The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-04-28

seph arthur de GO6tneGu has retotd
for the western WorId an old Persian
and Afghan story which is strikingIy
like Shakespeare's Romeo and
Juliet" which is being so much DIS
cussed now as part of the Shake
spearean tercentenary.
His mother had named him Mohsen,
meaning 1.-THE Beautiful" and he did
Justice to his name. There was no
Afghan in all Kandahar who could
match him when he rode through the
narrow streets with his black hair
curling under a blue and red striped
turban. With deep, soft eyes that
were quick to flame, he looked scorn-
fully down on the low-born who had
neither dignity nor self-respect. He
knew proudly that his own honor was
SO dear to him that his days would not
be long.
He carried death, and watched for
death. Between his family of the All
medzyys and the equally powerful
Muradzyys there was an age-long feud.
There was another younger feud be-
tween his father, Mohammed-Beg, and
uncle, Osman-Beg.
Therefore Mohsen never went IN
armed. Always he bore his shield,
over his back hung the long Afghan
rife and in the gay sash was a knife
three feet long, four inches broad,
sharp as acid and of such weight that
single blow would amputate limb.
One evening he stole into Osman-
Beg's house, meaning to kill the young
est son, Elem. He grieved to do it, for
Elem and he had been bOyhood COM
panions; but honor is dearer to the
Afghan than aught else. He put men,
cries behind him and went in.
'Hail to thee, son of my uncle! !" said
soft voice. 1t was his cousin,
Dschemyleh, who had watched him en-
ter. She advanced and stood before
him lovely as the dusk, in a red, gold
embroidered robe Of gauze, her shining
eyes and hair splendid behind trans
parent veil of silver and blue. "Thou
hast come to kill Elem J" she said. "He
is best beloved! I love him. love
thee, too. Oh, Mohsen, take me as ram
som. Take me, son Of my uncle. I
will be thy wife. I will follow thee"
He kneeled and kissed the hem of
her robe. Dschewyleh lifted her little
naked foot and set 1t ON his neck. I'm
der that touch his pride broke like
glass.
Three days later Osman-Beg and his
sons tore boards and hair, and walled
In their house for shame. Their be-
loved, their star, their Dschemyleh had
| fled with the son Of their hated kins-
man, their enemy.
Kandahar was no place where the
| two could hide. Before another sun
had passed the avengers of blood had
driven them from house to house and
surrounded them in their last retreat
ruined part of the city.
Mohsen lay behind a wall and LET
them approach. Dschemyleh sat by
his side with his rifle. Posing the
great knife, Mohsen leaped out sud
denly and struck down the leader OF
his pursuers. The red knife swung
again and hacked through turban and
| skull of a cousin.
Then he prepared to die, for they
were all at him. Dschemyleh lifted the
gun. At that moment a band of riders
charged into the fight. They drove be
tween him and his foes. "Osman-Beg,'
roared the leader, '.give way. Run
Let loose thy prey, or I swear by thu
graves of all the holy ones that thol
shalt not live!"
Sullenly Osman-Beg's band retired
The newcomer was Akbar-Khan, sol
Of Abdullah-Khan, who governed tn
city for the sultan. His horsemen tool
the two between them and hurried
them to the citadel. But Mohsen wa
little pleased. Abdullah and Akba
were of the stock of the Muradzyys
Mohsen's life had been saved from on
foe only to fall into that Of another
still more bitter.
But he was an Afghan, and his MINI
was crafty. Scarcely had they en-
tered the citadel before he tore him
self loose and ran like deer into tn
harem, where he threw himself dow
before the wife of Abdullah. Snatchin,
the hem of her robe, he demanded pro
lection.
Abdullah-Khan and his son. wer
close on his heels, with daggers drawn
II am an Ahmedzyy!" said Mohsen
"Kill me il you Will"
Abdullah-Khan lifted his dagger
"Hold |" said his wife. ''These childrel
have gained my protection. If tho
TOUGHEST them, thou losest thine honor
and thy fame that Is shining as silve
will be blackened in the sight Of men.
Abdullah-Khan's eyes cleaned lik
those of tiger. He stood still, tren
bling with rage. Then he stopped an
said: "Rise! Ye are my children!"
Half an hour later the sultar
stormed at by the wailing family Of Or
man-Beg, who was his henchman, sen
word to 'Abdullah-Khan that Mohse
must be delivered to the avengers. /
lowery language full Of love, the royi
; emissaries assured Abdullah-Khan tha
disobedience meant that his life an
property would be forfeit.