The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1913-02-27
TheYoungMa
Of the Bridge
By DOROTHEA HALE

In Constantinop,e there has always
been, since its conquest by the Turks,
a miscellaneous population. Persians.
Greeks, races of western and southern
Europe are mingled together. besides
Moors from northern Africa. Some of
these peoples form colonies among
themselves and continue the customs
of their native countries. Consequent
ly there are a great many queer Gus
toms in COnstantinOple.
Among these customs perhaps the
strangest is betrothal and marriage
among the Moors. There is no such
thing as courtship among them. Mar
riages are arranged by contract be
tween the parents of the groom and
| the bride, who do not see each other
until they are married. Yet the human
heart In these people beats the same
as among other races. 1t may be well
! for bride If she has not met some
man to whom she has given her heart,
| for. fancy free. she may fall in love
with her husband or at least become
attached to him as is natural between
those who live and bring up children
! who has seen the man who has inspir
ed her with a grand passion.
The marriage ceremony among these
| people is also peculiar. as will appear
In the case of a young Moorish girl
called Ayxa. who was betrothed to a
young man named Muley 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 a single glance
Of a 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 a young man also leaning over the
side. but instead Of looking into the
water he was gazing at her. She saw
the lovelight lp his eyes and uncon-
sciously returned 1t.
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
a response in her. Indeed, 1t became
part. the greater part, of her being
1t was at 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
it 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 were
both Moors. prepared for the wedding
to be celebrated as il would have been
celebrated in Tangier or Tripoli
Ayxa, as was the custom, was TO he
carried to her husband at 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
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 a
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
In her fierce Moorish bosom she kept
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 a corpse. But nearly
all were as loud in their congratula-
lions as If Ayxa was going to the hus-
band Of her choice.
At last the home Of the groom was
reached. He was not at the door to
receive her. but waited for her within.
When a living bride stepped from the
box there were those in the throng who
breathed a sigh Of relief.
Ayxa was conducted by her mother
in-law to the room where her husband
awaited her. There she was left to en-
ter alone. She was expected to ad-
vance toward him and throw herself
at his feet Instead of doing so she