Evening star., 1926-10-17
CHAPTER VI.

to her ears. She moved lhe 'u' "a -
slightly with her forehnger.
Antonius was sitting upright on ms
pallet. He had tied the end of long
iinan scarf 10 the handle of his sword.
AS she watched he poised the sword
above his head and hurled 1t. Ihe
noint bur ed itself in A wooden uprlSht
on the opposite side of the room
With many tugs he terked the
weenon ont of its target and hauled
II back to him by pulling upon me
scarf. Again he made great swing
Of his arm and threw the sword Inc
noint once more was buried in Inc
center of the post
Iaila hastily withdrew.
Douhtf,lllv. she shifted from one
foot 10 another. out Of sight of An
tonius until long silence within told
bar that the soldier had ceased his
exercise.
Then she retired few PAGES. ana
singing. approached the house again
This time she swung the curtain open
and entered Antonius lay back on
his pallet.
"Where is the girl?" he demanded
at once a.
her" Laila said.
You saw her father. rs t'"'
vour" he asked.
He also was abroad But Antonius.
have a thought" She cleared her
throat. and her voice took tone ol
velvetv Caress. '1f the girl comes
simply at your command. she VIII
come in fear and trembling and pres
emily will fee from .Iezreel. AS soon
as YOU let her leave the house.
That is true he said.
But if she comes here as trlehd
nolI n.
Shall try to make her my friend.
He laughed shortly. You? The
friend of a virgin. daughter Of mag
nate of the village?
Her tone did not change. Yes: even
I--Laila, the Arahian-the outcast'
Because. soldier. a wOmans MIND does
not DEPART from her when she is de-
spised, and she thinks deep thoughts
If I bring the girl here. willing ana
eager to come will you reward me?
Antonius held out his empty hanus'
What have to reward YOU with? ne
asked. But" he smiled again. with
ont mirth. "if you do not bring her.
willing or unwilling. ] shall give you
cause to remember.
He tapped the dagger in his belt.
"She shall come" Laila said. Now
I shall bring food and set 1t heslde
YOU, for | may he gone lonE time.
She laid out platter of the mea!
that had lain covered on shelf ana
lug of soured milk. On his other
side she set the jar OF wine. whlch
she filed afresh from the soatskIn
that hung upon TIE wall. Two loaNes
Of fiat, thin bread were lalo on ,"e
end of the meat dish.
He was pouring from the wine jar
when she left him.
As she stepped outside the door she
bit her thumb--a gesture of dlsdaln'
Then. holding her cloak around hef.
she moved slowly toward the rear or
Marvam's house. The girls father
was there talking with one OF MS
shepherds.
Laila approached them and stood
still. resnActfully. The man turned TO
insnect her. He was tall and thin.
hrosd .shouldered, with a kindly eye
and long. thick beard.
what do you seek. woman" ne
She made a gesture toward the
shepherd Il would speak with you
alone" she said.
"Snesk before my servant" he said,
1T do not wish to talk to Laila alone.
"It concerns a danger, she glanced
at the serving man. to some one loi
whom you bear great love.
As the servant obeyed, the man
turned back to Laila.
II speak Of your daughter she
said.
''whst have you to do with my
daughter" he asked. severely.
Nothing" said she. except that
have a word for you Ten days ago
ehe went down into the plain ana
there saw young man. STRANGER
yesterday. and the day before that
and again today. this man came t" my
house. asking word or her ana "here
she might be found,
"Did ne see herr" he asked. quickly.
"\o." said she. II detained him
until vour daughter was safely within
her house. But would give you MIS-
deserintion, SO she may beware of HIM
Danger turks in his eye. l helieNe
him to be a rohher.'
He looked at her with grave kind
ness "There is good in every one.
even in the woman Of Arabia. he
heran. But wait--1 shall call my
daughter. so she may hear OF TINS
man and he told exactly how he looks
He lifted his voice and called. In
a moment the girl came running
ground the house. her mantle over
her head. The rain had dwtndied into
a heavy mist. but so thick was the
air with moisture that. in the short
distance between the door ana tne
spot where Laila and the father STOOD
Maryam's face already was wet.
"you called, my father" she asked.
without glancing at the woman.
"This alien woman has word Tor
YOU" he said. II give YOU permission
to attend what she says, for your own
safety
The girls shy eyes lifted themselves
20 I.aila's hold black ones. l-aila
looked at her, steadily and signih-
cantly.
"It concerns young man who ~"
YOU on the plain 10 days ago. she
said slowly.
Maryam made a convulsive move
ment.
"She already fears" said her father.
observing this.
Iaila went on. dropping her words
one by one. hy way IF emphasis nov
once moving her gaze from MarNam
face
II am woman. and understand
much" she said meaninCly. A hssh
~ EXPRESSION that crossed the girl
face told her that she understood.
This Young man is Of splendid per
son with his head held high" 1.aila
continued. The girl made gesture
Of assent. He seems mighty war
flor. bold and comely." Maryam's
fsce was eager. I.aila went on. He
has been seeking you each day since
he saw YOU
Maryam looked quickly at her
father. He regarded her with the
deep concern of parent whose loved
one is threatened. Evidently he did
not understand the message that was
passing from the woman to the girl.
Laila said: He came TO my house