The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-07-08

Hhore Of Enzel1. kerbela1 Mehmed
will throw thee on the desert to rot
when he sees thy lazy fingers.
Il can weave no more, o my father.
until the red wool is brought from
herman. The bird which shall guard
the spirit of thy illustrious mother will
sit on the top branch OF the tree, and
it is fitting that it should be red"
Ali Khan!" exclaimed her father
May the desert be soft to his camels'
feet. May he bring me many and good
rugs"
The semiannuaI visits of Ali Khan
were of large moment in the life OF
Haji kassem. His cameis came laden
with bales of rugs gathered from the
tents of the southern Iliyats. whose
prices were less than those of the city
weavers.
Besides. though little more than a
boy. Ali Khan talked much and well.
To q Persian good story teller at
fortls the most excellent entertainment
in the world. Therefore it was that
his brief visits were looked forward tc
not more for their commercial than
their social value.
A few afternoons later as the mueZ-
gin was calling the sunset hour the
room suddenly darkened. Against Il
Background of caneis and donkeys, so
| tall that he stopped us he entered the
| doorway, was Ali Khan. Haji kassem
shutiied forward. Vaughn. with de-
| light
| 'khosh amadid! You are welcomed"
| he cried. You have brought happi-
ness" He kissed the young mans
hand and raised it to his forehead
| Il honor myself by crossing your
most exalted threshold" gravely re-
| Piled Ali Khan.
lltar had sped to the kitchen to as
sist in preparing delicacies for the
evening meal. Her heart sang rs she
Thought of the long evening when. II
! her father willed it. she would sit in
| the corner and watch this gracious
| young man eat and listen tn his tales
OF the charmed life of his people. II
she had been born an lliyat and could
bestow her rug upon such ii one!
Suddenly the strange words of the
Sahib Smith came into her mind
They had seemed to have no relation
to her own life. Now she heard then
again definitely. significantly.
| On the instant she wanted this
'liyat. wanted him with all the inten
sity of Il hundred dreams unrealized
wanted him with all the ardor Of d
thousand wild. dark eyed ancestors
wanted him with all the fervor Of q
soul about to be cast into hopeless
slavery.
She realized hopeiessly that it was
her last opportunity to save herself
and her precious rug. and she decided
to use desperate means. Her father
had said that the Feringee womer
stared ut their lovers and charmed
them with their eyes
What if her rouhband should acci
drntally fall and her face should fine
favor with him! But even the thought
| was monstrous. She felt she conlC
never uncover her face before 4
| stranger
Other plans were born OF her des
pair. but with them all was one blight
ing retlection-she could never escape
her fathers watchful eyes. happer
what would.
She spread the guest rug before thu
hearth with trembling fingers. Sht
scarcely heard Haji Kassem as ht
twittered away. heapins his guests
plate With curds and chicken rissoIes.
AS she passed the kalyan filled witt
moistened tobacco to the young man {
chip of silndalwood fell upon his out
stretched palm.
He glanced ut her quickly. then a
her father and placed it slowly in hi!
sash AS all the world knows. thi:
means much. whenever / see thee
love thee"
But he did not glance toward he
corner as he began the tale Of his wan
deriHgs. Every Persian loves hi:
own place. though it be hell" is th'
old saying.
SO Ali Khan talked first of the beau
ties of Lalazar. place of tulips. nea
which his fathers 1ocks pastured. HI
told how the wood spurge spread it
sheets Of vivid yellow in the fields ant
how the air was sweet with the laven
der and the celandine.
The river ran soft and clear for tn
use of the dyers at sunset the foam
danced red like crimson roses upon it
swirl!ug waters 1t was the year o
the rabbit There had been much rain
The tlocks had increased bountifully
the world WAS deep in the colors of
IuxuriaGt spring.
Soon the scorching days woui
come. His people were even then pre-
pairing for their annual pilgrimage t
the cool mountains.
He spoke of kerm;ln. where th
nightingales sing. en;lmored of tn
roses: of Yezd filled with the fire VOL
shippers in their yellow GOWNS: Q
yefdik hast, with its mud houses hans
mountain He talked of the conntr
of the BeIuchi. With its feathery dat
trees and graceful palms. its wavin
pampas and its lush grass.
Then he began the Herman versio
O. The Dragon and the Shah's Daugl
ter" a tale beloved by the Persian
His voice rose and fell in the rhythI
ef the good story teller the world owe
Despite his eager interest. the e.
citement of the day and tie smoke
the kalyans began TO have their wa
with Hail Kassem The downwaI
wrinkles in his face deepened. 81
) eyelids closed Without change of il