A man was walking through a market place on afternoon when just as the muadhin began the call to prayer his eye fell on a womans back. She was strangely attractive though dressed in fulsome black and a veil over her head and face and now she turned to him as if somehow consious of his over-lingering regard and gave him a slight but meaningful nod she rounded the corner into the lane of silk sellers. As if struck by a bolt of heaven the man was at once drawn his heart a prisoner of that look forever. In vain he struggeled with his heart offering it one sound reason after another to go his way-wasnt it time to pray? But it was finished there was nothing but to follow. He hastened after her turning into the market of skills breathing from the exertion of catching up with the woman. Who had unexpectedly outpaced him and even now lingered for an instance at the far end of the market many shops ahead. She turned toward him and he thought he could see a flash of a mischievous smile from beneath the black muslin of her veil-was it his imagination? Beckoned to him again. The poor man beside himself wo was she? The daughter of a wealthy family? What did she want? He quickened his steps and turned into a lane where she had disappeared. And so she led him always beyond reachalways tantalizing ahead now through the weapons market. Now the oil merchants now the leather sellers farther and farther from where they began. The feeling within him was rather than decreased. Was she mad? On and On she led to the very edge of town. The sun declined and set and there she was before him as ever. Now they were come of all places to the city of tombs. Had he been in his normal senses? He would have been afraid but indeed he now reflected Stranger places than this had seen a lovers tryst. There were scarcely 20 cubits between them when he saw her look back and giving a little start she skipped down the steps and through the great bronze door of what seemed to be a very old sepulchre. A soberer moment might have seen the man pause but in his present state there was no turning back and he went down the steps and slid after her. Inside as his eyes saw after a moment there were to flight of stairs that led to a second door from whence a light shone and which he equally passed through. He found himself in a large room somehow unsuspected by the outside world lit with candles upon its wall. There sat the woman opposite the door on a pallet of rich stuff in her full black dress still veiled reclining on a pillow against the far wall. To the right of the pallet the man noticed a well built in the floor. ''Lock the door behind you''she said in a low husky voice ''and bring me the key''. He did as he was told. She gestured carelessly at the well.''Throw it in.'' A ray of sense seemed to penetrate for a moment through the clouds over his understanding and a bystander had there been one might have detected the slightest of pauses.''Go on'' she said laughingly.''You didnt hesitate to miss the prayer as you followed me in here did you?'' He said nothing.''The time for sunset prayer has almost finished aswell''she said in gentle mockery.''Why worry? throw it in you want to please me dont you?'' she said. He extended his hand over the mouth of the well and watched as he let the key drop. An uncanny felling rose from the pit of his stomach as moments passed and no sound came. He felt wonder then horror then comprehension.''It is time to see me''she said and she lifted her veil to reveal not the face of a fresh young girl...but of a hideous old crone all darkness and vice not a particle of light anywhere in its eldritch lines.''see me well''she said ''my name is dunya. I am your beloved. you have spent your time running after me and now you have caught up with me In your grave welcome welcome.'' At this she laughed and laughed until she shook herself into a small mound of fine dust whose fitful shadows as the candles went out returned to the darkness one by one.........THE END........