Evening star., 1922-12-20


trough her AID he develops into typical FL
Ia the Straits Settlements. The latter's da
.reanwA,lc from friend of her mother
rises In his hareni and former favorite pro
NO. ! don't pray that. Leonora. one
i her companions remarked. For you
.pok EiIn from me- and what am l now"
Ike you. a scent that has lost its sa-
,or: for IT Is but shred of love that
;l!c Lord CaSim has now for me. No;
! pray may he know what 1t is to love
and be denied. cor too easily do wom-
ms hearts go to him. And no man
aueS what comes to him cheapiy Our
.ay is done, mine and yours, Leo
ora, as Rayma'S will be when another
Homan takes his fancy. NO. pray as
{ do. that he may love a woman who
las no desire for him. who Spurrs his
.n,e--a woman whose people Will MOI
ell her. who Is no slave put up tor
s,uction. as we were. May his heart
.tche as mine has ached. May pas
Ion keen him sleepless, with empty
-trns and craving desire. May love
.,roye to him n mirage that he can
see. Yet never grasp"
Unconscious of these wishes, the
sultan { sim Ammeh and the slave
sri Rayma fingered together pehlho
clos. d doors
The moon shonc into the little
apartment. showing big man IN
white burnoose. ANA at his side a
girl lay. looking at him with teafiui,
ipve-laden eyes,
She was about seventeen. with an
.mber skin and cloud of s;ra gnt
black hair that reached to her heeis.
a cloud out from which looked
little oval face. with great black
eyes and Il small red mouth-a per
feet type of Arab beauty.
MY Lord Casim. beloved. my heart
breaks at the thought of your going,
she said tearfully.
Smilingly he watched her. caress-
ing her in an indulgent fashion.
But. my desert flower, ! snail cone
back again
But il is so far And in that Paris
there are SO many women. l know.
because Sara has told me. And an
their arms will be stretched out TO
keep you there"
NO arms have kept me there for
longer than three months he re-
And mine. Mine are not strong
enough to keep you here: she
He drew the sobbing little beauty
,rto his embrace and kissed her tear
stained face.
.'TelI me, my jewel. what favor can
I grant you before I go?"
Il want nothing but Just 10 rest
with tender hand he stroked her
long black hair and tried to soothe
away the tears-flattering tears ie-
sulting from his coming departure. ;,
. Don't go to Paris, Casim. beloved,
:,he whispered. stay IN III Ammen.
..f all outside of the desert. Ignorant
If everything except love and you.
Think, my lord, only six weeks nave
we been together. and now you would
go. Only six weeks since my lalher
brought me from the Desert to sell me
10 the Sultan Casim Ammeh. HOW
afraid I was until ! saw you! AND
then 1 was afraid I might not hhd
favor In your sight. For my near
was yours the moment our eyes met
Only Only shs 5s mrisrea wsss ago. stay with 'Gn me
for nv heart Is brea king"
"I.ittle one, there Is business as well
- love-" he said gently.
II think of nothing but love
Love is quite enough for any girl
t. think Of.
And those women in Paris, do they
fhirk only of love-:
No; they think of money as we'll.
That's why I prefer you"
She slipped her slim arms about his
Ieck. pressing her nisnt.', siign. torn against
Let me live in the gilded chamber
until YOU come back" she whispered.
.and then 1 should feel the most
onored among your slaves
However. he avoided this sugges-
tinn.
.We'u see about that when I re-
turn" he answered with an amused,
iudulgent air.
Then ne held the girl closer.
Now. before I go, Rayma, Is there
r"rhing YOU want: Nothing I can DO
-ur YOU"
There is one thing, my sultan. Sell
1.cuuora i hate her. She's great
fat toad. always plotting and pian-
ing to steal your heart from me.
Il couldn't do that. I'm not quite
Ike your desert men. remember.
.an't sell a woman who has once
pleased me. But. on my return, III
lind her u nice husband. If that Will
satisfy you
There was note in his voice that
I,rooked no argument; ana the girl.
.cared for the harem. was quick 10
notice il.
She gave sharp glance at her
owner 1t seemed that a man she did
not know s.ood behind her sultan.
.ndulCent master as he had proved.
\ man she had no hold over