The Tell-Tale Heart - The Pioneer, January 1843 — reading text

heard his steps. A few brief stern orders were ‘* My palace and its contents, I suppose, issued to these attendants, and the court was must be left to the mercy of his highness. rapidly filled with horses and a well armed Well ! by my sword I gained them, and by my band of about fifty men, who immediately sword I can replace them.”’ mounted, and remained prepared to sally forth. He paused for a moment in the centre of the Rustom soon made his appearance also, com- room, and, by clapping his hands summoned, pletely armed, and Osman, who had waited for a e ed mae.  22 THE PIONEER. him, bounded on a splendid black Arabian, cast his eyes upon the floor, evidently in deep which a slave was holding, and at the head of perplexity ; at length he spoke, and in a tone the troop issued into the street. so firm and decided, that its contrast with the ‘¢'This handful of men will never do, my meekness of his manner was indeed almost Aga,”’ said Rustom ; ‘‘ If you mean to storm startling. the caravanserai, knock Bogos on the head and ‘¢ Where is your authority from the pasha, carry off his daughter.”’ for the reception of my daughter? I cannot ‘“*T mean to do no such thing,’’ was the deliver the child to a stranger, without a writ- reply ; ‘‘a quiet stratagem will effect all I ten order from his highness.’’ wish, much more safely and effectually.”’ ‘** It would not be wise to do so, most pru- dent Bogos,’’ responded the eunuch, taking V. from his girdle a paper, which he tendered to the other ; ‘* but you see I am provided with The Khan, or caravanserai of Hillah, was an order, signed with the pasha’s own seal.’’ situated in one of the most retired quarters The Armenian scrutinized keenly and care- of Bagdad. On the night in question, it fully the document presented him, and was ap- was crowded with merchants and pilgrims, parently satisfied by the perusal, though he who were chiefiy gathered under one of the made no movement to produce his daughter. arches of the great square, listening to a Per- ‘* Why this hesitation?’’ demanded the sian story-teller, while he related monstrous eunuch. adventures with dives, peris, genli, and en- A grave smile overspread the face of the chanters. Armenian as he replied, ‘*‘ ‘There was some- Suddenly a violent knocking was heard at what understood between the pasha and my- the outer gate. The keeper of the Khan, a self, touching a certain sum of money,’’? — fat pompous personage, much averse to loco- ‘* T comprehend, most upright Bogos,’’ in- motion, was among the most earnest auditors terrupted the eunuch, giving him a heavy of the Persian, and for some time paid no at- purse ; ‘‘ examine that, and tell me if its con- tention to the summons, till it increased to an tents are what you expected.’’ extent that threatened to dislodge the gate The countenance of the Armenian bright- P| from its hinges. ened as he told the gold, which he did with the ‘¢ Who knocks at this unseemly hour, and despatch and precision of one much accustomed thus disturbs a quiet Khan ?’’ said the janitor, to the task, and carefully fastening the purse in a surly tone ; ‘* you may as well depart, for at his girdle, he rose and eagerly opening a there is no room for you here.’’ door which communicated with a neighboring ‘¢ By the beard of the Prophet, if thou dost room, called to some one within, ‘** Miriam, not open quickly, I will make room, by drag- Miriam, come forth, my child.’’ ging out the headless carcases of some of ye. A minute elapsed, and there entered the Must an aga of the eunuchs, with an order room a female, tall in stature, and of a figure from the pasha in his hand, wait at thy gate till already noble and commanding, though with a thou hast finished thy pipe’? Thy tardy feet youthfulness of feature which, at a glance, shall soon be quickened by the bastinado.”’ showed that she was scarcely yet matured into The keeper no sooner heard the title of his the full bloom of womanhood. ‘The superb visiter mentioned, than he made all imaginable though irregular beauty of her face, was par- haste to unbar the gate, and speedily admitted tially shaded by masses of the blackest hair, a huge negro, who imperiously commanded which fell in careless but graceful curls upon a the trembling being before him, to lead the way small and snowy neck. Her eyes, which were to the quarters of Bogos, the Armenian. eminently large and dark, even for an oriental, This latter personage was quietly smoking seemed dimmed in their brillianey by recent his pipe, in the gallery which fronted his weeping, traces of which were visible on her apartments, and, at the approach of the colorless, yet haughty cheek. stranger, courteously rose and awaited his ad- She started as her glance fell upon the dress. ‘The eunuch saluted him gravely and eunuch, and would have thrown over her face condescendingly, and as they entered together the veil which she carried upon her arm, had the apartment of the Armenian, said in a tone not her father said, of the greatest suavity— ‘*¢ It is only an officer of the pasha’s harem, ** Worthy Bogos, I have been sent by our Miriam.”” ‘The Armenian paused for a mo- lord the pasha, with a litter and an escort, for ment, and then proceeded with the air of one the purpose of conveying your lovely daughter about to make an unpleasant communication, to the harem of his highness. ‘The passage of the influence of which upon the hearer is some- the river has already greatly delayed my arri- what to be dreaded. val here, and consequently I can remain with ‘* He has come to conduct you to the harem you but a short period. Will you do me the of his highness, and requires your immediate favor to inform the maiden of my presence, departure ; there is no reason for delay, as all and the necessity of immediate departure? ”’ that you require from here can be sent to the The Armenian gazed for a moment upon the palace to-morrow.”’ face of the eunuch, and then without replying, His words produced a powerful effect upon howe ee) ays ;  THE ARMENIAN’S DAUGHTER. 23 his daughter. She gazed at him for a moment, gate of the caravanserai. The eunuch started as if she did not fully comprehend the purport at the sound, and as if impelled into sudden ac- of what he had said ; then suddenly rousing tivity, bounded forward like a tiger, and an- from her stupor, rushed forward and seized swered the expectant Armenian by a blow from him by the arm, exclaiming with passion and a dagger which he drew from beneath his robe. vehemence, It was given by a vigorous and practised hand, ‘‘ Did I hear aright? Are you still bent and reached the heart of Bogos, who with a upon sacrificing your child for a handful of faint cry relinquished his grasp of his daugh- gold? Did you not promise, did you not ter, and fell headlong to the floor. The swear, before we left Julfa, that you had re- eunuch caught up the astonished maiden, and nounced all thoughts of this unhallowed, this hastily exclaimed, most monstrous thing’ Speak, father,’’ she ‘* Fear not, it is I, thy lover, Osman. I continued, with her wild earnest eyes, and her came thus disguised to rescue thee, for I had face flushed with excitement, fixed upon Bo- learned that this very night the pasha designed gos, who fairly quailed beneath her stern to have thee conveyed to his harem. I have glance, and muttered, slain thy father because delay were fatal, for ‘¢ Peace — silence —it is fixed — you must that trumpet was sounded by my followers at go 99 the gate, and warns me that the pasha or his ‘¢ But I will not go! I will not yield my- messenger are close at hand.”’ self, — a Christian woman, — to be the harlot Even before the conclusion of this rapid slave of a Mussulman ; sooner will I die !”’ speech, he had carried Miriam, who, confused ‘¢ It cannot now be avoided, my daughter. with joy, grief, and terror, was unable to The pasha expects you, and here in Bagdad speak, half way along the narrow and deserted we are both in his power. He has sent for, corridor of the caravanserai. When he reached and indeed has paid for you.”’ the gate he found it open, and exhibiting to ‘* Paid for me! Mother of God! Amtla view the black face of Rustom, who stooping beast, to be bought and sold? Never! thou from his horse, was peering in with great unnatural