Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-10-17
TOMS STORY.

Did you ever hear OF my oriental ad-
venture ?" said Tom, perching himself up
on the counting-house desk.
Your oriental adventureW asked Ned.
amazed.
"WeE, it's worth hearing" said Tom,
eff 1T did happen to me. 1t was when l
was in Damascus, mere attacbe of grave
diplomatic party, boy of twenty, who
might as well have been lett at home,
suppose
81 should say So" said Ned. "Whcn
yOu belonged to diplomatic party, and
were in Damascus. You-well W
81 was in BAZAAR" said Tom. "Eng.
lisbmen always hunt bazaars when they
are in Damascus"
"Oh," said Ned, edo they 2'
81 had bought cigar cases and smoking
caps and tobacco tags, and all sorts OF
things" said Tom. 81 had slippers and
scarfs and shawl for my mother, and a
garment OF red silk and gold thread Of
which | did not know the name. And /
was buying pipe Of oriental style, with
long stem, and a water bottle for the
smoke to pass through, when great
puffy bag of black silk which enveloped
lady paused near me, and squatted down
before the shop Of young jewel merchant,
for the purpose of examining his bracelets.
Only the eyes of this figure were ysi-
bic, but they were blacker and more beau
tiIul than those of any heroine Of the
Arabian Nights Entertainments, and they
lit on me once, twice, three times, and
sent sensation through my heart to which
it was happily as yet stranger.
behind the figure stood the less care
fully vailed person Of an old female servant.
SOue gray hair struggled over wrinkled
forehead. and the vail even revealed the
upper part Of her high nose. She was the
guardian of the young beauty probably.
That it was young beauty thus hid under
the silken balloon had no doubt. 1t was
like an oriental tale.
"The jewel merchant was busy with his
wares. The merchant OF hubble-bubbles
with his and my money. No one but the
old woman saw the beauty make me lit
tie sign with her exquisite hand; but she
did it. The sign seemed to say, wait"
j waited
"What | waited for l hardly knew. !
understood the customs Of the country
well enough to be aware that could not
speak to this damSel, or be addressed by
her, in the open streets; but UNDERSTOOD
young women well enough to know that
something was in store for me in the way
ot an adventure. Nv repertoire of gesture
is not large. No Englishman's is. nod
ded Yes 1t suficed. As she went
away, guarded by her old attendant, she
repeated the motion.
"'Wait,' it said again.
"' Yes, replied my nod.
"There was a coffee house close at hand,
open to the street like all the other shops.
There, with my bubble bubbles in my
hand, | squatted on a cushion, and slipped
and smoked. | also ate something. 1t
may have been the conserve of p0megran-
ates without pepper, of which we read in
the Arabian Nights 1t was sweet; it
melted on the palate 1t left behind
delicious taste and fragrance. 1t was orr
entail to the last degree.
Near Me, one smoked something
stronger than tobacco-hasheesh perhaps
that sent him. by ard by, into strange
sort OF sleep, his eyes halt opened, his
bands dropped OH their backs, balf shut,
aaainst the cushions, the pipe still between
h;S lips.
Within the coffen-Sh story-telleI
threw down little fiat basket for con-
tIibutioG>, and began his narrative with,
In the name of Allah y
1T was about tn genii; but bad lit
tie comprehension of the tale, my know
ledge Of the Language being so poor.
In its midst saw figure paSS-pause
make sign tome.
1t was the old woman. the servant OF
ms mysterious beauty. l flung coin t.
the Story-teller, and followed her.
"She went on Tor long while, until
began to think that she would nevc' Sp2ak
to me; but at last she paused under the
shadow OF the blank white plaster walls oil
house in a quiet part of the city, ana
suddenly letting down long wisp OF gray
hair, took from it a letter "a little crooked
I: ing written on orlSht paper, ana drencned
W.ih perfume.
II to'c it open. 1t was written in
queer English.
"'I little English know it began.
My mother she English. Most 5eauti-
FIJI! | wait for you. Come"
"WhcD she said most beautiful did
she mean you?" asked Dick IN amaze.
"Yes," said Tom, "of cou se.''
"What do TIE gentlemen look like
there 2 asked Dick.
"Whcre shall 1 go ? Iasked of the old
woman.
"She beckoncd. Again l followed.
We walked on, she going befoie, follow
ing, until size paused before white pas
tere@ wall, in which was narrow doo-.
Unlocking this, she motioned me to enter,
and almost treading ON my heels in her
111l1