The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-09-11

OJema1 ESIld WuS1S CACA NA
stopped before an impressive
building of white stone.
"You are very welcome to my
poor house, mesdemoiselles," Arlf
had said as they dismounted. ut
gives me great pleasure to enter
tain you in accordance with the
customs of my country. But, II
you are not happy to sit on dl-
vans and cushions in the eastern
fashion, you may have sofas and
chairs that have been, made in
Paris :"
It was a palace that one might
have expected to find on the
Champs-Elysees, it's furnishings
redolent of the late Empire. They
had been served by men in con-
ventional black, who moved sill
emily with huge platters OF food,
speaking not at all. Hassan did
not appear until the coffee was
served.
Now that the ice was broken 1t
seemed that Camilla's doubts as
to the visits had been unneces-
sary, for Arif had treated them
with the utmost consideration and
it was difficult for Camilla to be-
lieve that he was anything but
typical boulevardier, with taste
for sound wine, good tobacco, and
glance for the ladies. Josie, who
had gone Turkish for the moment,
sat with Arif cross-legged on
cushions and smoked cigarettes
made in Beirut especially to Arif's
order for his lady friends, while
Camilla and Hassan had gone out
on the terrace to look at the stars.
They had emerged from the at
mosphere of rich food, spices, SAN
dalwood, and the smell of latakia
in the chebouk of Arif into the
dry desert air, that smelled of
sand, baked earth, and the odor
of almond blossoms. In the moon
light the domes of the mosques
were globules of mother-of-pearl,
the minarets, spindles of glass.
The river flowed silently between
its retaining walls not far away
and the sounds of voices, the tin
kle of the bells on the little tram
cars, the wall of a distant orches-
| ira playing jazz translated into
French, all mingled to make the
scene different from anything
Camilla could remember. But OF
course it was Hassan, leaning
against the balustrade beside her
who suddenly typified the East
as no other person had done
though she couldn't quite elimi-
nate the idea Of the Hollywood
villain that she had once assocla-
ted with him.
It was the first moment they
had been alone since leaving Jeru-
salem, moment that she hac
wished for and dreaded. She
knew that Hassan was on his
guard against her and that she
would have to play her game
more skillfully than before. He
did not talk of his own house
hold, nor of his own house which
was not far away, but began
speaking at once of his father. He
was very wealthy. He liked Ca
milla and would like very much
for Hassan to marry her.
"Well," he said, ''what have you
to say?"
She felt that evading him was
of little use. ''What do you want
me to say?"
Hassan frowned at the patch
of moonlight now dimpling the
river.
II don't think it matters great
deal what you say now" he NUT
tered. cts what you do that mat
tiers. My father has shown you his
hospitality. I wanted you to see
how we live here in Damascus
My own house is not far away
Very soon Arif goes to Paris to
live permanently and will look
after all his affairs and then this
house will be mine. Do you like
it? Is there anything more that I
can give your"
cit is all very flattering," she
said slowly, trying to analyze her
repugnance to that other house
and it's occupants. "But I don't
want magnificence like that -
wouldn't know what to do with
it,"
"Of course you understand that
am asking you to marry me. 1t
is not the first time. But you
haven't answered definitely yet
That was, of course, on account OF
Ronald Barker You tried to hide
your feelings from me"
Ronald Barker and I have
quarreled. I have no expectation
of seeing him again"
Interesting, if true"
"You don't believe me?"
ecT'~,o Lo1;ox,oI xyoI1 nn0n NT