Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-06-23
THE TWO WIVEs---Or, The Fanatic
Husband.

People are glad to be assured that an
interesting story is true, The following
history was communicated to the writer
by friend residing in the East, who had
it from the French Consul himself. 1t
reminds one of the Arabian Nights
In the year 1886 Jewish family, resi-
ding at Algiers was plunged in the great
est distress by the death of the father
A son, two daughters and n mother, were
by this calamity left almost destitute
After the funeral, the son, whose name
VISA Ibrahim, sold what little property there
was to realize, and gave it to his mother
and sisters after which, he left Algiers,
and departed for Tunis, hoping that it he
did not make his fortune he would at least
make a livelihood there.
He presented himself to the French
Consul with his papers. and requested a
license rs donkey driver. This was ac
ccpted, and lbrahim entered the service
Of man who let out asses, both for car
rying water and for hire.
lbrahim was extremely handsome and
very graceful in his demeanor but being
so poor, his clothes were too ragged for
him to be employed on anything but druid
gerry that was out of sight. He used to be
sent with watcr-skins to the mcanest part
of the town.
One day, as he was driving his ass la
den with water up narrow street, he
met eavalcadc ofwomcn riding (ns usual
in that country upon donkeys covered
with sumptuous housings. He drew on
ono side to allow them to pass by, but
string of cames coming up at the same
instant, there cnsucd some cOniusiOn.-
The veil of one of the women become
aightly dcrangcd and lbrahim caught
sight of u lovely countcnancc,
lie coutrivcd to ascertain who the lady
was, and whore she lived. She was Re
bccca, the only daughter of wealthy
Jew.
From this time, Ibrahim had but one
thought: that of becoming rich enough
to demand Rcbccca in marriage. He had
already saved up few pieces ofmoney-
with these he bought better clothes, and
he was now sometimes sent to conduct the
donkey hired out for riding.
1t SO Glanced that one OF his first cXpc-
ditons was to take Rebccca and her at
tcndcnts to MERGERS shop. Either from
accident or coQuetry, Rebeccas veil be-
came again dcrangcd, and again lbrahim
bChcld the heavenly face beneath It, lbra-
him appearance and his look of burning,
passionate love, did not dlspIease the
Young Jewcss. He frequently attended
her on her excursions, and he was often
permitted to sec beneath her veil.
lbrahim deprived himself almost of the
ncccssarics OF life, and ut length saved
money enough to purchase an ass OF his
own,
When he thought himself sufficiently
we'll off in the world, he presented him
self before the family of Rcbccca, and de-
manded her in marriage but they did not
consider his prospects brilliant, and reject
Led his proposals with contempt. Rebccca
however, sent her old nurse to him (just
as lady in the "ArnbiNn Nights" might
have sent similar mcsscngcr) to let him
know that the family contempt was not
shared by her.
Ibrahim was moro determined than ever
to obtain her, He went to magician, who
badc him return to Algiers, and declared
that of he would accept the first offer of
any kind which he should receive after
entering the city, he would become rich
aud obtain the desire of his heart.
Ibrahim sold his asses and departed for
Algicrs He walked up and down the
streets till nightGall, in expectation of the
mysterious offer which had been forctold
but no one came.
He had, however, been observed by a
rich widow, somewhat advanced in years,
French woman, and the widow of an
officer of engineers She dispatched an
attendant to discover who he was and
where he lived, and the next day sent for
him to come to her house. His graceful
address fascinated her even more than his
good looks, and she made him ovorturcs
'of marriage, Offering at the same time to
settle upon him handsome portion of her
wealth,
This was not precisely the mode in
which Ibrahim had intended to make his
fortune, but he recollected the prediction
of the magician, and then accepted the
proposal. g.-
They were married, and for twelve
months Ibrahim lived with his wife ii
great splendor and apparent happiness
At tho end of that time he professed to be
called to Tunis by indispensable business
which would require his spresence for some
time, His wife made no opposition, though
She was sorry to loose him, and wished tc
accompany him; but that he prohibited
and departed alone taking with him a
good supply of money. -'1 -..
He again presented himself before the
French Consul al Tunis, who was surpri-
sed at the change in his appearance. His