The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-04-14

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and Afghan story which is strikingly
like Shakespeare's Romeo and
Juliet" which is being so mach DIS
cussed non as part of the Shake
Spearean precautionary.
His mother had named him Mohsen,
meaning ''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 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 I'M
armed. Always he bore his shield,
over his back hung the long Afghan
rifle and in the gay sash was knife
three feet long, four inches broad,
sharp as acid and Of such weight that
a single blow would amputate limb.
One evening he sto'e 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 mem
cries behind him and went in.
"Hail to thee, son Of my uncle!" said
a 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 Elemp' she said. HE
Is best beloved! love him. / love
thee, too. Oh, Mohsen, take me as ran
som. Take me, son of my uncle. I
will be thy wife. / will follow thee"
He kneeled and kissed the hem of
her robe. Dschewyleh lifted her little
naked foot and set 1t on his neck. IN
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. Poising 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 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 the
graves of all the holy ones that thou
shalt not live!"
Sullenly Osman-Beg's band retired.
The newcomer was Akbar-Khan son
of Abdullah-Khan, who governed the
city for the sultan. His horsemen took
the two between them and hurried
them to the citadel. But Mohsen was
little pleased. Abdullah and Akbar
were of the stock of the Muradzyys.
Mohsen's life had been saved from one
foe only to fall into that of another,
still more bitter.
But he was an Afghan, and his mind
was crafty. Scarcely had they en-
tered the citadel before he tore him
self loose and ran like deer into the
harem, where he threw himself down
before the wife of Abdullah. Snatching
the hem of her robe, he demanded pro-
lection.
Abdullah-Khan and his son were
close on his heels, with daggers drawn.
II am an Ahmedzyy" said Mohsen.
"Kill me If you will !"
Abdullah-Khan lifted his dagger.
''Hold! !" said his wife. 'These children
have gained my protection. If thou
TOUGHEST them, thou losest thine honor,
and thy fame that is shining as silver
will be blackened in the sight of men,"
Abdullah-Khan's eyes cleaned like
those of tiger. He stood still, trem-
bling with rage. Then he stopped and
said: "Risel Ye are my children
Half an hour later the sultan,
stormed at by the wailing family of Os-
man Beg, who was his henchmah, sent
word to Abdullah-Khan that MohSen
must be delivered to the avengers. In
fiowery language full of love, the royal
emissaries assured Abdullah- Khan that
disobedience meant that his life and
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