With the days their friendship grew and ripened, and became a deep, mutual love that wiped the shadows from Zahiya's life and lit her face with the light of happiness. One day "Karim" asked for her hand in marriage, and she gave her consent in one small word she murmured with lowered head and burning cheeks, and asked him to repeat his request in her mother's hearing; her mother smiled the smile of a happy mother and blessed the engagement. But "Zahiya" did not miss the gasp that came from the direction of the motionless chair; she ran to her sister and said, embracing her:

"Malak," I am happy — congratu-late me, sister!

The crippled girl brought her lips near her sister's forehead and barely brushed it — and that fleeting, cold kiss sent a shudder through Zahiya's body. She stared at her sister, who quickly turned her face away, clenching her fist in violence and agitation! How much hatred and loathing and envy the eyes of "Malak" carried! And if "Karim" saw all this, he made no remark and said nothing. A dreadful silence spread its wings above their heads; the mother withdrew slowly and feebly, and "Karim" took his leave. Zahiya followed him to the door, and when she came back she stood looking at her sister, contemplating the look of victory and triumph that glittered in her eyes. She said, her voice trembling with anger:

"Why do you torment yourself and torment us, 'Malak'? Do you not wish me happiness? In any case, these ways of yours will not succeed in wrecking my happiness — I shall drink its cup to the very dregs!...

She hurried to her room and threw herself upon the bed, moaning a stifled moan...

*

"Zahiya" hurried home after a full day of examinations at the school, which had kept her past her usual

hour of return. She smiled shyly, thinking of "Karim," who was waiting for her at home with a small shining ring, with which he would bind her to himself by a sacred bond of gold! On entering the house she was surprised to find neither "Karim" nor her mother, and she asked "Malak" in astonishment:

Did Karim not come here today?

Malak laughed a short, strained laugh and answered: "He was here, and he left, and I think... he will not come back..."

Zahiya looked at her question-ingly and asked in exasperation: "What are these riddles? Why did he not wait for me?"

She answered, her eyes gleaming with a strange gleam: "I told you — he will not come back, not tomorrow and not in a year. He charged me to convey to you his words of farewell, and he left you this ring as a keepsake!" And she added, laughing: "How quickly it has shattered — the cup of happiness you were going to drink to the very dregs!"

Woodbury Cold Cream

The color of her complexion is ever attractive..

* Ava Gardner

the captivating star of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

has found the preparation that keeps for her face its attractive color.

So every day she uses

Woodbury Cold Cream

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It adds luster and splendor to your beauty