Shafts from an Loasterne Quiver,

[I.—THE JASPER VALY OF THIC FALLING STAR.

By Cuarees o Massrorn, B

Y oall that’s wonderful 77 ex- procured for us on entering Persia, in place claimed Denviers. ** Look ol the rough camel-skin covering which yonder, Harold!" and he had sheltered us from the sun in Aruabia, pointed towards a Jagaad At the foot of the pass we had bargained ridge which rose in majestic with a nomadic Hilyvat for the possession of grandeur from the mighty two black Afghan horses on which we rode,

volcanic valley of the Lar. Hassan lcading the sumpter mules laden I turnced my glance in the direction indi- — with our baggage.

cated by my compantion,and, for a moment, It was a werrd spectacle which met our

could not give utterance to my surprise at cyes as we stood gazing at the snow-clad

the strange sight. crest of Demavend in the distance, the

“The woman must be mad,” I blurted silvery Lar winding its way down in the out at last “onclalse step,or evena breath valley beneathy, while around us were of wind, will send her headlong down to mountain tops, scparated by the precipices the valley bencath, a on cither side of the shapeless and lifeless spot on which we stood. mass.” In the moonheht

“Yet that fate would that streamed down bring her rest and for- and flooded the top- cetfulness,” said most ridge of the moun- Hassan, who stood with tain before us, stood a us gazing from the woman with her hair height ot the Aftcha hanging in tangled Pass. There was a masses, framing the strange pathos i the beauty of her olive Arab's voicce as he complexion and Tus- spoke, and Decnviers, trous cyes as it fell knowing that Ilassan over her shoulders in had uttered the truth wild profusion. The CONCCrning our re- white garment which cent visit to Pctra, clothed her was on- was silent, circled at the

Leaving Petra, waist by a belt, we had travelled G | which flashed as castwardagain,and KIS B ; = the ravs of the at last found our- i S SR L = moon fcll upon

L] g oo~

1

O o

selves traversing \ ,,’/"’,'fi the jewelswhich this grand pass ; W 4 A bt,uddu.l it The for we were now expression of an i the heart of \\\, o 5 mmhnite sadness Persia, a country which stamped which we knew would her features scemed amply repay us for the well o accord with long, dreary journcy Ha}ss;m's remark. which led from the “Do you know her scenc of our last ad- history 27 asked Den-

“““'HE WOMAN MUST BE MAD!”

venture in Arabia. viers, 1 response Lo Owing to the intense heat of the day, we the vague words of Hassan. travelled only between sunset and sunrise, “"T'he child of Arabia's descrt, to whom

passing the rest of the time within the the lore of these Eastern countries is known, beautifully woven tent which Hassan had has indeed hcard her story, but it ill be-