A WOMAN OF THE EAST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16455, 17 June 1921, Page 9

A WOMAN OF THE EAST.

Alexandria. T had not seen Fatma Om-Ahmed for six months. Fatma had been our washerwoman, for a few years before her third wedlock to Ali, who became Abou-Alimed after tho birth of his male child. She visited us occasionally and entertained us for many pleasant, hours with her native tales and small talk. She was, like all her race, a. woman with a merry heart, contented with her lot. mid happy in the worship of the only son, who fulfilled all the expectations of a poor working mother. I met her tho other dav as T was mounting the flight of stairs leading to the house of a mutual acquaintanceT could hardly recognise the features, once so familiar to me. under the dense borko that covered her face, in tho gloom of a covered staircase built some •She jocularly barred, my may with her portly person and. looking at mo with a pair of merry, twinkling black eyes, she said: “Good morning. You evidently have forgotten me. T am Fatma Om-Ahmed.” “Good morning. Fatma.” I re.nlied after a long, scrutinising look. “Surely time and your black borko have altered you much these last few months?” “And sorrow too, alas!!*' she added witli a deep sigh- as she slowlv raised her arms to her head and undid her veil. __ “ You remember mv son Ahmed? My little bright boy? * “'Yes, 1 do,” said I. “How is he getting on? He must be a big boy now?” She clasped her hands together, crushing her borko between them. He is dead—dead! It is five months since a tram wax' ear ran over him. My husband is dead-—my loved won also. I have nothing to live for.” “ But surely,” I said. “ the company has paid you ail ample indom.mtv -enough to maintain you? It, cannot possibly he otherwise. If thev have not, I advise you to appeal to tho justice of the courts.” Fatma Om-Ahmed forgot her grief, and all of a sudden anger and terror blazed in her eyes- She'drew her tall figure to its full height and moved a few paces away from me. “An indemnity?” "Why not?” I said soothingly. e * What is wrong in my suggestion ? *1 hat is justice- and everybody, the highest and the lowest in. the land, desires justice.” “Do you reallv wish me to sell mv son *to the infidels? Never! Mdiv. th© Christians will claim him in the next world: they will own him bv right of purchase: .and I shall not he 'allowed to gaze on his face nor draw him close to my heart in Paradise.” She drew on her bork<. nricT rolled her melaya.lt tound her bodv. savin.softly: “Sell mv own son, my adored one, to* the Christians! Never! T will not commit such a sin against him, Maalesh! ’Tis the will of God which no man can alter and no pqiier ©an evade. Good morning. May von keep in perfect health!”—(Ba Alice Shamouv in “The Daily Mail.”).