Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-06-01
aN stcll ansou s.
An Adventure in Algiers.

Al"crS is the Paris of Africa, or rather
not portion Of AFRICA, hut part of France
that has been created hy the armies in
itimrs et peace as it has been conquered in
war by liclr arms.
Alsiots is like Paris, of course, but in
becoming French it has not lost all its orr
entail pccularticS, and in this it is as much
more attractive than Paris as romance is
than real lile.
When was ordered to remain in Algicrs
with NV regiment coming from Marscillcs
came with most delightful anticipatinns.
was Il Young lieutenant then, and my
success with the fair sex i'll various garrI
son towns where had been, gave me most
brilliant ideas in regard to the adventures
that would bcfall me in Algiers. lIouris,
with eyes Ike stars, ci,vclope,l in cashmere
covered with diamonds, living in palaces
with fountains of rose-water and bowers
of orange flowers rose heiAre me. Indeed,
the officers talked so much and SO eagerly
about the charms of the eastern women,
their passion and their devotion, that felt
ready ,o seek my life to obtain sight Of
one of these lovely creatures who haunted
my dreams.
Nav this was to be the romance of my
life. The reality was all arranged and
settled in Eurspc-and to tell the truth,
though my inauguration was in Algiers,
my heart was i'll France with the girl to
whom had been betrothed since my inian-
cy. Like all Frcnchmcn, ! knew that
uudmarry only the Young lady who would
be-thousht by my parents to be suited to
me IN station and fortune. l knew that
only such wife could suit me, and had
not tho slightest idea that my eastern ro-
nance would interfere with any engage
ment, not even with my love.
For loved my bctrothed, though had
not seen her since she was child. The
daughter of an old friend of my fathers, she
had been brought up by her mother in the
strictest seclusiou, and in my wandering,
soldiers life, had nat seen for six years.
But this was my last years probation at
the close OF autumn was to return to Mar
settles; Ceoile was to come with her moth
er beneath my fathers roof and we were
to be married.
Dear little Cecile; had always treas
ured her memory as she appeared to me
when last had seen her--a sweet little
Girl with short white dress, and the tint
est little feet immaginable, III red satin
slippers.
it so happened that at one of til, cafes |
male the acquaintance of an intelligent
and rich old jew merchant, who. from the
first, appeared to take extraordinary inter-
est in me- He amused me with details of
oriental life and manners; told me the lc-
gcnds of the country, and. in taot, seemed
to be a living page from the Arabian
Nights
In return | told him all the circumstan-
ces of my life, all my military adyegtures,
and even i'll a moment of extraordinary con-
iidence, went so far as to te,l him all about
Cecile and our future marriage. This was
done rathe.to give him an idea Of our Eu-
ropean customs than with any idea, Of con
fding in him. scarcely felt tie indeli-
caey of talking about Cecile, because he
was 50 utterly stranger to her.
| had been some weeks in Algiers watch,
ing anxiou ly for an adventure, when one