The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-05-10
SELECT STORY.
AN ADVENTURE IN ALGIERs

pdlO vi IIduCeJ THAT mas UeGD created
by the armies in times of peace as it has
been conquered in war by the French
arms.
Algiers is like Paris, of course, but
in becoming French it has not lost all
its oriental peculiarities, and in this it
is as much more attractive than Paris as
romance is than real life.
When | was ordered to remain in AL
giers with my regiment coming from
Marseilles, l came with most delightful
anticipations.
was young lieutenant then, and
my success with the fair sex in various
garrison towns where [ had been, gave
me most brilliant ideas in regard to the
adventures that would befall me in AL
giers. Hours, with eyes like stars, en-.
veloped in cachemire, covered with dia.
monds, living in palaces with fountains
of rosewater ond bowers of orange flow
ers rose before me. Indeed, the officers
talked so much and so eagerly about the
charms of the eastern women, their pas
sion and their devotion, that I felt ready
to risk my life to obtain sight of one
Of these lovely creatures who haunted
my dreams. Now this was to be the
romance of my life. The reality was al,
ready arranged and settled in Europe
and to tell the truth, though my imagi-
nation was i'll Algiers, my heart was in
France with the girl to whom 1 had
been betrothed since my infancy. Like
all Frenchmen, l knew that | could
marry only the young lady who would
be thought by my parents to be suited
to me in station and fortune. | knew
that only such a wife could suit me,
and had not the slightest idea that my
eastern romance would Interfere with
any Of my engagements, not even with
my love.
For l loved my betrothed, though I
had not seen her sidce she was a child.
The daughter of an old friend of my fa-
theirs, she had been brought up in the
strctest sec, ,uolon, and IN my wandering,
soldiers lite | had not seen her for six
years. But this was my last years pro-
baton; at the close of the autumn |
was to return to Marseilles; Cecile was
to come with her mother beneath my
fathers roof and we were to be married.
Dear little Cecile; [ had always
treasured her memory as she appeared
to me when last | had seen her-a
sweet little girl with short white dress
and the tinies little feet imaginable, in
red satin slippers.
1t so happened that at one of the
cafes I made the acquaintance Of an in,
telligent and rich old Jew merchant
who, from the first, appeared to take ex-
traordinary interest in me. He amused
me with details Of oriental life and man,
ners; told me the legends Of the coun-
try, and, in fact, seemed to be living
page from the Arabian Nights.
In return / told him all the circum.
stances of my life, all my military ad
ventures, and even in a moment of ex
traordinary confidence went so far as t.
tell him all about Cecile and our future
marriage. This was done rather to give
him an idea of our European customs
than with any idea of confding in him
I scarcely felt the indelicacy Of talking
about Cecile, because he was so utterly
stranger to hoI.
| had been some weeks in Algier
watching anxiously for an adventure
when one day note was put into my
hand. 1t was highly perfumed, anc
Il tied instead OF being sealed, with a golC
thread. 1t was written in a most ele
giant hand and was in the purest French
and it babe me repair at nine o'clock t
one Of the mosques, where most impoI
tant revelation would be made to me-
Here was an adventure at last.
. In the excitement of the moment
!! rushed to the Jew,
"What am to do' What does thi
mean 2"
" 1t means that you are handsome
, dog, and that some of our lovely wome
"a have fallen in love with you"
p "What am to do?"
"Go to the rendezvous, of course.
"Will there be danger? Must g
er armed?"
at would be more prudent"
At nine o'clock as the clock strucl
- some one touched me on the shoulder
A, You are exact-that is well an
III as l turned | beheld an old woma
dressed in the costume of the country
y standing near me.
an care you Lieutenant Raoul Dr
Sc chene =" said she, speaking in FrencI
{! and with only a slight accent.
l. dyes"
'e "You are lately from Marseilles !?
-. "Yes."
~ ~ "You remember Cecile ?"
" "Cecile," 1 cried, " Cecile Valazo ?
cts she who has written to you
ler "Cecile, my betrothed; she is
'k- Bordeaux with her mother"
US, "She was, but she is now here
ut, slave in Algiers."
cal "But the letter is not in her WI
ipg?N