THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10449, 14 October 1911, Page 2

THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

CHAPTER I—Continued. An usher, singularly robed, distributed long wax candles to the guests, while another lighted them from a taper imbedded in an antique handled lamp, not unlike ian amphora resurrected from an ancient tomb. The, candles emitted delicate odours. The priest ibegan a chant in the Armenian tongue. His voice, low at first, drifted into a rising and falling wail, infinitely plaintive. He took iwo rings and placed one on the fingers of the bride and groom (by proxy). He asked certain questions in low tones, and all in the language of the East. Their replies and that of Marsovian, as bride's guardian, were also in Armenian.

[ Two chains with crosses that looked i not unlike rosaries, were piit into the | couple's, hands. The candles flared: ! and smoked, filling the air with scent|:ed odours. Again the priest chanted ■weirdly, while the two, kneeling before him, joined' hands, as Marsovian proclaimed aloud in his native tongue that he, from that hour, resigned all authority over the bride, his niece and ward, into the hands of the noble and exalted effendi,. Rotan Pallia, of Scutari, in Turkey, governor of his pashalic of Armenia,' confidential adviser on Armenian affairs to His Serene Majesty the Sultan Abdul Hamid 11, supreme head of the Ottoman Empire, etc.,etc. Then the priest proclaimed in English the marriage to be complete, as by the groom's proxy. Puff 1 Out -went every candle except that held by Sidney Greer, who alone had received 'no prior instructions. Perturbed in mind, he stood holding i his candle awkwardly, until one of, i the ushers blew it out.

More priestly chanting, two assistant priests intoning from the Armenian liturgy, and finally a benediction.

The marriage by proxy was over. The room was dim with fragrant smoke like incense, as the guests gathered round and congratulated the bride somewhat constrainedly Mustafa backed away, feeling himself rather de trop—*t this stage. When Greer at last came up, he something half intellvgbly, and L.drust a letter into the bride's hand. "Please read it—when you can," he stammered. "I—l wanted .you to see it before all this '' He was pushed aside by the first secretary, himself half Armenian by blood, and a personal friend of Rotan Pasha. Others followed, and it was some time before Alma found an opportunity to read the letter. : Then her face grew pale, and she had some trouble in commanding her features in presence of the guests. "It ia a base slander on one of the truest, noblest of men!" she said to - not believe it. No — /never!"

CHAPTER 11. DALMAR, OR DALVORIG. " Early t&e following morning Greer was on. Peuiisylvania Avenue, buying the morning papers. Each one had a more or less .detailed account of the notwithstanding that "reporters" had been rigorously excluded "from the house. t lJut all reporters are mot known as such, so it would seem. "What,** nuisance these papers are," he concluded, tossing the lot back to a newsboy. "Pry into private affairs, willy-nilly. To the public such' a marriage as this is as entertaining as. a new dime-museum freak. I certainly loved the girl; but I don't think t would feel so bad if she had been Avon ■by some honest fellow who would have stepped up to,the altar himself. But to. see a chap four thousand miles offhag such a prize without coming after it himself is—well, I have quit cussing, ; yet cussing is certainly what fits in .here all right 1". ■■,:>■•. -i- 0 >; 4 . He lighted a cigar and slowly made: his way toward Mr Marsovian's- house, having already breakfasted, Turning a corner he almost ran into the very man who had officiated as the groom by proxy. Mustafa was not now, wearing his fez, but touched a glossy brown derby as he recognised in Sidney Greer the guest who had acted so strangely at the wedding. The tall Westerner placed himself squarely in the other's path,, and opened hostilities at once by saying: "You are the very chap I "most wanted to round up. What do you think of yourseTf, anyway?" •» "Sir!" Mustafa bristled haughtily. "I do not know you. Permit me to pass on." . "All right. You know me well enough to hear my opinion of your proceedings. You think yourself some pumpkins, no doubt. But it is riot right to make an innocent girl the laughing-stock of the town." "Havethe goodness to let me pass. I scorn your innuendoes, which are too contemptible to be otherwise noticed." "You stay right there, and hear me out. Then you may go to the devil where you belong, for all I care! First, you are a scoundrel ias well as a fool!" "You lie!" .began Mustafa, white to the lips, but Greer seized him by the collaa- as he attempted to strike, held ! him off easily with one hand, at the ! same time emphasising his further wordis by shaking >$ finger in the other one's face. "I wish I. had this grip on Rotan himself," he thundered. "I know the contemptible rascal. Met him three years back at Monte Carlo. But if I *cara't get the bigger knave, I'll be con-

OUR' SERIAL,

BY WILLIAM PERRY bW>WN

I tent, for the time, with his tool. Why i did you not tell Miss Burian that Rol tan hag three other wives already?" "Release me! I will have your life for this! Where are the police?" Despite his rage Mustafa looked round anxiously for relief. But this encounter was in a quiet side street which, at this early hour, was practically deserted. "You knew this," continued Greer, taking .a fresh twist in Mustafa's collar, "and you also knew that while a. man is allowed four wives in Turkey, more than one is not permitted here. Your mock ceremony is nothing but a sham! Miss Burian is not in a state of mind to comprehend all this, but when she does find uot how you have imposed on her credulity, she will be wild. Marsovian should nave known better " "~ "Mr iMar,sovian did not object—you —youimbecile! Pig!" • "Easy! You have got to listen. He is,too fond of his.niece to refuse; but lie,disapproved. Miss Burian's friends should have intervened. Instead, they allowed her and'old Marsovian to be humbugged. I. came too late, but 1 would have interfered then had I thought she would listen. But last night she would not have believed anything 1 would have said. At the last I gave her a letter from a, good friend, lately from Constantinople, who also knows the truth about Rotan." "Pig! Liar!" choked Mustafa, wriggling helplessly and faint with rage. "Rotan Pasha " "Is a bigamous old scoundrel. You well knew all this. Oh, you low-lived scoundrel l ! If you were not so—so small—for tiwo cents I'd—l'd pulverise you! D'ye hear?" Perhaps Greer was too wrapped up in talking, but the interpreter all at once managed to twist loose and levelled a blow at the other with his-walk hug stick. The Westerner caught the cane,in one hand, jerked Mustafa toward him, then landed a broad-handed slap that sent the Turk into the gutter.

By this time several servant girls, a tramp, and a bluecoat had appeared, and were making from different pojnts toward the scene of the fracas. Sidney hurried to a cab stand near the corner, and flipped the nearest cabby a silver dollar. "Get me out of this," he said, "and you shall haye another," and ' inside as the cab started at a brisk pace. The officer shouted, waved; his I club,'and Mustafa foamed at the I mouth, but cabby dashed up the avenue muttering as he plied the whip: I: "I'm deaf, and I'm blind, and I'm [for free silver-'-sure I am.* J?aix, did' not I see the little chap shtrike him 'first " , . j Greer permitted cabby to drive 'him about untij all danger was oyer. "I know them cops, I do. They're too' lazy to run, far after anybody." i Greer then told the man to drive rpund tc» Massachusetts Avenue, and at a circle near th« Marsovian-resi-dence hd alighted, gave cabby another jiollar,'/ and. bade Jijm. await his re-:-fcurn.r;-;>'"-t' '.-""V'"''•'"• - ■■ ' "I wonder now," soliliquized the ; cabby from his perch as Sidney strodeoff, "if that fellow ain't the .big wan from Cripple Greek that wint to .Chamberlains last night? The boys said he blew in mad as a wet tan, and threw las silver-round as.freely as--.it' "ft was Potomac mud. He's for kapiri it up thisTOornin', behad! I'll shtick to .him. I want some of thim wheels mesilf, I do. There's nothing green in my eye, if I am Irish!" Mr Marsovian was at breakfast when Greer was shown in. The old . gentleman- looked troubled. • "Come in, Sidney," said he. "The' maid will give you a plate. What do you think ? .She has gone already!" Greer, sliding into a chair, looked up, uneasily. "Say that again, .won't he blurted forth. •••'.'■ , "We expected you to stay with us, • continued Marsovian, hardly noticing Greer's .manner. "A" pretty state;of -tilings that you should come hereofrom Colorado 'to attend Alma's weddingthen go to a hotel, '■'■ "You remarked some one had gone. Do you mean Alma ?" "I do. She had her maid packing nearly all night, and left for New York by the early express at four this morning. I remonstrated. But it was useless. Now that she has had her way in this infernal marriage, she, no doubt, begins to think how queer it will look to society, : and so on."I , "I infer, then, that she has determined to cut the whole show, the gossip, reporters, Mrs Grundy, and all —by the simple process of skipping. ' Sidney heaved an elephantine sigh. I (To be. Continued.) I