South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-09-19

1 strange and motley crowd that
I ebbed and flowed past the doorway
vas a strange and uncommon fig-
/ ure-Bostan. the negro maid of Ma
\ bubah, she who spoke a strange glib
/ berish. which only her mistress
| could understand. Born and raised
I in some distant southern country,
I transported as a slave 10 Bagda d.
/ BOstan was queer half-witted SER
want. whose mart culate sounds had
meaning TOR tae ears Of her mistress
alone.
Mabubah. pounding the beans in
an earthern bow. IN front Of her
humble home. saw the negro girl on
( the roof OF the house. eating a ba-
mana Even as she looked, the girl
threw the skin OF the fruit at d
| young boy who was helping his
/ father 70 carry a load Of beans. The
| boy looked up, and the negro wench
smiled
What no. Bostau." cried Mabu-
/ bah. angrily Thou mumbhng
daughter Of poverty and pots"
Bostan murmured something in
reply.
thou on the roof lazing and gazing
away thy hours? Art casting eyes
on the youth u ID 6AaAf Va AeANe+4-
ter OF loveliness?'
Bostan Indignantly said some
thing, frowning as she did so.
Watching for thy master, Ali
eh?" repeated Mabubah. What
time OF day is it?'
Strange, gutteral sounds came
from the negro girls throat
As late as that. Ell, and All not
rome YETI" declared Mabubah, per
fectly understanding tho gibberish
talk. That feast Of Kasim Baba S
last night hath made him forgetfUl
Of his household duties
Bostan laughed, and said some
thing that seemed to choke her.
And If Ali did go out weighed
down with wine at sunrise, what's
that 10 thee?" cried Mabubah, de-
Tending her lord from Bostan's ac-
c.sation. Keep a civil tongue IN
thv head. oh daughter OF volubility.
Have I picked thee out OF the gutter
10 grace my household at the wages
OF one meal per day and a litter OF
straw 20 lie upon under the porch,
fgr thee 20 talk to me so OF thy
lonCings and belongings? Come
down from the roof, daughter Of ig
torrance.
Bostan disappeared inside the
house ubah again pounded the
leans Presently the unkempt little
nero girl appeared by her side.
and said something In her guttral
and native dialect Mabubah
turned 10 her angrily
Nay, and thou sayest such
thing 20 me again. I will have no
comps ssion on thee, but will turn
Thee from my door even as a worth
20 90
loves and lovers? Thou whom /
nave housed in my abode Of respect
Ing and suspecting. Shame on thee.
Bostan."
The negro girl tried TO say some
thing in self defense.
"Weu. the young man meant no
harm by that" declared Mabuhah.
1T Is thoI who hast thought ill OF
his words and put meaning in them
where no meaning les
once more Bostan made a few re-
marks which sounded like the bark
ing OF a dog. Mabubah surveyed
her with disappointment and dis
NAV.
THAT canst laugh az thoughts OF
such iniouity?" she protested
What II the son Of the bean-seller
did Hken thee 70 a vegetable? Thou
must have led him 70 such
thought by thy evil, subtle CONVEX
sltion.'
Bostan again laughed. and spoke
JIM gibberish.
Peace, thou shameless one" con
tirued Mabubah. GO thou and see
II thy master Ali be vet staggering
Down the street I ask thee not thy
opinion Of he weather. Such IS the
reward OF charity. Awah. awah"
Slowly the wife OF Ali went into
he house. as the negro girl ran
laughing down the street. The tide
II humanity flowing through this
portion OF Bsgdad s1rged around
the house and 20 the stalls on either
side where merchants were display
ing their goods. The bean-sellers
crying their wares. the silk vendors
and The water carriers All made ur
mass OF human beings racing
through the narrow thorouEhfare
even as water surEes through a mill
race. Beans. beans. beans" cried
The bean seller Never a dish OF
flesh or fish. but beans. beans.
h>.--"