Evening star., 1923-01-07

slim. Jeweied hands.
''Tell me, Sara. you come and go
at Will through the palace. Is there
"My pearl, IL there was one,
wouldn't she be here in the harem?"
Sara answered automatically.
Yes, and SO she would" Rayma
replied more quietly. And i could
measure my beauty against hers"
Then she started rocking herself to
and fro, In an agony Of grief.
Did he but come, my love, my Lord
Casim. his heart would be mine
again." she sobbed.
Then she stopped wailing suddenly
and faced the old woman anxiously.
Sara, tell me quickly, have these
T..;,f, weeks Of weeping made me less
However. she did not wait for any
reply.
Her gaze went to the arches, where
night looked in at her mockingly.
Look. 1t is night" she cried.
For the love of my Lord Casim For
his arms. His kisses. Again 1t is
night. And he has not come"
Then through the vaulted room
piercing shrek after piercing Shrek
In the throes of hysteria.
AS sara sat patting Rayma's hands
and trying to soothe her she thought
OF the mitk-white maid with the wide
blue eyes and the golden curls whom
the sultan himself had brought un-
conscious to his palace, and who was
lodged-as no other slave girl had
ever benin his own private suite.
And who treated her master-as no
other slave had ever treated him-as
IL she were his equal, even his SUI
perior. making him wait on her-a
task the sultan seemed to find pleas
ure in!
CHAPTER XVII.
On the terrace of her quarters
Pansy sat at dinner with her host.
Three days had passed since her res
cue from the slave market-three de-
lightful days for the girl, assured of
her own safety, her fathers coming
freedom and the welfare of her
friends. During the time LIE Breton
had been with her almost constantly.
From breakfast time until after din
ner always at her disposal. ready to
fall in with her wishes, so long as
they did not entail too much exertion
on her part
She was anxious to be on "the Sui
tan and offer for a long gallop, but
this he vetoed firmly.
1T would cause too much OF a
sensation" he had said I'm this
country women don't ride about on
horseback. We should have the
whole city at our heels"
Pansy had no desire for this to hap
pen, lest the Sultan Casim should
learn che had fallen into the hands
OF friend and snatch her away from
her rescuer, so she did not urge
further. But II was on account OF
her health, and not the idea OF a
crowd OF his own subjects, that made
lie Breton refuse this Indulgence, for
fear she should not be strong enough
to stand the shaking.
He was quite willing to take her
rowing on the lake, TO play scroquet
with her, or game OF billiards, but,
most OF all, willing TO sit at her side
in the peaceful. scented garden, or In
the cool gallery or the salon, watch
ing her-an occupation that Pansy,
with an extensive knowledge of men
and their ways. knew the ultimate
end Of. An end she was doing her
best to keep at bay.
But, in spite of everything, she had
the feeling of being a prisoner. The
iron erilles at either end of the long
gallery were never unlocked. nor was
the gate into the paddock. There was
never a boat at the foot of the steps
leading to the lake. except when LIE
Breton was with her.
She had explored her quarters
further. Beyond the salon there was
a combined billiard room and library
and Its one exit led into a sort OF
big alcove dressing room. Beyond
that was her hosts bedroom, as to
her dismay she had discovered on
opening the door. For she had found
him there in shirt sleeves and trou-
| sers with a dark-faced valet, who, on
seeing her, had melted away dis
creetly.
Pansy would have melted away
also. but 1t was too late. In a per
fectly unperturbed manner lie Breton
had crossed TO her side.
80. Pansy, you've come to pay me
| visit?" he said teasingly. THAT :
hardly the sort Of thing I'd expected
of YOU"
I'D no idea" she began in a
confused manner.
There's no need TO make excuses.
You'll find all the roads here lead to
Mecca. And I'm always pleased TO
see you." he broke in, In the same
! teasing strain: IF you'd kept your
promise We should be quite a staid
| married couple by now. And you'd
be free TO come and go ir my apart
ments. Think of It, Pansy"'
Pansy thought of 1t, and her face
went crimson.
Her bushes made him laugh.
To the sound of his laughter, soft
| and mocking, she retreated and she
| did not explore in that direction
| again.
She explored by way of her own
| bedroom instead, only to find that
\ led into his study. And after tha;
\ she did no more exploring. For IL
! seemed that all roads did lead Ia
| Mecca. Whichever way she turned
1 Raoul lie Breton was there, comins
| between her and the man she feared
! and hated-the Sultan Casim Atnmeh
"I feel like a prisoner" she re-
] marked on one occasion.
They were sitting by the lake
1 under the shade of fragrant trees
| with the blue water tapping the
| marble steps and the sun setting
| over the desert. A gilded world
|