental appearance.
The inhabitants of Turkey in Eu-
rope are a mixture of the white and
Turkish races. Christians and Moham-
medans. Andrews was at an impress
sible, reckless age, an age to fall vio-
bently in love and, being in love, not to
consider the consequences of an i'll as
sorted marriage. A young Turkish
girl to whom he was introduced car
Eied him clean off his feet, and he be-
came so violently in love with her that,
throwing caution to the winds, he beg
ged her to marry him.
The lady, Zaide, the daughter Of
pasha, born in the highest Turkish cir
cles, did not consider Andrews her so
cial equal, but her heart was enlisted
as well as his own, and she consented
that he should ask her father for her
hand. The pasha. being an admirer of
western civilization. looked favorably
on his suit and at last consented. pro-
vided he would embrace the faith of
Islam. The young man declared that
he would embrace any faith on the
face Of the globe If he might be
permitted to embrace the pasha's
daughter. The marriage was celebrat-
ed, and the groom. realizing that his
and his wife's religion would be out of
place in America, remained in Turkey.
Andrews Mohammedism. being skin
deep, wore off with the first freshness
Of love. Indeed. the more he saw of
the Turks the deeper he sympathized
with those who would be glad to see
the crescent driven back into Asia,
from which it had emerged many cen
furies before to make it's European CON
quests. Born a Christian. it CALLED him
that the Turks should occupy Chris
tan ground. that their capital should
nave been founded by the first Chris
tan Roman emperor or that the church
OF st. Sophia should be a mosque.
When the MOntenegrins. in order to
forestall an order from the powers.
broke. sword in hand. into Turkish ter
ritOry and Servia was preparing TO do
her part in the war, crisis came in
the affairs of Andrews and his wife.
Her father was not only devoted to
the cause of Islam. but was an officer
high in the service of the sultan. The
60 6nnIorod fhaf chn rvnnlH
stand by her father, her countrymen
and her religion. Andrews asserted
that he would join the Servian forces
and aid in banishing the crescent tC
Asia. where it belonged. They parted
though their hearts were welded
agreeing that after the struggle they
would fly again to each other.
During those first few weeks wher
the allied forces were winning victory
after victory and driving their enc
my before them there were some TEN
pOrary setbacks to the allies. In ont
OF these Andrews, who commanded ;
squadron of cavalry in the ServiaI
army. was wounded and captured. HI
and those taken with him were hur
Eied to the rear to a reserve corps
which it happened was under the com
mand Of Rustom Pasha. his father-in
law.
Zaide. who was a woman Of stronl
character. had while living with he
husband become much interested il
many European institutions. amOn
Others the Red Cross. She had n
sooner Joined her father than she DrC
ceeded to organize a similar corps a
an auxiliary to her fathers command
One day upon passing hurriedly dow
between two rows of cots In a hosp
tai her eye fell upon a face whic
notwithstanding its pallor she recol
nized at once as her husband. Sh
was about to fly to his embrace whe
the horror of the situation rushe
upon her. Andrews had professed I
be a disciple of Mohammed and ha
drawn his sword against the prophe
SO long as he was unrecognized as
Mohammedan he would be treated q
n prisoner of war, but if he wei
known to be or have been of the fait
nothing could save him.
The glances of the two met, and tn
same thought occurred to both The
was a momentary lighting of eaC
pair of eyes. Then the wife wit
drew hers. and she passed on dow
the aisle and left the room.
The hospital, though in the Turki
gear, was not considered permanel
for the allies were pressing forwar
lighting like tigers. But for one d.
and night the sick were undisturbe
During the evening Mrs. Andrew
though worn out with the distressi
work of the day. went in among t
sick. ostensiby to cheer them, but re
iy to steal a brief interview with
husband Taking the precaution
stop and speak with number Of 81
ferers before reaching the he'd be
cupied. she at last came to his a
said in the Turkish tongue and a vo
loud enough to be heard:
Are you badly wounded. STRIP
only slightly" was the reassuri
reply