Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 13, 1925 — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

THE HARP Pira Bahkru. He went to the door and called to Yosuf. ‘‘ Surprised at the summons Yosuf stilled his harp and came to Pira. ‘ What wilt oi me, master?’ ‘“* Only that thou play a bit in my shop.’ “<T play better under the blue sky.’ “<The princess commands.’ ‘““<T am as a slave.’ Yosuf entered the shop with bowed head and trembling limbs. The princess commanded! The far-famed, beautiful Princess Roxanna! The young beggar’s heart beat tumultuously. “* Your worship,’ Pira Bahkru was say- ing, ‘this is the beggar Yosuf Abram who playeth the harp. Raise not thy head till her highness hath donned her veil.’ ““Nay,’ said the princess. ‘ For a mis- erable beggar the daughter of Adir Kuri doth not veil herself. That is a token of respect rendered to venerable men.’ ‘“« Ave,’ agreed Arimida. ‘Who would veil for a beggar?’ “ Yosuf kept his eyes to the ground and his head bent humbly. The beautiful Prin- cess Roxanna! If he but dared to steal a glance. “* Play!’ said Arimida musically. ‘ Play for the great princess.’ “With his head still bent Yosuf essayed to make his fingers pick a beautiful melody. But his fingers shook and the tune that came from the harp was like the cry of a trembling fawn when the dogs surprise her in a thicket. Thin, full of fear, and wailing unpleasantly upon the ear. ‘“'< Fei,’ said Roxanna. ‘ Thou art afraid. Lift thy head and gaze upon me. I mean thee well.’ ‘With a lump in his throat Yosuf slowly lifted his head. He gazed steadily upon the stern countenance of the beautiful princess for a few moments. Steady and true was his glance. His eyes never wavered and be blushed not. And the Princess Roxanna gave him stare for stare. “Then his gaze shifted to the face of the beautiful Arimida, and the head of the handmaiden drooped, while a red flood of flushes enveloped her. Yosuf’s eyes, too, wavered and sought the floor, while his swarthy skin grew even darker. Suddenly his hands found the strings of his harp, OF YOSUF ae ABRAM. 639 and there pealed forth a pean of joy. It seemed as though the sun had suddenly burst forth after many days of darkness and all creation sang to welcome it. ‘““ His audience was spellbound. Without the tent men and guards were clustered si- lently. Never had Yosuf Abram played like this. All his past achievements were as ashes before gold. And never did the gaze of the Princess Roxanna waver from his countenance. “It was a long time before Yosuf was permitted to cease his playing. It seemed as though the ladies could not get their fill of the wondrous music, Arimida with her eyes on the floor, and the princess with her eyes on the player. But the eyes of Yosuf Abram were at the feet of the beautiful handmaiden Arimida. Fixed, immovable, expressionless. “At length the royal party departed, but first the princess presented Yosuf with a purse of gold pieces, the contents of which so amazed the gifted youth that all power of speech was stricken from him. He could but stare, and stare, and stare. “Tt was Pira Bahkru who broke the si- lence. ‘ Blessed of Allah, what sayest thou now?’ ‘““* A prayer, but silently.’ ‘““* Indeed! Thou hast need of prayer. Is not the princess beautiful?’ “* Beautiful as the day.’ ‘“¢* And the handmaiden, Arimida?’ “*¢ Who can describe her beauty?’ ‘“‘¢ And which pleaseth thee best?’ “* Shall the handmaiden be compared to the princess? Surely the beauty of the prin- cess 1S greater, sterner and more appalling. Surely none can compare her with the hand- maiden, if he be not like the rash man who held that the princess was not beautiful at all, but he was decapitated for his lies. Indeed, they are both most beautiful, but the humbler beauty pleaseth the humbler eye.’ “* Thou art shrewd,’ said Pira Bahkru. ‘But not wise. Thou thinkest thou hast great skill at playing the harp.’ “* Fair skill, master.’ ‘“* Nay, but thy harp is a magic harp.’ “* Howe My uncle hath never told me this.’ oO COmiclool S CO