Argosy, Vol. 119, No. 2 — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

194 THE ARGOSY. be kind to thee. What is it that thou hast lost? Be sure the pear! will find it.” “Is that true?” said the youth eagerly. _“ As true as that Allah ruleth in heaven and His Prophet on earth. The pearl which I have Mohammed gave to Ayesha when he took her to wife. At his death her holy tears fell upon it. Since then it hath had the marvelous power of which thou speak- est, and so it is called Ayesha’s Mirror. No less than a week ago the chief of the Beni Lam came to me to find a herd of camels which had strayed. , “He looked in my pearl, and saw the pillar of basalt by which they were then grazing. He went and found them. He would not have paid me, saying that that pillar was in his mind when he looked, but no man hath ever kept from me my just reward. So I took a half of his herd.” “The treasure that I seek is not of the animal kind,’”” said Kahleel. < Money, then?” “ Not money.” *¢ Jewels?” “Nor jewels.” ‘““Mayhap a rug?” said Ali, smiling. Kahleel shook his head and Ali said: “What in the devil’s name can it be, then? There be no other treasures than those.” ‘““ Must I tell thee?” “Yes. Else the charm will not Sik - “What is the best treasure that a man may haver”’ said Kahleel.. “TY know not,’ said Ali good-humoredly, “leaving out camels, money, and jewels.’ ‘“And what of a woman’s heart?” ‘““Hot’” said Ali, rasing his heavy eye- brows almost to his cap. “ The caravan marcheth in that quarter! Young man, let me advise thee. Thou art a fool to set a woman’s heart above real treasure. What woman is there who is not bought and sold even as a camel? Wouldst thou have the creature for a slave, well enough* but thy face sayeth you would wed her, and a wife is worse than a tooth-ache.”’ ‘I would have her to wife,” said Kahl- eel, “and know, Ali Hassan, great as thou art, I will not stand here talking with thee. If I may see the gem, I will look and de- part; if not, farewell, and may Allah pros- per thee.” “remain a bachelor. “Nay,” said Ali, still in good humor, “every merchant doth business in his own way. I am twice thine age, O Kahleel; I could have had any woman to wife, yet I Do thou likewise, and be happy.” “But what of the wife,” said Kahleel earnestly, “who reigneth gently in her house?, What of her that hath the voice of the nightingale, the grace of a deer, and the eyes of a dove? She bringeth aman strong sons. Ali Hassan, thou dost ill to speak so ‘of love, for had not Ayesha loved the Prophet and she him, thy pearl had been - but a pearl and naught else.” “ Knowest thou one who would be all this?” said Ali, shooting a quick glance at his. visitor. 7 ‘That, O Ali, is the treasure I seek.” “Thy wife left thee, then?” ‘““T said not the woman was my wife,” said the youth patiently. “I would have her so.” : ‘Nor is she the wife of another?” 66 No.” ! “A maid, then,” mused the Sultan’s friend, sitting up among his cushions, “ and she is here in Nejed?”’ ‘Else I had not come to: see thee, Ali Hassan. Are there wits within that head?” “Every man worketh in his own way,” said Ali. “ Thou shalt look in my pearl. But eloquence, my youth, hath cost thee dear. Forty pounds in English gold shalt thou pay for thy look.” Kahleel put his hands to his forehead, bent his head, and said: ‘‘ Then we part, Ali Hassan.”’ : “ Nay,” said the owner of the pearl, ‘then this is not such a treasure, after all. Thou couldst buy a blond Georgian for twenty pounds English.” - “There are treasures which are above price,” said Kahleel. “I will pay what a poor student in the mosque at Medina can pay—ten pounds in gold. But let me look in the peail quickly.” | “Twenty,” said the older man, thou shalt look.” “The devil fly away with thee!” ejacu- lated Kahleel. ‘“ Thou wilt drive me mad! Many a man hath died for being as ugly as thou art!” ss and com C) JOO (eo) Kad es