Argosy, Vol. 111, No. 1 — page 97: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THROUGH RABAT’S EYES. ment, she permitted the chattering and gig- gling women to herd her toward one of the mattresses set along the wall and squatting as well as she was able in the native manner she became prepared to act the part of the guest as well as she could guess was con- ventional, becoming more and more reas- sured that her hostess, although strange, had ‘no evil intentions behind the courtesy displayed. So interested indeed did Eileen become in the manners and customs of the women who so evidently meant to be hospitable to a degree that she almost forgot that she was an American girl held to ransom by a notorious brigand, and kidnaped again by rough soldiery, together with her father and lover; indeed, so different was her environ- ment, emphasized by her clothes, that she rapidiy gathered an impression of unreality as of the ‘“ Arabian Nights,” a fantastic dream in which everything was assured of being perfectly correct and rather disap- pointingly matter of fact when one should awake to find the maid with the morning tea. The tiny lacquered glasses of tea she dis- covered were scaldingly hot and sweet. The first rash attempt to drink was greeted with a gale of delighted screams. Cakes there were of curious aromatic flavors as sweet as candy, enough of which was pressed upon her to satisfy a greedy elephant with a sweet tooth. All these social performances were accom- panied by a swift chattering, of which, of course, she could not understand a word. Eileen studied with interest the faces about her. The swarthy eldest woman who seemed to be the principal hostess had bright, intel- ligent eyes, rather like a cunning bird; in the others as Eileen reviewed them was nothing save empty prettiness, doll-like, except for the woman with the Titian hair, who was about in the twenties, whose features and expression were undeniably intellectual. Yet as Eileen sat there she was conscious of a vague something which she could not analyze; a ‘‘ thing ” it seemed to her that each and every woman there knew well and thoroughly, and rejoiced in the knowledge. find, curiously, Eileen was equally aware 87 that she resented the fact that she did not also know. This glimpse into an Oriental harem, naturally stimulated enormous in- terest in an American girl who, as she sat there endeavoring to be friendly to these very friendly women, was distressed by sensations of irrefragible superiority and vet—she was conscious of that irritating sense of lacking that mysterious ‘“‘ some- thing ” which each and every one of them possessed as by a birthright, and moreover unconsciously gloated over, as if flaunting before her an invaluable secret of which she had been deprived. Lulled by the sense of security inspired by the hospitality of these women, Eileen forgot the wildness of the country, and her anxiety regarding the fate of her father and lover; was so soothed or perhaps so inter- ested by these alien experiences that even when they were abruptly interrupted by the harsh guttural tones of a slave announcing some unintelligible order, Eileen was not conscious of anything save a rapidly de- veloping curiosity. The women chattered and laughed as pleasedly as children summoned to a school treat, and rising, beckoned to her to follow them, the eldest woman with the eyes of a very intelligent child mothering her from an outburst of giggles from the others. Outside upon the terrace Eileen was somewhat startled to see two enormous black men girt with great simitars, the scabbards of which were silver and the handles studded with what appeared to be largely and crudely cut gems. Conscious of a faint terrdr, she permitted herself to be grouped with the others in a bunch and herded by these two great eunuchs through the orangery out into a larger garden, of which she had not suspected the presence. The sun was setting, and as on the pre- vious evening at this time of year the skies were a flaming arc of smeared rainbows, illuminating everything upon earth with the glory of their being. The garden beyond was full of rank grass, amid which grew, in luxurious profusion, masses of wild flowers, blue, scarlet and white. Through this en- chanted garden passed Eileen in the com- pany of the women, vividly interested and wondering where they were going. Conn Ghook (CO)