The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-13

any young man to whom she had giveI
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 the
/ lovely color in her cheeks for which
she had been distinguished. In vaiI
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 hel
wedding day approached there was 6
blighted look upon her that greatly
troubled those who loved her.
Shortly before her wedding some
thing happened which threw a gloon
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 it 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 1t was i'm
possible. From the time she heard II
she was changed. Her gloom settled
into look Of resolve. Only her moth.
er feared the cause. She dreaded lest
her 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 IL there was any
reason why marriage was repulsive TO
her and II so what 1t 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.
"Whatr' said the infatuated Moor.
Go back on the word of follower Of
Mohammed! Allah forbidT
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 1t 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-
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 well as II
she had been her own daughter. could
have told them whether the box con.
tanned living being or corpse. But
Asiatics have great self control. The
features of the bronzed face were rigid
NJ
them.
Perhaps 1t was because this was the
first wedding since the tragedy; per
haps a rumor had been circulated that
the bride in the box had lover other
than her betrothed Whatever the
cause. as the little procession approach.
ed the groom's house hush came over
the spectators standing near. The
waving ceased. the congratulatory
shouts died down. The mule was led
up before the house. the nurse opened
the door. For moment no descending
bride was visible. A chill came over
the onlookers.
Then the bride appeared. moving
SLOWLY as II scarcely able to drag her.
self from her hiding place. Her fea.
lures were concealed by her veil. Sup
ported by her nurse, she entered the
house, the door was closed behind her
and sigh OF relief came from the
spectators.
Ahesha found wedding party with.
In. They rose as she entered. but
spoke no word. Passing through the
room she came to a door, which was
opened. and In another moment she
was alone with her husband. Advanc.
Ing, he raised her veil. she looked into |
The face of the young man she had met
On the bank of the sweet waters Of
Asia.
Abdul Aekbar, the groom. having
earned the home of the girl be had |
net, and being his own master, made |
In application for her hand. He said |
Nothing of having seen her, fearing
hat the custom of q man not being |
permitted to meet his bride before
marriage might stand In his way OF |
her. He knew nothing of |
Ter pining at being intended for anoth- |
II. If he had been aware of her con. |
iition he might have surreptitiously !
to her a message revealing !
he fact that they were to be united.
One day Ahesha's nurse had seen her
'harge engaged upon her wedding cos
ume. The woman watched her and
Jaw that she was making a pocket in
Ter vest. When it was finished she
clipped knife into it. The nurse said
nothing. but when she arrayed the
bride for her wedding she took out the
Inife without Ahesha's knowledge.
Great was the rejoicing among those