The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-10

idea that her daughter had ever met
any young man to whom she had given
her heart and could only attribute her
daughters emotion to the fact OF /
changing her state from maidenhood /
to wifehood.
But from the day Of the announce
ment Ahesha grew thin and lost the
lovely color in her cheeks for Wnleh |
she had been distinguished In VAIN
her mother tried to discover what was
the matter with her. Doctors were
called upon to diagnose her case, out
could not find any organic disease
And still the girl pinned, and as her
wedding day approached there was
blighted 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 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 it was Inn
/ possible. From the time she heard 1t
she was changed, Her gloom settled
/ into a 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 If 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
Mohammedl Allah forbid"
The poor woman, realizing that 1t
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
l
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 it on the back Of the mule. fasten-
ed it 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 motherhood to wifehood-
or to death? The few who feared a
repetition of the recent tragedy held
their breaths till the box should bt
, opened.
} But there was one who knew. The
r nurse, who loved Ahesha as well as Il
4 she had been her own daughter. could
? have told them whether the box con
t tanned living being or a corpse. Blu
3 Asiatics have great self control Tn,
: features of the bronzed face were rigit
5 and inexpensive. No one could reat
e them.
!. Perhaps 1t was because this was tn,
!. first wedding since the tragedy; per
:. haps a rumor had been circulated tina
l. the bride in the box had lover othe
than her betrothed Whatever tn,
e cause, as the little procession approach
n ed the groom's house hush came owe
d the spectators standing near TIL
l. waving ceased, the congratulator,
It shouts died down. The mule was lie,
S up before the house, the nurse opene,
d the door. For moment no descending
& bride was visible A chill came owe
a the onlookers.
e Then the bride appeared. movin
e slowly as If scarcely able to drag hel
d self from her hiding place. Her fet
lures were concealed by her veil SUI
Is ported by her nurse, she entered tn
n house. the door was closed behind he
W and sigh OF relief came from til
IS spectators.
he Ahesha found a wedding party will
II In. They rose as she entered, by
1t spoke no word. Passing through th
RI room she came to a door, which wa
lie opened, and in another moment st
ID was alone with her husband. Advan
D. ing, he raised her veil, she looked I'M
4 the face of the young man she had m,
he on the bank of the sweet waters
m Asia.
n Abdul Aekbar. the groom, havir
m learned the home of the girl he hs
III met, and being his own master, mao
"a an application for her hand. He sa
nothing of having seen her. feariI
e that the custom of a man not beiT
ne permitted to meet his bride befo
d. marriage might stand in his way
possessing her. He knew nothing
ne her pining at being intended for anot
ct er. If he had been aware OF her CO
eI ditton he might have surreptitious
81 conveyed to her message revealil
* the fact that they were to be united.
ne One day Ahesha's nurse had seen h
pe charge engaged upon her wedding &C
as tune. The woman watched her al
re saw that she was making pocket
her vest. When it was finished s.
re slipped knife into it. The nurse So
Vi nothing, but when she arrayed t
re bride for her wedding she took out I
u knife without Ahesha's knowledge.
~ Great was the rejoicing among tho