Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-07-21
CHAPTER Xxx.

- VEN Shireen's ingenious mind
- could see no way out Of the
tangle caused by the Cobra's
IL sudden decision to marry
Diana Immediately.
But a single ray of hope shone
in the deep gloom which had fallen
upon her--so slender, so f1ickering
that the merest breath of chance
might extinguish its heartening light;
both she and Diana Lindsay knew
that Colin Gray had received the
English giIl's letter.
That he had read it, there could be
little doubt.
BY clever ruse, the herb woman
had caused herself to be arrested IN
order to be able to hand it to her
son, the 1ailer's assistant, whom the
Cobra had condemned never to leave
the subterranean passages of the
palace. Released forthwith by Shi-
reen's orders, she had repeated to her
mistress the cripple's account Of his
handing over to Gray of the orange
But would that help?
The fact that it was possible, plus
Diana's unsuitable faith in Grays
resourcefulneSs, kept hope alive in
their hearts. If his resourcefulness
failed them, 1t would mean Diana's
death, for she would be forced to
take poison Shireen had given her. If
only the searching planes, which
Diana had once or twice heard, could
fly low enough to pierce the almost
continual mists. -.
when 1 first met you, Shireen," she
said sadly, Il thought you were heart
less. Now 1 know that you are
friend. You have risked your life for
me.
You are far drawer than I, Diana!"
Shireen returned. Il have but re-
flected your courage-as that fountain
reflects the moon and stars"
Evening had fallen, and from the
great hall of the palace rose the
sound of music and the roar Of voices.
The guests were gathering for the
wedding feast. In few minutes
Diana and she would be there.
And in few hours. :?
Suddenly, in Jaffir'S shrin tones,
came the summons. -.
The Cobra was determined that his
wedding feast should be worthy of
his dual reputation. For the first
time in his life he had set himself to
dazzle the imaginations of his people.
Meat. -four and oil were being dis
tributed in the market place to all
who asked for them and without stint.
Even the outpoStS picketing the hills
were not forgotten Inside the palace
a perSpiring and half distracted Jaffir
was everywhere; now directing small
army of cooks, now experimenting
the laying of the several hundred
dishes of food on long narrow carpets
woven in Penjdeh and Khorassan,
which served as both tables and table
cloths. now bidding the gardeners
strew more flowers. Outside, men were
placing colored lamps in the trees,
and before the doors leading into the
courtyard of fountains were standing
the CobraS elephants, their foreheads
painted with fantastic designs in red
and white ochre. They were Ca
pariSoned with hangings of crimson
and green velvet stiff with gold en-
broidery. and save for the occasional
Tapping of their great ears, might
Finally, three bands of musicians
were striving to out-do each other
two in the great hall and one in the
paradise Of palms.
BE quick, shameless ones!" piped
! the eunuch IF the rice be not
boiled in time, there shall be beat
/ ing Bring more snow-Sons of
I idlenessi And light the 90 silver
| lamps about the wedding awning! Is
/ it not known to you, o We blind chill
| dren of satan. that there must be
one lamp for each Of the 90 names
/ Of Allah? How many times must
say so? Set the juhaz (the nuptial
/ ship afloat upon the lake, that the
/ Khan sshib-that eye of the universal
may look upon its Illumination and
be pleased with youi"
! He was referring to the rough
| representation of a ship, made of the
upcurved branch Of tamarind tree
and bearing little oil lamps, which
the rich in Yanistan set afloat on a
wedding night as an emblem of the
two parties voyage through life.
AT last all was ready.
Under the red and gold pandsl In
a deep. domed bay at one end Of
the great hall, stood the gigantic
bearded figure Of the Cobra. a hand
on his Scimitar hilt. About him were
grouped his SirdarS, bristling with
arms
Standing in Serried lines down each