Melita: a Turkish love story

Front matter

MELITA NOVELS AT SIX SHILLINGS. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s. each. TARANTELLA: A Romance. By Mathilde Blind, Author of " George Eliot," " Saint Oran." Second Edition. " Told with great spirit and effect, and shows very considerable power."— Pall Mall Gazette. MERCIFUL OR MERCILESS? By Stackpool E. O'Dell, Author of " Old St. Margaret's." [Ready. THE LAST STAKE : a Tale of Monte Carlo. By Madame Foli. [Ready. AN HISTORICAL NOVEL of CÆSAR BORGIA. VALENTINO. By William Waldorf Astor. " A remarkable historical romance. . . . Forcibly written. "- Morning Post. GLADYS FANE : The Story of Two Lives. By T. Wemvss Reid. Fourth Edition. " A good and clever book." — Saturday Review. THE AMAZON: An Art Novel. By Carl Vosmaer. Preface by Professor George Erers, and Frontispiece drawn specially by L. Alma Tadema, R.A. " Full of deep, suggestive thought." — Academy.

THE POISON TREE : A Hindu Novel. By Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Introduction by Edwin Arnold, M.A., C.S.I. " A charm quite its own. . . . Well translated."— Graphic. MAJOR FRANK: A Dutch Novel. By A. L. G. Bosboom-Toussaint, Author of " The English in Rome," &c. " ' Major Frank ' is a thoroughly good story."— Atlicnœum. London: T. FISHER UNV.IN, 26, Paternoster Square, E.C. MELITA: A TURKISH LOVE STORY LOUISE M. RICHTER gonbott T. FISHER UNWIN 26 PATERNOSTER SQUARE MDCCCLXXXVI SJeMcatefc TO MV FRIEND, HENRIETTA HERTZ.

Preface

. IFE in the present day is so absorbed in an unceasing round of immediate interests and pursuits that I can hardly venture to draw the attention of any reader to a distant scene for more than a few hours. I will therefore endeavour to give an insight into life and thought in the Levant in the shortest space and in the fewest words. The golden days of my life, if thus we may call the first twenty years of existence, were passed where the Marmora Sea washes the Bythinian shore. Thus the opportunity was afforded to me

PREFACE.

. of getting more than a tourist's knowledge of a country which is almost my own. I am, however, aware that the following simple narrative, the outlines of which are derived from facts, falls far short of my proposed aim, but I trust that the indulgent reader will forgive failings of a memory which has endeavoured to string together a number of reminiscences in order to present him with a " tasbich " ' that may not be altogether unworthy of the land of its origin. 1 A string of beads, like a rosary, which pious Mahom medans roll in their hands whilst repeating the ninety-nine attributes of the Deity — the hundredth bead representing the great substantive Allah, the name of God itself. In a general way a tasbich is often given in Turkey as a souvenir. MELITA.

Chapter I. Edi

Constantinopoli e poi mori " may be said more truly still of that dreamland of marble palaces and cypress groves resting on both Europe and Asia, than of the city of Naples that gave rise to the saying. Thus reflected a young Osmanli lost in admiration of the scenery around him, whilst awaiting in his caique the arrival of a steamer from Smyrna at the Seraglio Point, where two continents burst on the astonished view in a maze of minarets and trees, and the eye MELITA. is lost in following the glories of the Golden Horn through a wilderness of masts. "At last!" he exclaimed, when a steamer entered the harbour, with all the bravery of flags and a cheerful whistle. As soon as she had cast anchor her deck presented a lively scene, imaginable only by those who have themselves landed at Constantinople.

Passengers preparing for their departure and boatmen climbing into the vessel may be seen at all ports, but the eagerness of the Babel of tongues and races that offer its services to new arrivals is probably without parallel elsewhere. Partings and greetings, the " au revoir " and " how do you do ? " uttered in ever so many European and Eastern languages, so increased the noise and bustle, that the wise among the passengers decided to wait until the general de barkation was over. An Englishman and his daughter were evidently also of that opinion, for they quietly looked on, apparently amused, but otherwise un disturbed by that chaos of proceedings. MELITA. 3 Leaning over the stern, her veil and dress caressed by the winds, her head resting upon a small gloved hand, Melita would certainly have made an attractive picture.

Youth and happiness beamed in those brown lustrous eyes, over shadowed by dark lashes and eyebrows ; and there was much expression in that small mouth, whether parted with merry laughter or curled with good-humoured petulance at some small mishap around her. Dark, chesnut-coloured hair framed her noble forehead, and played in ringlets on her soft, creamy complexion so peculiar to the East. The roses on her cheeks now deepened suddenly when Melita at last discovered the caique of the young Osmanli, and, turning to her father, a tall, fair, elegant-looking man between forty and fifty, 6he exclaimed joyfully : " I fancy I see Kiamil Bey in that caique which is making its way towards our vessel. No doubt he has come to meet us ! " Mr. Freemantle, for this was the name of Melita's father, was waving his hand to the young MELITA. 4 Osmanli, who on his side made signs of recogni tion by touching his fez.

The boats, which thronged thickly around the vessel, hastened to open out when the caique of Kiamil Bey approached, for his flag showed that he was the son of Hamdi Pasha, the Sadrazim, or Prime Minister. Apparently indifferent to the consideration paid to him, Kiamil Bey seemed only occupied with the thought of getting on board as soon as possible. Another minute and he shook hands with Mr. Freemantle, who greeted him most heartily, and, pointing to his daughter, said to him in French : 1 " I don't wonder you do not recognize the little Melita in this grown-up young lady." Melita, with a saucy smile, tendered her hand to the blushing young man, who pressed it with fervour. His courteous bow showed at once the Parisian in the modern Osmanli, and had it not been for his fez and his pronounced Arabian type, 1 French is the language commonly used in society at Constantinople.

MELITA. 5 nobody would have hesitated to take him for a Frenchman, so fluently did he speak French. Kiamil Bey had recently returned from Paris, where his father had been Turkish Envoy for a few years ; he had acquired during his stay in Europe culture and knowledge, was master of several European languages, and well read in their literature. When he came back to his country he keenly felt its defects. At first he gave way to the fatalistic idea that his people were doomed to ruin and extinction. His youthful ardour, however, did not permit him to continue to nourish this depressing notion, and he soon roused himself with the thought that improvement and reform were still possible in Turkey. His father had made him choose the military career, but the regeneration of his country was the aim of his life, and he rightly hit on one of its first conditions, namely, the abolition of poly gamy and of the harem administration through out the empire ; an endeavour as great as it was MELITA. difficult to accomplish.

Although he had some adherents amongst his friends, who were mostly young men, old Turkey, which ever adheres to the Koran and to old customs, was systematically opposed to any change, even when it meant, as here, decrease of that enormous expenditure which had brought ruin in its train. Kiamil Bey, however, was not to be discouraged; he had great self-reliance, and hoped to gain his end with time and perseverance. It was Melita only who now seemed to be able to embarrass this daring young Osmanli, who was otherwise so fully possessed of that Eastern dignity which seems to be the heritage of all Asiatics. Melita was closely connected with all his re miniscences of happy childhood, for many an hour, together with his sister Adile, had they played of yore in that lovely garden on the Bosphorus near Hamdi Pasha's palace ; the rash boy whose will was law in the harem proving a devoted slave to little Melita's whims and fancies.

He would place all his toys at her disposal, pluck flowers and fruit for her, allow her to play with MELITA. 7 his two pet doves — nay, for her sake he would even take off his fez — of wearing which, like a true Moslem, he was very proud — for his playmate, strange to say, had a great dislike to it ; she wanted her young friend to look not Turkish, but European. It was only natural, therefore, that this friend, now grown into a handsome man, should feel a little embarrassed in beholding for the first time after many years the object of his childlike devotion and solicitude. He had, indeed, recognized her at once, and had also seen with a quick eye that she had grown remarkably handsome ; but, at the same time, a consciousness came over him that there now existed a certain alienation between them unknown before, and that he had henceforth to observe all the rules of etiquette towards his former playmate.

" How did you know of our arrival, so as to come and surprise us in this agreeable way ? " asked Mr. Freemantle, when the usual inquiries after each other's health were over. MELITA. " Mrs. Freemantle, whom I had the pleasure of seeing yesterday," answered Kiamil Bey, " told me of your expected arrival to-day, and so I ordered my boat this morning and came to meet you." He was interrupted by his attendant, who came up to say that all the luggage had been shifted into the boat, and that everything was ready. They started at once. ' Kiamil Bey helped Melita down the narrow steps of the vessel and brought her carefully to the most comfortable seat in the caique, where her slender figure was lost in the red satin cushions placed for her. Whilst the boatmen were vigorously rowing towards the eskele,1 Melita was at leisure to examine more closely Kiamil Bey, engaged in delivering some message from his father to Mr. Freemantle.

She found her Turkish friend much changed, and did not doubt for a moment that Paris had taught him as much as she had learned at her Smyrna school. 1 Custom-house. MELITA. 9 We must make allowance for Melita's reflections, and attribute them to the circumstance of her having been made much of by her com panions, nay, even by her masters, at school. She evinced above all great musical talent, and had a charming voice, with which on summer evenings she delighted her young friends, whilst musing in the moonlight or playing like fairies among the jessamines and willows with which the garden abounded. " Are you not glad, Melita Hanum, to be back again in Istambul (Constantinople) ? " These words, slowly uttered by Kiamil Bey, aroused Melita from her reveries, and she replied, enthusiastically, that her delight in returning to her native shores was beyond description, especially as it was coupled with the pleasure of seeing her parents and friends again.

She then described to Kiamil Bey her school-life in Smyrna, how her father had come to fetch her home again, her regret at parting from her companions, and other incidents of her young life, in which Kiamil Bey seemed to take the most lively interest. MELITA. 10 He felt sorry when their conversation was in terrupted all of a sudden by their arrival at the eskele, a place of much annoyance in Turkey. The luggage of Mr. and Mrs. Freemantle, how ever, this time escaped all examination, owing to the presence of Kiamil Bey, which was certainly very lucky for the dry Smyrna figs that Melita's portmanteau contained. There was a carriage in readiness for them ; they no sooner got in than it rolled along with utmost rapidity, in spite of the bad pavement and the many obstacles it had to encounter in the crowded streets of Constantinople, the description of which generally fills pages in the books of neophyte travellers in the Levant.

If it is difficult to carry on a conversation when driving, it is especially so at Constantinople, the mind being too much absorbed with the ever varying sights before it to admit of any other interest. Looking on, therefore, was what our friends indulged in most during their drive through Galata and Pera, Kiamil Bey's attention, how ever, being more fixed within the carriage. MELITA. 11 Melita, on the contrary, seemed much diverted with what was going on around her. A Levantine lady watches the street-scenes from her window just as eagerly as her Western sister the Christmas pantomime, and the Smyrniotes above all indulge this taste so much, that on summer evenings they generally place themselves before their doors, which are thrown open as soon as the heat of the day is over. Lamps or lanterns are lighted in the halls, which, lined with orange trees, and leading into shady gardens, form advantageous backgrounds for the fair ones, who, fanning them selves, seem to be aware that they form the most attractive centre of a lovely panorama.

Melita's mother was a Smyrniote, and therefore it was not surprising that her daughter took so much interest in what was going on around her. Now it was some old Turkish woman who tickled her fancy, waddling along in yellow slippers, and losing her breath in trying to hold up her garments which floated in the mud. Then again it was some un fortunate baker, who had his tray purposely upset in the crowd by some hungry admirer of his cakes. MELITA. She was just in time to witness the vain en deavours of the poor man to keep boys and dogs away, when the carriage turned round a corner, and Melita had reached her home. CHAPTER MELITA. 14 At the first glance we can see that her fame was not greater than her beauty, and that the world showed good taste in admiring her through that fine soft gauze which Turkish ladies wear at the present day, rather to heighten than to hide their charms.

The amber satin hangings and divans of the room, illuminated by the first rays of the morning sun, the decoration of flowers exhaling sweet perfumes, the young and beautiful woman gracefully reclined on a couch, her large black eyes fixed on a bouquet of roses in her hands, formed an ensemble fascinating enough even for those who, in travelling in the East, expect to see Sheherasade's wonderful tales in true life. They would, however, be disappointed to see Adile Hanum sweeping the ground with a purple velvet robe, cut not in the Oriental, but in the last Paris fashion, her little feet armed with big heeled escarpins instead of gold - embroidered Turkish slippers. Her head-dress only was somewhat Oriental ; it consisted of a small purple turban, resplendent with crescents and stars of diamonds.

Diamonds MELITA. 15 adorned her neck and arms, diamonds again blazed on her delicate fingers, producing by reflection of the sun's light all the tints of the rainbow around the fairy-like wearer, as if to divert her in her solitude. Contrary to Turkish customs, Adile Hanum liked to banish all her slaves and attendants, and to sit alone, thinking or dreaming or wondering over her existence, which at times seemed to her very dreary, although she counted but seventeen summers. She had plenty of life and spirit in her, but her energy had no scope, and she got weary. Presently her husband, Rushdi Pasha, was ushered into the room. It was the first day of the Bairam feast,1 and Adile Hanum arose imme diately from her dreams to meet her husband half way ; she kissed his hand and wished him every happiness.

He kissed her on her forehead She then waited until he was seated before taking a seat herself. 1 The festival which follows the fasting month of Ramassan. MELITA. Rushdi Pasha seemed evidently impressed with the charms of his newly-wedded wife, for he gave her a long, admiring look, and, patting her on the cheek as one would a child, assured her that she seemed to him as beautiful as the rising sun. He then presented her with a miniature portrait of himself, richly encircled with jewels, as a Bairam gift. Adile Hanum, who at first sat motionless, her little hands crossed in her lap, showed now some interest, for shewas struck to see such an accurate likeness of her husband. For a long time the followers of Mahomet objected to have their likenesses taken ; they even thought it idolatry, and therefore a transgression of the Koran, to possess any pictures.

Rushdi Pasha, although a Turk of the old school, had, however, overcome this feeling, for the sake of preparing an agreeable surprise to his wife, for which purpose no sacrifice seemed to him too great. He loved Adile Hanum, who was his chosen wife, with a love such as a man is capable of, MELITA. 17 whose spring had fled and gone without it, and who had found it only in his after-life. He had had for his first wife, the Sultana Fatime, no other feeling but that of " dread." Being a Sultan's daughter, she was privileged, according to Turkish laws, to do whatever she pleased, and to treat Rushdi Pasha as her subordinate. Well aware that her husband had no love for her, as she was not in the least good-looking, she took her revenge by doing all she could to make his life miserable ; and many a sad tale of what had passed there, those walls could tell.

But walls are silent as were those slaves who were now entering the room of Adile Hanum with delicious mocha, sherbets, and all sorts of sweetmeats, doubly plentiful this morning because of the Bairam. Sheitan, the negro-woman, head slave and housekeeper, presented first her master, then her mistress, with a small cup of Turkish coffee, whilst the other slaves followed with the rest. When the coffee was drunk and the sweets tasted, Adile Hanum took out of her pocket a MELITA. golden tabatiere, and with delicate fingers skill fully made a cigarette for her consort, who seemed evidently to appreciate this mark of attention, which every Turkish wife is expected to pay to her husband. They soon enjoyed both smoke and conversation, for Adile Hanum's rosy lips did not despise the cigarette. " You would like, no doubt, to see your mother to-day and to wish her bonne fete ?

" said Rushdi Pasha, very fond of mixing French words with his Turkish when in good humour. " Having to receive a great many State visits, and to pay my respects to His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, I shall not feel your absence so much, as I have to be absent myself," he added, with courtesy. " You have guessed rightly — to see my parents is what I should like of all things to-day ; besides, my mother has a reception this evening and asked me to come to it," answered Adile Hanum, some what shyly. " Then a carriage shall be ordered to be at your disposal," said Rushdi Pasha. Rising and patting MELITA. 19 her again on her cheeks, he added, with unaffected tenderness : " Any other wish you have, Elmasum (jewel mine), name it, and it shall be done." Adile Hanum kissed his hand gratefully ; she had many wishes, indeed, but she knew it was no use to name them, they would not be fulfilled.

Conscious of his kindness and solicitude, she could not return his ardent love. He was old enough to be her father, and she had been wedded to him against her wish. Happy at home, and fond of her mother, she did not want to leave what she had learned to love for a man who, although her father's intimate friend, had always inspired her with a kind of terror, and from whom she had constantly run away when a child. Allowed, according to Turkish custom, to be unveiled before men until she reached her twelfth year, she had been taught to present with cigar ettes the man to whom she had presented them this morning, but had always done it rather reluctantly. It was then that Rushdi Pasha took a great fancy to that shy little bird that always took flight when he approached. MELITA. 20 Years rolled on and swept away the tyrant of his home and life, the Sultana Fatime ; he then remembered the lovely girl whom he could not have married during his wife's lifetime (a Sultana's daughter can claim to be an only wife), and re flected that Adile must have become a still lovelier young woman than she had been a child.

He resolved to see her, but how and when ? One morning he called in his faithful eunuch, Hussein Aga, whose skill in private missions had been tested on former occasions, and imparted to him his wishes. The shrewdlooking negro listened impressively, his arms respectfully crossed on his breast. When his master had ceased to speak, Hussein Aga put a finger to his forehead as if some happy thought had dawned upon him, and said, with a low bow : " Your orders, Effendim, shall be carried out." A few days later Hamdi Pasha's wife and daughter, instigated by one of their slaves, resolved, in spite of the hot afternoon, to purchase silks in one of the celebrated silk-shops at Pera. As they considered this an important purchase, MELITA. 21 they got out of their carriage and entered the shop, where before long they were deeply engaged in choosing and bargaining.

Soon after a Turkish Effendi entered, unobserved by them, and took a seat where he could best see and observe the two Turkish hanums. The gauze which covered Adile's face was so transparent that the jealous Osmanli, although glad to discern her loveliness, resolved not to let her wear the same veil when once she should be his bride. Fate, however, smiled on him and his adventure to-day. Adile Hanum, very much exhausted from the intense heat of that July afternoon, wished to refresh herself with an ice : one of the numerous dondurmatsis (ice-sellers), always shouting in the streets of Constantinople, was consequently called in at once. When the young girl had the plate with the refreshing substance in her hands she moved quickly off to some corner that her mother had pointed out for her, and giving a look all round, too hasty, however, to see Rushdi Pasha's eyes fixed upon her, she MELITA. removed her veil, only for a moment, so as to he able to eat her longed-for ice, little thinking that this very action was to seal her destiny.

For when she looked up she met the passionate gaze of Rushdi Pasha, felt confused, drew down her veil, dropped the spoon, and, trembling and frightened, went back to her mother still bargaining over the silks. Two weeks later Hamdi Pasha was proclaimed Sadrazim (Prime Minister), owing to the influ ence of Rushdi Pasha — the acknowledged favourite ofthe Sultan. Adile Hanum was the prize Rushdi Pasha demanded, and the prize was given. The tears of the daughter could not make the father relent, who, like the old Capulet, thought that he had well provided for his child, for Rushdi Pasha was minister of police, and the richest man in Turkey ; besides, Hamdi Pasha felt too deeply indebted to his friend for the premiership to refuse him the reward he asked. Thus sometimes an event most unimportant at the moment is destined to shape our future and to decide our fate.

At times a sudden impulse MELITA. 23 comes upon us; we act upon it, and find ultimately the consequences so vast, that we cannot but recognize that this impulse was Providence. But let us again take up the thread of our narrative, which showed us that Rushdi Pasha had treated Adile with every sign of tenderness before he left, and he certainly had made his little wife momentarily happy with the handsome present and the promise that everything she desired should be done, for she clapped her hands in good spirits. This was to summon one of her slaves. Sheitan, the head-slave, who instantly appeared, was told to order the carriage in about an hour. The repulsive-looking negro-woman seemed to be little pleased at this command, calculating that she would miss all the bakshish that she had counted upon to-day if her mistress were not at home for visitors.

She ventured to reply peevishly, " that she would have thought that a grand lady like her mistress would be sure to have a great many visitors to-day." " I shall be at home for them to-morrow," MELITA. answered Adile Hanum, more to herself than to I the interlocutor, whom she hardly deigned to answer, and whose brow darkened considerably when she was standing a long time without being taken any notice of. At last her mistress said : " You can go " — her presence to her was evidently disagreeable — " and send in Faris, will you ? " Fortunately Adile Hanum did not see the hideous face of Sheitan when it turned towards the door, though she might have seen it reflected in the numerous mirrors that adorned the walls, but she only looked up when Faris, her favourite slave, had entered. Adile had heard that the once pretty Georgian had suffered cruelly from the jealousy of Sultana Fatime, and this, from the beginning, had inspired her with pity towards the young girl, for Adile was good-hearted.

" Sit down, Faris, and sing me a song to fill up the time until I go," said Adile Hanum to the silent slave dressed in white, which made her appear still more delicate and fragile. She looked sad, for the better days she now saw could not MELITA. 25 wipe out the marks .of former sufferings ; they were too deeply impressed upon that worn face and those frightened movements. Faris, who was the musician of the harem, sat down on the floor, and striking the chords of a small cymbal, which was always suspended at her side, she began one of those Turkish airs which, to those who are accustomed to them, have, in spite of their monotony, something touching and telling ; it was slow and mournful, and suited well that voice which told the same sad tale as the countenance of that young girl — a rosebud plucked and withered before it had come to bloom.

Adile listened, her clear brow darkened more and more, and she pondered over something strangely ana logous with the notes she heard, and their melancholy ring seemed to remind her of a past she at times had been told of. " Enough," she said, when Faris wished to begin the same sad air for the fourth time ; " did you not tell me once of a room in this house which has never been opened since Sultana Fatime's death ? " MELITA. " Allah is great," answered Faris, dropping her cymbal : " no, it has never been opened since." " Could you tell me why?" asked Adile Hanum. "Because you are a good mistress to us. Ah, Effendim," and a shudder passed over the poor girl when she added, "we used to be tortured there when Sultana Fatime's wrath was against us, and there were some who, when they once had entered that room, never, never came out again."

" Did they die there ? " asked Adile, frightened "No, Effendim, they disappeared," said the slave, looking anxiously round the room, afraid that any one should hear her, and speaking very low ; for they all had strict orders from their master not to reveal to Adile Hanum those horrors which had taken place before her time. " Allah is great," said Faris, with another shudder : " there are planks in that room marked black ; the victims used to be placed upon them, and down they went all of a sudden and disappeared for ever ; for a short time we used to hear their cries of despair, as if they were struggling with the water in some deep pond. MELITA. 27 " The Sultana died mad, as you know," con tinued Faris, after a pause, speaking very low. "Shewas then often under the hallucination of being one of those poor slaves she had tortured to death.

Oh, it was terrible to see her ; she fell on her knees, wrung her hands, kissing the ground before somebody as it were, her eyes always staring at something — ' the white figure.' as she called it." " The white figure ? " asked Adile Hanum. " Yes, ' the white figure,' " muttered Faris, mysteriously, and under her breath. " I saw it one night myself, when fever had kept me awake, as it was moving slowly into the Sultana's room, a dim burning candle in hand. I was so frightened that I fainted ; but I have seen it — that I know, only that one time though. Oh, it was horrible to look at — a long shadow with fierce, fiery eyes," and the poor girl hid her face in her hands and shuddered. Sheitan now appeared at the door to say that the carriage was waiting for her mistress. The two young women looked both pale and confused, MELITA. and the piercing eyes of the negro-woman in creased their confusion.