The Mena weekly star., 1913-05-15
Copyright 1911 by Bobbs-Merrin Ccupsn, Continued from last issue)
CHAPTER TX.
The Bitter Fruit.

ult and all life stirred energetically. There was cheer and hope everywhere; men laced their labors with clear eye and Reared nothing; women sang at their work. It was only at the close of day fhat despair and defeat stalked the l Highways. So she was up with the sun, whether In her own garden or in fhese odd and mystical cities. Thus she saw the native as he was, not as he later in the day pretended to be, | Tor the benefit of the Feringhi about fo be stretched upon the sacrificial stone She saw, with gladness, the honey-bee thrilling the rose, the blow. l mans share barring the soil the morn, l Ing. the morning, the two or thres Hours that were all, all her own. Her mother was always irritable and petu- lhnt in the morning, and her uncle pever developed the gift of speech till After luncheon.
 She had the same love of proving That lured Ryanne from the beaten baths. She was not inquisitive but l curious, and that ready disarming smile of hers opened many a poEal. She was balancing upon her gloved balm thoughtfully, a Soudanese head | frinket, pendant of twisted gold | wires. fiawed emeralds and second pearls, really exquisite and not gen. erally to be found outside the expen. | sive shops in the European quarters, and there infrequently. The merchant |.Ranted twenty pounds for 1t. Fortune l Shook her head, regretfully. It was Tar beyond her means. She sighed. |.Dnly once in a great while she saw Something for which her whole heart Fried out. This pendant was one of | These.
 T will give you five pounds for 1t That is all have with me" "Salaam, madame" said the jeweler, feaching for the pendant. If you will send 1t to the Hotel Se- l niramis this afternoon ." But She faltered at the sight of the mer- l ehants incredulous smile. |# I'll give you ten for 1t; not a pias- Ire more. l can get one like 1t in the |Sharia Kamel for that amount" |# Both Fortune and the merchant l |furned
 You, Horace?"
 Yes, my child. And what are you doing here alone, without a drago- | han?"
 "Oh, have been through here alone nany times. I'm not afraid. Isn't it beautiful? He wants twenty pounds Nor it, and I cannot afford that" She had not seen him in many Feeks, yet she accepted his sudden ap-
 earance without question or surprise. She was used to his turning up at un- expected moments. Of course, she Dad known that he was in Cairo; There her mother and uncle were this Becretive man was generally within ealling. There had been a time when fhs had eagerly piled him with ques- kions, but he had always erected bar riers of evasion, and finally she ceased Der opportunities, for she concluded That her questions were such. No mat Ter to whom she turned, there was no pne to answer her questions, questions porn of doubt and fear. Ten pounds" repeated Ryanne. hand in his pocket. The merchant laughed. Here were |R young man and his sweetheart His
 Nperieuce had taught him, and not pn"isely, that love Is an easy victim, too proud to haggle, too generous to bargain sharply. Twenty" he re- l 3terated
 E Salaam!" said Ryanne. Good pay He drew the somewhat resist }hg hand of Fortune under his arm nd made for the door. "Shl" he whis- 2ered. Leave it to me-" They gained the street
 The merchant was dazed. He had
 nlsludged what he now recognized as
 h old hand. The two were turning another street when he ran out, shouting to them and waving the 2ehdant. Ryanne laughed.
 Ten pounds. I am poor man. ef-
 enoi, and l. need the money. Ten ounds. l am giving 1t away" The
 erchant's eyes filled with tears,
 ieh isft to him from out of the ruins
 HIS youth, that ready service to
 0iestall the merited rod.
 iFanhe counted out ten soveneigns
 Nu put the pendant in Fortunes
 anu And the pleasure in his heart
 as such as he had not known in
 any days The merchant wisely hur! 'eu pack to his shop.
 hgly.
 u1 tut! l have known you since
 hanters."
 really cannot accept it as a gift. a. me borrow the ten pounds"
 ana Why can't you accept little
 lft from me?"
 sue mad no ready answer She -su steadily at the dull pearls and "aAy emeralds. She could not ask
 "hefe he had got those sover- shs' She could not possibly be so or, & She could not dissemble in rau' au' ike her mother. That gold she
 ." to De part of a dishonest bar
 "hose forestep had been theft
 .la e' saerilege. Her Honesty was
 ,,h pure gold, unalloyed. unmixed
 onr sophlstie subterfuges. That the
 b,gbt U man Who had purchased the rug
 oerr.ls su. pe mildly peccable had not yet
 cured to her.
 Mny not, Fortune?s Ryanne was
 ea'nest' and there was pinch at