El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-01-21
A Night of Horror
A Short Story.

O.
Yussur Bey, 1T was on a
night like this that Sultana
KOesem, wife Of Ibrahim, and mother
Of Muhamed ", died an atrocious death
I in the seraglio, few steps from here
The nearer nodded lazily and Yussur
/ Bey went on
Z 1T was in the year 1850 and Ibra-
/ him had been StranSled to death
/ IDrahim had succeeded his brother
! Amurath " whose cruelty was pro-
| verbal Ibrahim's son, Muhamed "
I was neurotlc, incident and feeble mind
! ed, and his wife, an ambitious woman
1 desired to shake off the yoke of the old
! sultana koesem, who, though she was
! more than so years old, continued to
\ rule. as If Ibrahim was still alive
The old sultana had formed a plan
/ OF replacing Muhamed " by his
I brother SOliman, who was more active
/ intelligent and devoted to her. Into
this plot she had drawn Bectas. Agar
OF the JanlSS2rleS, who was angry with
the young sultana because she had not
| delgned to smile upon him. Old
koesem was still remarkably beauti-
Leaving the harem towards mid
night. after a tender scene with
Koesem, Bectas, the Agar suddenly
called a meeting in the Janissaries'
mosque The doctors of law imanS
mueZzinS and muftis mingled there with
the guards and soldiers. Bectas sum
moned the grand viZieT to come to the
sacred spot. The minister understood
that he was riSking his life, and with
a small escort OF soldiers, he entered
the mosque. It was surrounded bv 10 :
goo armed Janissaries- The conspira-
t0rS We're too numerous to make the
thought of resistance possible
In the Koran he had to pronounce
Ihe solemn oath which tied him to
BectaS and SOliman. He was per
m6 m. to live only on that condition
On ms way back to the seraglio a deep
sorrow nlled his heart for the imDerial
cnIIo and ITS mother who were to be
murdered He went to the threshold
OF their secret apartments and told the
guard TO awaken them.
Ierrltled at the words Of the grand
Vlzler, the young sultana rushed to
Alohameds bed. took him into her arms
ana cried; We are losti May Allah
nave mercy on our soulsP The little
prince cried, he chung to the minister's
hnees ana Implored him to save his
motner and himself The women
respectfully left the room as the sui
CanaS hair hung in disorder and her
arms were bare For the first time the
grand V1zler saw this beautiful woman
without her veil. He gave orders 10
carry the imperial child to the Hozada.
where there were some faithful armed
Destang1s; He remained alone with the
young SulIana who was SObbing at his
Ieet suddenly he remembered his
solemn OaIn and murmured: Nav the
prophet forgive me- The triumph of
Soliman would be his own doom. for
the Agar would surely suDplant him
being the favOrite of the old suItana /
Therefore. he could not permit Soliman
TO become padiShah. His interest and /
desires harmonized The Young s11I- (
Iana was ready to bring any sacrifice 1
10 save her son. When the yizier left 1
the narem Muhamed's cause had won
NlSnC-a night as bright as a dav
IN the Occident-spread its peaceful /
wings over the great trees in the mark |
me minister dozed languidly in his /
PdIace. rapidly he formed his cruel |
plans. He must murder the old suitana
DeIore dawn, and before Bectas had
time to interfere.
He rushed to the itchogIans. paees
whose apartments were alongside an 1
inner palace yard. It was already 4 |
O'CLOCK He knocked at their doors |
crylhS' Get up quickly, the life of the |
Su4tan IS IN danger Everyone dressed
hastily and picked up his arms. The /
La1con bearers and the Ratchet bearers
Joined the itchoglans and all rushed
to the HOzada.
But it would have been of no use
to save Muhamed's life and permit the
old sultana to live.
Allahi Allah The war crv
spread all over the seragIio and inter- /
rupted the dancers performing before |
hoesem. who had decided to remain |
Up all night to wait for the return OF
BecIaS. The itchOglans burst into the !
sacred apartment, Illuminated bv
numerous torches. Koesem's female
saves We're singing and dancing in
lOl lOF OF their mistress and Soliman.
tledIlzinS her danger the old sui I
-dna mad all the lights extfnguished !
ana hid herself in an enormous chest
"nlch was hiled with robes and cur
ans She thought herself safe The
tchoglans the bostaneis and the AL
JShlans, who had failed to find her in
ne uark hall left to look for her in
ne gardens. Butithe grand vizier con-
-lhued TO search At last he felt her
lO9y through the soft curtains The !
~ woman begged him to spare her !
L nave made a dreadful mistake !
me cried, you are more of man than
oSCldS. IN spite of my years I am still
leduIiIul- You are to be my lover and
SSE0rlte: But the grand vizier thought I
II the timid kisses Of the young sultan !
-na SAID: You must die
She chung to the furniture while he |
ragged her along by her feet. Her ]
5Ierclng cries brought back the muir
'eI eTS VINO triumDhed at the sight of /
ieI. she picked up handful of gold
OI4lS ana threw them among them In
nelr struggle to get the gold they {
Upset. the grand vizier. The old woman {
ore herself from his grasp and ran /
'ut OF the room He followed her and
;aught hold of her veil She fell I 4
heavily to the floor. An Albanian tore
Ter diamond earrings from her ears and
DOStangi stripped the rings from her
myers, tearing the flesh into shreds
others robbed her of her bracelets. her
oWelled carriers. Then the grand
'lzler gave orders TO strangle her
Dawn arose fresh and rosy on this
Gene of murder and fury. Cries and /
hOUts We're heard. Bectas burst into | /
he seraglO with his janissaries but |
nd the mutilated body of the old sui
ana. he ordered his soldiers to depart | 2
lie was convinced that Allah in his | =
wisdom favored the rule of Muhamed ! v
lie sent n message to the grand vizier t
is soldiers" D