The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-01-10
IT HAPPENED
IN SAMARKAND

relationship. had never stood in the
way Of their soaring, passionate hate.
They hated one another as only. "a
tars can-or gray wolves-though the
original cause had been petty: no nor
a larger slice Of cake their mother had
given to Mansur-or, belize, to IL
muir. :. -?
Such a petty cause. A cause almost
forgotten. Yet, for six decades, their
fate had been a byword in Samar-.
kard; had been a scarlet brand across
their souls. And tonight it had peaked
up m~urderously. and-so they, at least,
belieyed-for fair and sufficient reason.
For listen to them shouting between
blows:
"Y our sonayours17,tt to make Iss+ love s,d to
love to a butterfly"
"And your son-yours-desiring my
fine daughter; Like pig-wah, wah-
desiring the full moon" '
Behind the garden wall Ali put an
arm around a slim waist.
Beetle or not" he. said, 1T is you
I love, o Zuleika, o butterfly!".
pig or not" declared Mehnet., .it
IS you I desire, O Fatinaa, @ full
they laughed. Their laughter was
drowned by the sounds on the square
where their fathers were at It as vio-
llently as before-.springing forward and
weapon upon weapon, so that it seemed
like hai1stones on a roof; getting out
of breath and aching in every muscle,
they being SO old and fat and wheezy;
ready, presently, to drop with fatigue,
to give up, and hating each other the
more because their pride would not
let them.
take this!"-as Mansur twisted,
stopped, slashed up at his brothers
neck with a wicked stroke.
mot tonight!"-as Timur parried.
Lunge. Thrust. Counter thrust.
Hate against hate. Sword against
sword. Then, suddenly, a third sword
Kissing through the air, lashing swiftly
aside-and there, backed by red tur-
baned soldiers. of the palace guard,
stood Rashid Ibrahim, the grand khan
of High Tartary and their sovereign
He stared at them, his leathery face
curled in a smile half morose and half
ironic.
Here you are again at the brawl-
ing" he began. "and-tell me-did I
not order you only last week to keep
the peace?" His voice rose, "By the
Book Revealed-it is peace I want!
Peace for my people, and happiness
and the full larder-for is there a finer
trinity to the Lords creating?"
He paused.
IT, too, have my hates" he con-
tinued, against the emperor of China
and the amir Of the Afghans, to men,
ton no more than two when I might
mention half a dozen. But I keep my
passions in leash. whereas you-ah-
you must aye be swapping at each other
like ours. Swapping and yelping and
quarreling for q cause-1 have no doubt
Negligible" was Prince Mansru,s
angry demand, "his son making love
to my daughter?"
Negligible" exclaimed Prince IT,
muir even more angrily, "his son de-
string my daughter?"
Let them marry" suggested the
islam for cousin to mate with cousin"
mol" shrieked Prince Mansur.
"No!" echoed Prince Timur; and di-
rectly to his brother: "Hyena!"
Butchers meat!"
almost noseless one!"
"Leper!"
"Abuser of the sa1t!'
Their curses shrilled. Once more they
were about to have at each other with
a black clatter of iron, when the grand
khan roared: Goods name! But I'll
crush you like ants on an ant heap!"
and, quiet restored, he went on:
Swollen with pride you are-the both
of you-like a drunkard's O NANCY
with stubbornness like a yearling drom-
edary. And by. the honor Of my
this is the last warning-it will be peace
between you. Peace-you will give oath
upon the Koran-and brotherly affec-
ton and the hearts good wishes to
the innermost chamber"
"Affection," sneered Prince Mansur,
"for a goat? Never!"
a n n;f,,. agreed Prince Timur, while
May it not be for long!" was the
others fond hope.
Long enough-Allah grant-for me
to be present at your funeral, o wearer
OF a verminous turban!"
Then the grand khan lost his pa
thence. He motioned to the captain of
the palace guard.
off to jail with them!" he or
them be shorn of titles and honors
and emolument-until they come to
me and kiss my hand in sign of re-
pentance and OBEDIENCE"
With drums rolling and halberds at
the carry they led off the brothers;
and at the last, falling back a step,
seeing the broad target and unable to
resist the temptation, Prince Timur
aimed a kick at Prince Mansur. A
hearty and painful kick-and it took
all the soldiers armed strength to keep
Prince Mansur from r%etaliating in
kind. A kick that, behind the garden
wall caused zuleika, Prince Thurs
daughter, to giggle; caused Fatima, the
others daughter, to make irate COM
ment:
"Ah-the treacherous hound!"
"'TreacherouS?" was Zuleika's spirited
rejoiner. Not at all. Your father de-
served It. It was he who started the
quarrel"
"A lie!" bluntly.
who says SOP"
II do"
Blue eyes stared defiantly at brown,
and brown eyes at blue.
Liar yourself!" declared Zuleika. II
heard your father-bless him not the
Lord Allah! Heard him with these ears
abuse on my fathers head.