The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-02-17

a.. .ne vase VI u young aIOOrlSu Elri
called Ayxa. who was betrothed to a
young man named MuIey Abdul by
her parents. but who had fallen in
love with a young man she had seen
but once. The young. especially girls
on the threshold Of womanhood. are
prone to succumb before single glance
Of q man who captivates their fancy.
and southern races are more liable to
this than colder blooded peoples of the
north. Ayxa in crossing that much
frequented bridge uniting two parts of
Constantinople. stopped to look down
over the side into the water. While
doing so she uncovered her face. since
there was no man below to see 1t.
Presently turning her eyes aside she
saw q young man also leaning over the
side. but instead of looking into the
water he was gazing at her. She saw
the lovelight in his eyes and uncon-
sciously returned it.
Covering her face. she pursued her
way. But from that moment she was
changed. Her young and excitable be-
ing saw in all about her that face
alone. At least it was all that excited
q response in her. Indeed. 1t became
q part. the greater part. of her being.
1t was Mt this time that negotiations
were entered upon for her marriage
with Muley Abdul. When she heard
of them she had not met the young
man on the bridge. and they did not
especially interest her-that is. they
were not repulsive to her. After the
meeting they became horror to her.
But she could do nothing to prevent
the union that awaited her. She had
met the young man of the bridge
but once. and even if she had seen
him often and they had become lovers
1t would not have made any difference.
She would have married the man pro
vided for her and that without having
seen him.
The arrangements for the marriage
having been completed. the parents OF
the bride and the groom. who We're
both Moors. prepared for the wedding
to be celebrated as it would have been
celebrated in Tangier or Tripoli
Ayxa. as was the custom. was TO be
carried to her husband ut night. The
street in the Moorish quarter through
which the bride would pass was lined
with persons to see her pass. She was
at home with her father and mother
and the woman who had nursed her
from babyhood. Languidly she babe
her parents goodby and left them. go
ing with her nurse. who In accordance
with the ceremony was to conduct her
to her husband.
And now comes the strangest part
of this strange custom. The nurse
left the house. carrying a box which
contained the bride. placed it on n
mule standing before the door. then
led the animal down the street. Nov
ing slowly to the sounds of wierd mu
sic, the old woman, the mule and the
bride within the box proceeded on
their way to the home of the groom.
AS they passed house after house
friends emerged to salute the bride.
None knew the feelings of Ayxa. for
she had not confided them even to her
mother. What desperate resolve was
hidden there A bride who had loved
another. on her way to an unknown
husband, had been found at the door
Of his house dead in the box that Ell
closed her. by her own hand. Indeed
there were those along the route who
remembering this. shuddered lest the
casing concealed corpse. But nearly
all were as loud In their congratula-
tons as If Ayxa was going to the hus-
band ~ hor ohnioo