The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-03-06
heYoungMan
Of the Bridge
By DOROTHEA HALE

In Constantinop.e there has always
been, since its conquest by the Turks,
4 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
~ there are 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
these who live and bring up children
together But woe to the young girl
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 young man she had seen
but once. The young, especially girls
on the threshold of womanhood, are
prone to succumb before 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 It.
Presently turning her eyes aside she
saw 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-
seiously 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
a part, the greater part, Of her being.
It 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
interest her-that is, they
were not repulsive to her. After tho
meeting they became q 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 1t would have been
celebrated in Tangier or Tripoli.
Ayxa, as was the custom, was to be
carried to her husband at night. The
street In the Moorish quarter through
which the bride would pass was lined
with persons to SEQ her pass. She was
at home with het father and mother
and the woman who had nursed hAr
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