Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The American. (Omaha, Nebraska) 1891-1899 | View Entire Issue (July 8, 1898)
THE AMERICAN. - - life -siiLn itelfe:- - tobacco, a mau with brown, hanging locks dressed in a long robe of dark green, fastened round the waist by a parti-colored sash, was kneeling upon a magnificent Turkey carpet carefully feeding the golden bowl of a hookah the long, flexible tube of this pipe, after rolling its folds upon the carpet, like a scarlet serpent ith silver scales, rested between the slender fingers of Djalnia, who was reclining negli gently on a divan. The young prince was bare headed; his jet-black hair, parted on the middle ot his forehead, streamed waving about his face and neck of antique beauty their warm trans parent colors resembling amber or topaz. Lean ing his elbow on a cushion, he supported hi- chin with the palm of his right hand. The flow ing sleeve of his robe, falling back from his arm, which was round as that of a woman, revealed mysterious signs formerly tattooed therein India by a Thug's needle. The son of Radja-sing held in his left hand the amber mothpiece of his pipe His robe of magnificent cashmere, with a border of a thousand hues, reaching to his knee; was fastened about his slim and well-formed figure by the large folds of an orange-colored shawl. This robe was half withdrawn from one of the elegant legs of this Asiatic Antinous, clad in a kind of very close fitting gaiter of crimson velvet, embroidered with silver, and terminating in a small white morocco slipper, with a scarlet heel. At once mild and manly, the countenance of Djalma was expressive of that melancholy and contemplative calmness habitual to the Indian and the Arab, who possess the happy privilege " of uniting, by a rare combination, the meditative indolence of the dreamer with the fiery energy of the man of action now delicate, nervous, im pressionable as women now determined, fero cious, and sanguinary as bandits. And this semi-feminine comparison, applica ble to the moral nature of the Arab and the In? dian, so long as they are not carried away by the ardor of battle and the excitement of carnage, iS almost equally applicable to their physical con stitution; for if, like women of good blood, they have small extremities, slender limbs, fine and supple forms, this delicate and often charming exterior always covers muscles of steel, full of an elasticity, and vigor truly masculine. Djalma's oblong eyes, like black diamonds set in bluish mother-of-pearl, wandered mechanically from the exotic flowers to the ceiling; from time to time he raised the amber mouthpiece of the hookah to his lips; then, after a slow respiration, half open ing his teeth, he sent forth a little spiral line of I smoke, freshly scented by the rose-water through which it had passed. "Shall I put more tobacco in the hookah?" said the kneeling figure, turning towards Djalma, and revealing the marked and sinister features of Faringhea the Strangler. The young prince remained dumb, either that, absorbed in his reverie, he did not even hear him. The Strangler became again silent; crouch ing cross-legged upon the carpet, with his elbows resting on his knees, and his chin upon his hands, he kept his eyes fixed on Djalma, and seemed to await the reply or the orders of him whose sire had been surnamed the Father of the Generous. How had Faringhea, the sanguinary worshipper of Bowanee, the Divinity of Murder, been brought to seek or to accept such humble functions? How came this man, possessed of no vulgar talents, whose passionate eloquence and ferocious energy had recruited many assassins for the service of the Good Work, to resign him self to so base a condition? Why, too," had this man, who, profiting by the young prince's blind ness with regard to himself, niight have so easily sacrificed him as an offering to Bowanee whv had he spared the life of ltadja-sing's son? Why, in fine, did he expose himself to such frequent encounters with Rodin, whom he had only known under. the most unfavorable auspices? The sc. quel of this story will answer all these questions We can only say at present, that, after a long in terview with Rodin, two nights before, the Thug had quitted him with downcast eyes and cautious hearing. After having remained silent for some time, Djalma, following with his eye the cloud of whitish smoke that he had just sent forth into space, addressed Faringhea, without looking at him, and said to him in the language, as hyper bolical as concise, of orientals: "Time passes. The old man with the good heart does not come. But he come. His work, is his word." "His word is his word, my lord," repeated Far inghea, in an affirmative tone, " When he came to fetch you, three days ago, from the house whither those wretches, in furtherance of their wicked designs, had conveyed you in a deep sleep after throwing me, your watchful and de qoted servant, into a similar state he said to you : ' The unknown frriend, who sent for you to Cardoville Castle, bids me come to you, prince. Haue confidence, and follow me. A worthy abode is prepared for you.' And again, ho said to you, rr:-vr:p-2vi.-V5'Ii 7 -rri lit, t ii tfgtl nn C f. rlS . ji YtaPl .-j my lord: 'Consent not to leave the house, until my return. Your interest requires it. In three days you will see me again, and then be restored to perfect freedom.' You consented to those terms, my lord, and for three days you have not eft the house." "And I wait for the old man with impatience,' said Djalma, "for this solitude is heavy with me. There must be so many things to admire in Paris. Above all " Djalma did not, finish the sentence, but relapsed into a reverie. After some moments' silence, the son of Radja-sing said suddenly to Faringhea, in the tone of an impatient yet indolent sultan: "Speak to me!" " Of what shall I speak, my lord ? " "Of what you will," said Djalma, with careless contempt, as he fixed on the ceiling his eyes, half-veiled with langour. "One thought pursues me I wish to be diverted from it. Speak to me. Faringhea threw a piercing glance on the countenance of the young Indian, and saw that his cheeks were colored with a slight blush. "My ioru, saiu tne nan-caste, " l can guess your thought." Djalma shook his head, without looking at the Strangler. The latter resumed: "You are thinking of the women of Paris, my lord." " Be silent, slave!" said Djalma, turning ab ruptly on the sofa, as if some painful wound had been touched to the quick. Faringhea obeyed. After the lapse of some moments, Djalma broke forth again with impatience, throwing aside the tube of the hookah, and veiling both eyes with his hands: "Your words are better than silence. Cursed be my thoughts, and the spirit which calls up tl.ese phantoms! " "Why should you fly the:e thoughts, my lord? You are nineteen years of age, and hitherto all your youth has been spent in war and captivity. Up to this time, you have remained as chaste as Gabriel, that young Christian priest, who accom panied us on our voyage." Though Faringhea did not at all depart from his respectful deference for the prince, the latter felt that there was something of irony in the tone of the half-caste, as he pronounced the word " chaste." Djalma said to him with a mixture of pride and severity: " I do not wish to pass for a bar barian, as they call us, with these civilized peo ple; therefore I glory in my chastity." " I do not understand, my lord." Our B00I5 ANTI-ROMAN BOOK3. 'FIFTY YEARS IN THE CHURCH OF ROME," by Rev. Chas Chini quy; cloth, $2.00. "THE PRIEST. THE WOMAN AND THE CONFESSIONAL," by ReT. Chas. Chiniquy; cloth, $1.00. "CONVENT LIFE UNVEILED," by Edith O'Gorman; cloth, $1.00 'AMERICANISM OR ROMANISM, WHICH?" by J. T. Christian; cloth, $1.00. "DEEDS OF DARKNESS," by Rev. J. G. White; cloth, $1.25. ROMANISM AND THE REFORMA TION, by Rev. Guineas; cloth, $1.00. ROMANISM AND THE REPUBLIC, by I. J. Lansing, $1.0j REV. MOTHER ROSE, by Bishop J. V. McNamara; paper, 25c. HORRORS OF THE CONFESSIONAL, by Rev. R. L. Kostello; paper, 50c. SECRETS OF THE JESUITS, by Rrv T. E. Leyden; paper, 30c. SECRET CONFESSION TO A PRIEST by Rev. T. E. Leyden; paper, 30c. AN OT-TO-DATE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED ate of tWJoi Especially prepared to meet the wants Of Farmers, Mer chants, Mechanics, Clerks, Students, Women, and all who desire a complete work at the minimum cost. Nearly 70 Comprehensive Maps. 140 New and Superb Illustrations. , A Whole Library of Itself, of vital and absorb ing interest to every member of the household. Population of each State and Territory, of all Counties of the United States, and of American Cities with over 5,000 Inhabitants. MISCELLANEOUS BOOKS. PEOPLES' ATLAS OF THE WORLD. contains l:.test information and maps of Cuba and the Klondike Gold Region; paper, 50c. IF CHRIST CAME TO CONGRESS, by Hon. M. W. Howard; paper, 60c. ZELL'S ENCYCLOPEDIA, 4 vols.; cloth $6.00. PLAIN HOME TALK, by Dr. E. B. Foote; cloth, $2.00. AMERICA'S SUCCESSFUL MEN, 2 vols.; cloth $6.00. "I may perhaps love some woman, pure as was my mother, when she married my father- and to isk for purity from a woman, a man must be chaste as she." At this, Faringhea cculd not refrain from a sardonic smile. " Why do you laugh, slave? " said the young prince, imperiously. 'Among civilized people, as you call them, my ord, the man who married in the flower of his unocence would be mortally wounded with ridi cule." "It is false, slave! lie would only be ridicu lous if he married one that was not pure as him self." " Then, my lord, he would not only be wound ed he would be killed outright, for he would be doubly and unmercifully laughed at." (Continued on page o.) PLAIN HOME. TALK. OR MEDICAL COMMON SENSE, by Dr. Foote; cloth. Popular Edition, $1.50. PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR; Illustrated; cloth, $1.50. THE STENOGRAPHER; cloth, 75c. LIFE OF JAMES O. BLAINE; Buck ram Cloth, $1.50. IS MARRIAGE A FAILURE? Pop ular Edition; paper, 50c. The above are some of the best and most popular publications, and the cloth bound books will be an ornamtnt In any library. Sent on receipt of price. Addresa, Cut Price Book Store, IT CONTAINS much special ln'ormatlon regarding any Nation, Province State, City, Town or Village desired. The knowledge Is rarely obtainable from a school geography, which necessarily has only a few general facts and the location of important cities. Railroad maps are notoriously Incorrect and misleading, hence the puzzled ;ruth-seeker, where large libraries are inaccessible, Is without relief unless he the happy owner of a knowledge-satisfying, pleasure-giving People's Atlas. All Countries on the face of the earth are shown. Uivers and Lakes are accurately located. All the large Cities of the World, the important Towns and most of the Villages of the United States are given on the Maps. It gives a classified List of all Nations, with Forms of Government, Geo fraphlcal Lt cation, Size and Population. rbli beautiful Atlas Is bound In bear; paper cover, and will be aent to Cf) PENT? ny addrttaa upon receipt of - - - - - JU ULllli), AMERICAN PUBLISHING CO .M-4 1 jpPj30Pm Free Trial cwit or uvmlv m adv ahc W Do Kxarliy As AilrprtimL VU Will HI Hlh Hrarf. L.al fhlBM and Unra fur LKM BOSKt Ihaa BjthT Wiwn l th Her 14, Bnj V if tr 4 urt frwa $ 19 1 CIO. Htifh rmSint M tilna m,lh automate fcb( wtnjr, mit wiling nwrfk, iart Mlt itirtaitlnr cylinder shuttle aori fttll a W.1..I J ..-..w.. rinr. fan OT Htl ( ' V' 'r k (iW-m,, f , .a.., A Marfeio. at I'.iu, chart prrpatd. 5ZZ -fl& VICTOR "MORGAN rfMs'nd.-lr,.fVpfntU. Kcl1 t 1 mm mi 1 AKT FKUiX " ii iiJI! mta .iiraukd tot Jb Sn1 ff ou, rl pa Mlaletnti of .Htwhtff U-tif and Pln. .bla- rM Jirt frvm Tmrtitrj at wftnt.al rtm, aipkr4 VICTOR N'F'B C0.Dei.t44;. 195 and 297 Fifth Atenua. Chicago. i t Is Marriage a Failure? n M ) 1 Writen ly Mrs. Agnes Vivers Swetland, jVOVei M i) Tjlis -u one of the atcst publica tions, being somewhat of a romantic order, and is enter taining from beginning to eml. For sale by booksellers generally. Cloth, $1.00. Paper, 50c. If your bookseller does not have it in stock have him order it for you, or send price to the publisher's agent, the CUT PRICE BOOK STORE. i 1615 Howard Street, - - OMAHA, NEB. t t t t t m Do you know that Sawyer's Soap Is the very best In the market? Ask your grocer for it Insist on having it and no other. The Priest, the Woman, And the Confessional By Ekv. Chas. Chiniquy,
