The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-17

her heart and could only attribute he
daughters emotion to the fact O
changing her state from maidenhooC
to wifehood.
But from the day Of the announce
ment Ahesha grew thin and lost Tho
lovely color in her cheeks for which
she had been distinguished. In vair
her mother tried to discover what was
the matter with her. Doctors were
called upon to diagnose her case, but
could not find any organic disease
And still the girl pinned, and as her
wedding day approached there was q
bhghted look upon her that greatly
troubled those who loved her.
Shortly before her wedding some
thing happened which threw a gloom
over the Moors of Constantinople. A
young bride who had gone to her hus-
band in the box used for the purpose
was found on its being opened before
the door Of the groom's house dead
with a dagger in her heart. She had
committed suicide. The cause was
unknown, but 1t was assumed that she
had loved and preferred death to be-
ing married to one not the man who
possessed her heart.
Ahesha's parents endeavored to keep
this tragedy from her. but it was i'm
possible. From the time she heard it
she was changed. Her gloom settled
into look Of resolve. Only her moth
er reared the cause. She dreaded lest
ner daughter had some intention by
which to escape the marriage arranged
for her. Indeed. so great was the wo-
mans solicitude that she begged her
daughter to tell her If there was any
reason why marriage was repulsive to
her and If so what it was. Then
Ahesha confessed her love for the
young man she had met by the sweet
waters of Asia.
The mother at once went to her hus.
band and told him the secret. propos.
ing TO abrogate the marriage contract
for their daughter.
"WhatP said the Infatuated Moor
Go back on the word OF a follower Of
Mohammed Allah forbid!'
The poor woman, realizing that Il
would be impossible to move her bigot.
ed husband, gave up the struggle and
prepared her daughter for her bridal.
At last the wedding day arrived.
Ahesha stood like a statue while her
mother and her nurse arrayed her for
the bridal The box stood ready. and
she stepped into 1t. Her mother kissed
her, then closed the door of her cramp-
ed conveyance. The nurse took up her
load, carried It to the street and, plac-
ing 1t on the back of the mule, fasten.
ed 1t with thongs. Then the conceal |
ed bride, the beast bearing her led by |
her nurse, passed down the street be- |
tween the lines of spectators convened |
to see a wedding procession. Those
who had an acquaintance with the
bride waved to her and shouted mes
sages. Slowly the hidden burden
moved from maidenhood to wifehood-l
or to death? The few who feared a
repetition of the recent tragedy held
their breaths till the box should be
opened.
But there was one who knew. The
nurse, who loved Ahesha as wen as II |
she had been her own daughter, could
have told them whether the box con-
tanned a living being or corpse. But
Asiatics have great self control The
features of the bronzed face were rigid
and inexpensive. No one could read
them.
Perhaps 1t was because this was the
hrst wedding since the tragedy; per.
haps rumor had been circulated that
the bride in the box had lover other
than her betrothed Whatever the
cause, as the little procession approach
ad the grooms house hush came over
me spectators standing near. The
waving ceased, the congratulatory
shouts died down. The mule was led
Up before the house. the nurse opened
ne door For moment no descending
bride was visible. A chill came over
he onlookers.
Inen the bride appeared, moving
lowly as II scarcely able to drag her
'eif from her hiding place. Her fea.
ures were concealed by her veil. sun
'orted by her nurse, she entered the
louse, the door was closed behind her
md a sigh OF relief came from the
pectators.
Anesha found wedding party with.
n. They rose as she entered. but II
poke no word. Passing through the
Dom she came to door, which was
pened, and in another moment she
vas alone with her husband. Advanc. II
ng, ne raised her veil, she looked into II
he race OF the young man she had met II
n the bank Of the sweet waters of
Isia.
Abdul Aekbar, the groom, having
earned the home Of the girl he had II
let, and being his own master, made II
n application for her hand. He said E
othing OF having seen her. fearing IE
nat the custom of a man not being lE
ermltted to meet his bride before lE
marriage might stand in his wav of Is
assessing her. He knew nothing OF E
er pining at being intended for anoth. E
!. II he had been aware OF her con. E
iuon he might have surreptitiouslv IL
onVeyed TO her a message revealing
le ract that they were to be united. rs
one day Ahesha's nurse had seen her
narge engaged upon her wedding cos. &
Inc. The woman watched her and
NV that she was making a pocket in Il
er vest When it was finished she e
lpped knife into it. The nurse said e
othing, but when she arrayed the IFS
rlde for her wedding she took ont the lis
nlfe without Ahesha's knowledge. is
Great was the rejoicing among those s
earest the bride when the great Is
lange In her on her temperance was E
oseryed. Meanwhile the nurse had K