The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-08
shahmarah sat upright upon the

Snanmarah sat upright upon the |
couch.
1.-The veil" she cried imperiously. II |
will send the merchant Ali Mohammed |
an order on the treasury of the Bey."
20 moon of the Orient replied, 20
ravisher of souls, 1 am but a poor. ugly
old woman, basking in the radiance of
beauty and loveliness. Would you ruin
one so old ana feeble and helpless? I
must have the price agreed upon; let
it be counted into this bag"-and con-
eealing my tell-tale hands as much as
possibly, 1 bent humbly and placed a
leather wallet upon little table beside
her which bore fruits, sweetmeats, and
a long-necked gold flagon.
''I might have you cast into a
dungeon beneath this palace" she
hissed at me, bending lithely forward
and extending a jeweled foreflnger. mo
| one would miss thee, o mother OF af-
f1ictions."
I'm that event" I crooned quaver-
ingly, 20 tree of pearls, the veil could
never be thine; for the merchant All
Mohammed, who awaits me at the gate
refuses to deliver it up until the price
agreed upon has been placed in his
hands
She extended the jeweled hand toward
| the girl who stood behind me and who
having loosened her wraps, proved to
be comely but shrewd-looking As
syrian. Let the money be counted into
the bag" she ordered.
From a locked closet the Assyrian
girl took wooden Golfer, and before my
gratified eyes, began to count upon the
little table, notes and gold until a pile
| lay there to have cholled a miser with
emotion. But. with the chinking of
the last piece Of gold upon the pile
| There is no more,' said the girl. 1T
is one hundred pounds short"
1T is more than enoughi" cried
Shahmarah. 'I am ruined. Give me
the veil and co.
20 vision of paradise" 1 exclaimed in
anguish, the merchant Ali Mohammed
would never consent. In lieu of the
remainder pointed to the antique
enamel in her turban-"give me the
brooch from thy rabtah."
20 sink of corruption" was her re-
sponse, her whole body positively quiv-
ering with rage cit is not for thy filthy
claws. Herei she pulled a ring con-
tanning a fair-sized emerald from one
of her fingers and tossed it contemptu-
ously upon the Npile of noney-"thou
art more than repaid. The veil! the
vei1."
turned to the girl who had counted
| out the gold.
20 minor moon, whom even the glory
| of paradise cannot dirn," 1 said put
the money in the wallet. for my hands
are old and inffrm, and give it to me-
The Assyrian scooped the gold and
notes into the leather bag with the ut
most unconcern, and as though she had
been shelling peas into basket.
| Securing the heavy wallet to the
| ings, L placed upon the table where
the money had lain a small silken
| packet.
Here is the veil," I said; s'for my
story of the merchant, Ali Mohammed
| who had refused to yield it up was
but stratagem to test the generosity
of thy soul, as thy refusal to give me
the price agreed upon was but subter-
fuge to test my honesty"
Needless of the words. Shahmarah
| snatched up the packet, tore off the
wrappinSs, and in trice was standing
| upright before me wearing the yashmak
of pearls.
1 think I had never seen a figure
more barbarically lovely than that of
this soulless Egyptian so adorned.
MY mirror. Safyeh! My mirror,"
she cried.
And the girl placing a big silver mir
ror in her hand, she stood there look
ing into its surface, her wonderful eyes
swimming with ecstacy and her slim
body swaying in perfect rapture Of
admiration for her own beauty.
| Then subtle change crept over her
features; and ere 1 could utter the
first of the honeyed compliments ready
upon my tongue
Send Aminef to warn Mahmud that
the old woman is about to depart" she
directed her attendant; and, turning to
me: Wait in the outer room. Thy
presence is loathsome to me- o mother
of calaTnities."
Il hear and obey" replied, 20
pomegranate blossom''-and. following
the direction Of her rigidly extended
finger, I shuffied back to the little
octagonal apartment and the masked
door was slammed almost upon my
heels. But I had not long to wait in
that weird half-light ere my conduc-
tress. again closely mufled in her
shawls. opened the door at the head of
the steps and signed to me to descend
In silence we went down the uncar-
peted stairs and out into the trellis-
covered walk The shadow beneath the
high wall had deepened and widened
since we had last skirted the gardens,
and felt my way along with my hand
cautiously outstretched
At a point within sight of the flower |
grown arbor beneath which knew the !
gate to be concealed. my guide halted. 1
Il must return. mother" she said /
quickly. There is the gate. and Nah |
mud will open it for you"
Light Of foot she sped away, and, my |
forebodings coming to a sudden climax.
l crept forward with excessive caution.
holding my clenched hand Immediately /
in front Of my face-a device which |
experience of the hospitable manners
in the East had taught me
It was well that I did so. Within
three spaces of the gate a moose fell
accurately over my head and was drawn
tight with a strangIing ierki