The Washington times., 1918-09-01
By Aurora Mardiganian
Continued from Last Sunday
CHAPTER III.


quiet for long time. We were huddled in
of the attic of home afraid for daylight
to and yet afraid to be alone there in the night
We had taken refuge there the evening before when
saw the Turks carrying off Miss Graham Miss Graham
the orphanage teacher mother had hoped might
protect u.s. in wells and coaks disguised Moham-
medan women until the soldiers took the other Armenian
women and children away. But when the Turks took
her. described last Sunday, there nothing for
to do but hide The Turks did not suspect being
other than Mohammedans walked through the
streets to deserted house.
When didn't answer at lausanne asked the
ribe question again:
"Aurora-tell me; do you think there be Godf"
1t was not like Lusanne to say such thing. She
always very good Whenever had wanted to stay away
from Sunday school it had been lausanne who had scoded
the most thought of her being much wiser than
for she older and had been engaged to be married
Father told me to trust in Him and Father Rupen
said God always would be with u.s. said to her tried.
too, to tell her how much believed In Him.
After while lausanne ashamed, and herself igain.
She took my hand and said Forgive me, my sister.
wicked. Whatever He wills is rightP' was glad
to hear lausanne say this needed courage then myself
Outside the soldiers were running through the streets
breaking into the houses of the Amenians. We could
hear them shouting and celebrating through attic
window.
Lusanne and planned to remain hidden until the
soldiers had taken people away and then escape If
possible, to the hills where knew of Turkish family
father had been friendly with We tried to talk of the
future-of what to become of u.s. but could not
very far ahead-we lonely with all people
in the hands of the Turks.
In the attic there number of boxes of old things
of mothers. We searched until found some old
Clothes and each of put old dress of mothers
under the cloaks she had given There would be
hope for the Turks should recognize young
Christian girls
Neither Lusanne had slept during the three days
the Turks allowed the Armenian to prepare for
deportation Toward morning were both worn out
fell asleep. Something hit me- and awoke to find
ugly yezdee standing me- his sword in his hand He
had kicked me. Three or four Others who. with the
leader had broken in search the house for vauables
just coming the ladder into the attic and the
who had found us calling out to them:
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ikhtshoshr' c'Here are ref
ugees-let's kill them!")
The yezdee' call awakened Lusanne and she screamed
By this time the Turks had pulled to my feet but
when lausanne screamed they dropped me. That's no
old one the chief yezdee said be turned my sister
"She screams too pretty.
They kicked me aside while they gathered around
lausanne picked her up and carried her down the ladder
to the floor below where bedrooms There they
found lamp and lighted it from the torch of them
carried. They began to examine Lusanne who
screaming all the time and fighting them desperately.
followed them down the ladder and into the but
when they of them struck at with his fists.
and fell down. They thought at least old
my clothes looked One of them said stick the old
bayonet if she don't keep STILL l could do nothing
but stay the floor crouch tight to the wall and look
A yezidee tore off Lusanne's veil and cloak When
they her face and that she young and good look
ing they shouted and laughed The leader dropped his
gun and laid his sword table and then took lausanne
away from the others and held her in his She
fought hard the others had to help hold her while the
officer kissed her Each time he kissed her he laughed
and all the others laughed too.
When Lusanne's dress was all torn and her
grew weak could not stand il any longer crep NJ
to the my knees and begged them to stop knew
there longer any hope that might escape So
pleaded: Please take to the to relatives