Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-09-18
CECII.E.

not portion of Africa, but part of
France, that had been created by the
armies in times of peace as it had been
conquered in war by the French arms.
Algiers is Paris, Of course, but in becom-
ing French it has not lost I'LL its Oriental
peculiarities, and in this it is much more
attractive than Paris as romance is to real
life.
When was ordered to remain in
Algiers with my regiment coming from
Marseilles, came with most delightful
ant;cipations. was q young lieutenant
then, and my success with the fair tex in
various garrison towns where had been
gave me most brilliant ideas in regard to
the adventures that would befall me in
Algiers. Hours, with eyes like stars, en-
veloped IN cashmere, covered with
diamonds, living in palaces with fountains
of rose-water, and bowers Of orange
flowers, rose before me. Indeed, the
officers talked 90 much and so eagerly
about the charms of the Eastern women,
their passion and their devotion, that felt
ready to risk my life to obtain sight Of
one Of the lovely creatures who haunted
my dreams.
Now this was to bo the romance of my
life. The reality was already all arranged
and settled in Europe-and to tell the
truth, though my imagination was in
Alglers, my heart was in France with the
girl to whom l had been betrothed since
my infaloy. Like all Frenchmen, knew
that l could marry only the young lady
who would DO thought by my parents q
be suited to me in station and fortune;
knew that only such q wife could suit me
and had not the slightest idea that my
Eeastern romance would interfere with
any IT my engagements, not even with my
love.
For loved my bstrothed, though had
not seen her since she was child. The
daughter of an old friend Of my fathers
che had been brought up by her mother
iu strictest seclueion. and in my wandering
soldiers life, l had not seen her for si1
years. But this was my last years pro
baton; ut the close OF the autumn
WAS to return to Marscilles; Cecile va
to come with her mother beneatl
my fathers roof, and We were to be mar
ried.
The passion intended to feel for one
the Orental hours had nothing to do wit
tho holy love for my future wife-for tn
future mother of my children. She wa
encssed in tho hottest temple of my hear
the very altar fire Of my life; tn
Oriental episodes were but as the lightnin
flashes Of summer storm, brief, brillian
and evanescent.
It 80 happened that at one of the cafe
made the acquaintance of an intel!iger
rich old Jew merchant, who, from the frs
appeared to take extraordinary interest i
me. He amused me with details {
Oriental life and manners; told me tb
legends Of the country; and in fact, SCENE
70 BE- living page from tho Arabia
Nights" ."
| In return, told him all the circun
stances Of my life, all my military adve1
lures, and even, in moment Of extrao1
binary confidence, went so far as to tel
him all about Cecile and our future maj
rtnge. This was done rather TO give him Il
idea OF our European customs than wi,
any idea Of con6ding in Aim. l scarcel
fell the indelicacy of talking about Cecil
because lie was 80 utterly stranger
her.
1 l had been some weeks in Algiers watc
ing unxiously for an adventure, when o,
day note was put into my hand. 1t ",
highly perfumed, and tied, instead of bel,
sealed, with gold thread. 1t was writ,
in q most elegant hand, and was in Il
purest French, and it babe me repair
nine o'clock to one Of the mosques, whe
most important revelation would be ma
to me. Here wa. an adventure at Ia
In the excitement of the moment rush
20 The Jew.
"What am to do? What does IL
meant"
at means that you are handsome d
and that some of our lovely women ha
fallen in love with your
/ "What am to do ?"
, "Go to the rendezvous, of course"
. "Will there be danger? Must I
a armed ?"
r I" 1t would be more prudent"
!. At nine O'Clock, US tho clock strut
8 some ono touched me ON the shoulder.
;, You are exact-that is WE'LL" and u
t turned heheld an old woman, dressed
i the costume Of the country, standing ne
q me.
j care you Lieutenant Baoul Duchene
i said she, speaking in French, and wi
Il only slight accent.
d Eyes"
i "You are lately from Marseilles z"
4 EYES,"
0 "You remember Cecile 81
4 "Cecile," l cried" Cecile Velazo ~
i "'Tis she who has written to you"
:. "Cecile. my betrothed she is in b
Geaux, with her mother"
"She was, but she is now here a sla
6 in Algiers."
l. But tho letter is not in her writing. .
. "Nos as you knew her writing form