Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-10-17

He lost no time in repairing to the
house of Rebecca. She was still un-
married, and again he made his proposals
this time with more success. He had
all the appearance of man of high con-
sideration; and the riches which he halt
negligently displayed took due effect -
He had enjoyed good character when
he lived at Tunis before, and they took
it for granted that he had done nothing
to forfeiiit. They asked no questions
how his riches had been obtained, but
gave him Rebecca in marriage.
At the end of six months, the French
consul received inquiries from Algiers
respecting Ibrahim--his wife, il was said,
had become alarmed a. his prolonged alb.
sence.
The Consul sent for Ibrahim, and told
him what he had heard. lbrahim at
first appeared disturbed. and afterwards
indignant. He denied in the strongest
terms that he had any other wife than
Rebecca, but owned that the woman in
question had fallen in love with him.
He also denied that he had given her
any sort Of legal claim upon him.
The French Consul was perplexed-
Ibrahim's papers were all regular-he
had always lived an exemplary life at
Tunis-he denied his marriage and
there was no proof of it.
Had Ibrahim retained the smallest
presence Of mind, no harm could have
i>nc,na, b;,,~ L., ,b,t I,nI &c MI =. 90
my, two wives would have caused little
scandal. His domestic position, though
somewhat complicated, was by no means
desperate. His one idea was, that he
was hurried on by destiny to-murder
Rebecca.
This miserable wretch possessed by
the fixed idea of destroying Rebecea,
made deliberate preparations for carry
ing il into effect. But with strange fa-
natacism and superstition which formed
par, of his character, he determined to
give her chance for life, thinking that
ii might still be the will of Providence
that she should live.
He concerted measures with the cap
tain of Greek vessel, whom he induced
by heavy bribes to enter into his views.
He gave out that he was going 10 Al
giers, to put an end to the ridiculous re-
port which had been set up by the pre-
tended wife.
He embarked with Rebecca, without
any attendants, on board the Greek yes-
sci, which w1s bound for Algiers. Re-
becca was taken at once into the cabin,
where her curiosity was excited by a
strange looking black box, which stood
at one end of it.
The box was high and square, and
large enough to contain person sitting
upright. Ii was lined with thick cotton
cloth, and contained small brass pitch
er filled with water. and loaf of bread.
While she was examining those things
Ibrahim and the captain entered. They
neither of them spoke a word--but CO.
ming up behind her, lbrahim placed his
hand over her mouth, and muffled her
head in her veil, lifted her into the box
with the assistance of the captain, and
shut down the lid, which they securely
fastened. They then carried the box
between them upon deck, and lowered
il over the side of the vessel. The box
had holes bored in the lid; it was very
strong, and so built as to float like boat.
The vessel continued her course to-
wards Algiers. Either the crew had
really not noticed these strange proceed
ings, or they we're paid to be silent.
The next morning as 4 French steam
er was beating towards Tunis. some
thing like hull of small vessel was
seen drifting about directly in their
course. They picked it up and were
Mortified to hear feeble cries proceeding
from the interior. Hastily breaking il
open, they found the unhappy Rebecca
nearly dead with fright and exhaustion.
When she was sufficiently recovered to
speak, she told the captain how she
came into that strange condition, and he
made all speed on to Tunis.
The French Consul Immediately dis
patched swift sailing steamer to al.
giers with Rebecca and her nearest
friends on board, bearing dispatch to
the Governor, containing hasty account
of all these things. The steamer arri.
we'd first. When the Greek vessel enter
ed the port, Ibrah;m and the captain
were ordered to follow the officer on
guard, and in a few minutes Ibrahim
stood face to face with his victim. Tc
render the complication more complete
the French wife hearing that steamer
had arrived with dispatches. went down
to the Governors house to make inqui
ries after her husband.
At first, Ibrahim nearly fainted-bu
he soon recovered his insane self, and
boldly confessed his crime. Addressing
himself 10 Rebecca, he sand:
81 conided thee TO the sea, for tho
it might be the will of Providence tc
save thee. If thou hadsl died, it would
have been Providence that decreed thy
fate; bu, thou art saved, and | am des-
troyed."
Both the wives wept bitterly. Their
natural jealousy of each other was mer.
ged into the desire to save the fanatic
from the consequences OF his madness
Rebecca attempted TO deny her former
statement, and used great intercession
IL