The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-02-22

, him an order upon his treasurer for a
piece OF brocade and a purse Of a thou
sand pieces Of gold Hurry!ng beck tc
/. his wife, Abou showed her with Joy the
results Of his visit to the Sultan. and the
two made very merry over the success OF
their little joke. As soon as Hassan had
eft him the CalIph. thinking that Zobei4e
would be hlIed with grief az the death
Of her favorite attendant. said 10 the
Grand V.zIer:
Follow me. We will go and share with
the Queen the grief and sorrow which The
death OF Nouzatalfaud must occasion
her" They found ZobeIde much dis
tressed and In tears-she was sorrowinS
for the sorrow of Nouzatalfaud. MY
dear" said the CaIiph. Il have come to
tell you how deeply / sympathiEe with
you In the death Of your favorite atten-
dsnt. Nouzatalfaud"
Zobeide's tears ceased to flow on the
instant. and. looking up with surprise. she
said: My dear lord. what are you talk
ing about? Il Is not my attendant. but
her husband. Abou Hassan. who is dead. "
My dear Zobeide." replied the Sultan.
you have been deceived. Abou Hassan IS
alive and well. Il Is his wife who is dead.
Abou Hassan is in pe-fec- health Per
NIT me sire" said Zobeide with some as
per!ty. ito repeat that Abou is dead and
Nouzatalfaud is IN perfect health. Mt
half an hour ago she was with me ard
told me rhe story OF her husba DIS death
I mingled ny tears with hers and all nv
women can bear witness that gave her
a piece of brocade and a thousand pieces
OF gold. ! am not accustomed. sire, :"
state things which are not farts-nor to
have my statements doubted" The gen.
tie Zobelde had a will OF her own
My dear queen" returned the Caliph.
you NAV depend upon II: Nouzatalfa I'D
rs dead" And say nor retorted 70
beIde. IT trust. sir. that you have not
been at your wine thus early in the day
How often have I warned YOU that your
INDULGENCE in wine-wh'ch is forbidden by
the Koran anyway-would ultimately ef-
feet your reason tell you It is Abou
Hassan who Is dead"
Seeing that IT was useless to argue
further. the Sultan said to the Vizler: Go
and fetch Abou Hassan here at once. 7
will show you. madam. who Is right in this
matter" Let US go and see for our
selves" said the queen, II will trust 10
the report OF none OF your accomplices."
They went-and Abou. in terror. saw the
caliph and his queen approaching. What
shall We DOR he cried Here they come,
We will catch It," Not at ALL said his
wife. Just do as I tell you" Abou and
NouzataIfaud laid themselves down side by
side In the middle OF the chamber and
drew over them each the piece Of broeade
which had been given them The Caliph
and Zobeide we're astonished when, fol-
lowed by a train OF courtIers. they en-
tered the apartment "Alas" said the
queen, eft is too true, Nouzatalfaud is
dead; and It seems OF grief at having lost
her husband" Allow me-" said the
Caliph. "Nouzatakaud died first and 1t
seems that Abou died OF grief for her"
"Pray allow me to differ with you." re-
turned Zobeide.
The Sultan, exasperated by his wife's
obstinacy, cried out. II will give a thou
sand pieces of gold to the person who will
find out surely which of the two died
first" Scarcely had he spoken when.
from under the brocade which covered
Abou Hassan. came his well known voice
saying. Commander OF the Faithful, I
died first Give me the thousand pieces Of
gold" Then Abou. throwing of his COW
ering. sprang up and. running to the Sui
tan, threw himself at his feet AZ the