The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-13

bulky dancer who occupied the stage
promised to be interminable. From
motives Of sheer. boredom I studied the
details of her dress-a white dress, fit
ting like a vest from shoulder to hip,
and having short, full sleeves under
which was a sort of blue gauze. Her
hair, wrists and ankles glittered with
barbaric jeweIry and strings of little
coins.
A deafening orchestra consisting of
tambourines, shrielling Arab viols. and
the inevitable darabukeh, surrounded
the performer in a half-circle: and
three other large-sized ghawazi mingled
their shrill voices with the barbaric
discords of the musicians. I yawned.
"As a quest of local color. Breton"
I said. this evenings expedition can
only be voted a dismal failure"
Have patience he said sit is
Shejeret ed-Durr CTree of Pearls) that
we have come to see. and she has not
yet appeared" -
Unless she appears very shortly"
i replied. sitting another yawn. Il
shall disappear"
But even as I spoke, there arose a
hum of excitement throughout the
crowded room; the fat dancer. breath
less from her unpleasing eXertions, re-
sumed her seat; and all the performers
turned their gheads toward a door at
the. side of itke stage. A veiled figure
entered, with slow, 1.-the step; and her
appearance was acclaimed eXcitedly.
Coming to the centre of the stage. she
threw off her veil with a swift move
meht, and confronted the audience. a
slim, barbarie figure. 1 glanced at
Felix Breton. His eyes were glittering
with excitement. Here at last was the
0hdztBeh of romance, the 0hGzigeh of
the Egyptian monuments; true
daughter of that mysterious tribe who,
in the remote past of the Nile-land,
wove spells of subtle moon-magic be-
fore the golden Pharaoh.
A monstrous crash from 1.-The musi-
clans opened the music to the dance
the famous Gazelle dapce-which com
menced to "A measure of long, monoto-
nous cadcnces. Sherjeret ed-Durr be-
gan slowlysto move her arms and body
in that indescribable manner which
like the stirring of palm fronds, speaks
the veritable language of the voluptu-
Gus Orient The attendant dancers
clashing their miniature cymbals. the
measure quickened, and swift passion
engulfed the languorous body, which
maeicaIIy became transformed into
that of a leaping nymph. a bacchante
a living illustration of Keats wonder
words:
Like to a moving vintage. down
they came,
Crown'd with green leaves. and faces
all ahame;
All madly dancing through the
pleasant valley,
To scare thee, Melancholy"
At the conclusion of her dance
Shejeret ed-Durr, resuming her veil
descended to the Aoor of the hall anc
passed from table to table, exchanging
light badinage with those patrons
known to her.
DO you think you could induce hel
to come UP here. Kernahy?" sait
Breton excitedIy: "she is simply thu
ideal model for my Danse Funebre-
Amy indueement other than oul
presence in this select part Of the es
tabIishment," I replied, Offering him
cigarette, 'is unnecessary. She vii
present herself with all reasonable
despatch"
Indeed, had seen the dark eye
glance many times toward us, as w
sat there in distinguished isolation
and, even as I spoke. the girl wa
ascending the steps, from whence sh
approached our table, smiling Il
friendly fashion. Breton's surprise wa
rather amusing when she confidentE
seated herself, giving an order to tn
cross-eyed waiter in close attendance
It would be our privilege, Of course
pay the bill OF its being privilege
no one could doubt who had observe
the envious glances cast in our direc
ton by. less favored patrons.
AS Breton spoke no Arabic the tas
an
I was carrying on quite mechanical
when my attention was drawn to
peculiarly sinister-looking person seate
alone at a table close beside the corne
of the stage. I remembered having oh
served him address some remark I
Shejeret ed-Durr, and having note
that she seemed to avoid him Nov
he was directing upon US glare s
electrically baleful that when mrs
detected it 1 was conscious of a soT
of shock The man was rather oddl
dressed wearing a black turban and
sort OF loose robe not unlike the burma
of the desert Arabs. I concluded. ths
he belonged to some religious orde
and that his bosom was infiamed wit
hatred of a most murderous cf@l
acter toward myself. Felix Breton an
the dancer.
| endeaVoreds Wlllloub oeNi - -
girls notice, to indicate to Breton u
presence of the Man of the GlareS o'
the artist was so engrossed in conteu
plation of Shejeret ed-Durr and kel
me so busy interpreting. that 1 aba1
doned the attempt in despair. Havir
made his wishes evident to her, Il
girl readily consented to pose for hin
and when next glanced at the tab
near the stage the Man of the Glal
had disappeared.
What induced me to look toward Il
rear of the platform upon which Y
were seated know not, unless l d
so in obedience to a species OF hypnot
sugsestion; but something prompt'
me to glance over my shoulder An
for the second time that night. 1 el
countered the gaze of mysterious eye