The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-10-02
CECILE.

| AlSlefS IS the BarIS OF Africa, Ol
rather, not portion of Africa, but q
part of France, that had been created
by the armies in times OF peace as it
had been conquered in way by the
French armies. Algiers is Paris, OF
course. but in becoming French it has
not lost all its oriental pecuIiarities,
and in this it is as much more attract
i've than Paris, as romance is to real
life.
When 1 was ordered to remain in
Algiers with my regiment coming
from Marseilles, L came with most de-
lightful anticipations. / was young
lieutenant then, and my success with
the fair sex in various garrison towns
where had been, gave me most brill
liant ideas in regard TO the adven-
lures that would befall me in Algiers.
HOuris, with eyes like stars, envelop-
ed in cashmere, covered with dia-
msnds, living in palaces with fountains
of rose.water, and bowers of orange
flowers, rose before me. Indeed the
officers talked so much and so eagerly
abont the charms of the Eastern wo-
men, their passion ard their devotion,
that felt ready TO risk my life to
obtain a sight of one of the lovely
creatures who haunted my dreams.
Now this was 10 be the romance of
my life. The reality was all arranged
and settled in Europe-and to tell the
truth, though my imagination was in
AlgieTs, my heart was in France with
| the girl to whom / had been betroth-
/ ed since my infancy. Like all
Frenehmen, 1 knew 1 could marry
only the young lady who would be
thought by my parents to be suited
to me in station and fortune; / knew
only such wife would 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 loved my betrothed, though l
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 strictcst seclusiOn,
and in my wandering soldiers life,
had not seen her for six years. But
this was my last years probation; ct
the close of the autumn I was to re-
turn to Marseilles; Cecile was to
come with her mother beneath my
fathers roof, and We were to be mar
ried.
The passion intended to feel for
one of the Oriental hOuris had moth
ing to do with the holy love for my
future wife-for the future mother of
my children. She was incased In the
holiest temple of my heart-the very
altar fire of my life; the Oriental cpl
sOdes were but as the lightning flashes
of the summer storm, brief, brilliant,
and eVanescent
1t so happened that at one Of the
cafes made the acquaintance of an
intelligent, rich old Jew merchant,
who, from the first, appeared to take
extraordinary interest in me. He
amused me with details of Oriental
life and manners; told me the leg
ends of the country; and, in fact, it
seemed to be living page from the
"Arabian Nights"
In return, I told him all the cir
cumstances of my life, all my military
adventures, and even, in a moment of
extraordinary confidence, went so far
as to tell him all about Cecile and our
future marriage. This was done rath-
er to give him an idea of our Europe
an customs than with any idea of con-
fiding in him. / scarcely felt the in
delicacy of talking about Ceeile, be-
cause he was so utterly q stranger to
me.
had been some weeks in Algiers,
watching anxiously for an adventure
when one day note was put into my
hand. 1t was highly perfumed, and
tied, instead of being sealed, with q
gold thread. 1t was written in a most
elegant hand, and was in the purest
French, and it bade me repair at nine
o'clock to one of the mosques, where
q most important revelation would be
made to me. Here was an adventure
at last. In the excitement of the mo-
ment, rushed to the Jew.
"What am I to do? What does this
mean?u
'1t means that you are handsome
dog, and that some of our lovely wO-
men have fallen in love with you.n
"What am l to do ?"
$50 to the rendezvous, of course"
"WiH there be danger? Must l go
armed ?n
"It would be more PRUDENT 4
At nine O'Clock, as the clock struck,
some one touched me on the shoul-
der
"You are exact-that is welI," and
as I turned beheld an old woman,
dressed in the costume of the country,
standing near me.
"Are you Lieutenant RaOul Du-
chene?p said she, speaking in French,
and with only slight accent.
"Yes.n
"You are lately from Marseilles?"
"Yes.D
"You remember Ceeile?"
"Cecile," cried-"Cecile Velaze?n
otis she who has written to you"
"Cecile, my betrothed; she is in
Bordeaux with her mother"
"She was, but she is now here a
slave in Algiers.n
''But the letter is not in her hand
writing"
mot as you knew her writing for
merly."
"True, a slave-Cecile a slave ?
How did she know that L was here ?"
"She saw you from behind the graf
ing of her window"
Take me to her inclosure."
"Not until you have given me your |
word that you will save her."
"At the risk of my life; but how, |
in Heavens name, did she get here?"
"She will tell you all Tomorrow,
when you meet"
LET me see her tonight
Impossible"
Tomorrow, then. shall not rest
till then.n
Tomorrow; but remember, ST. |
lence-an indiseretiOn might ruin
all ?"
L was obliged to be satisfied, but my |
excitement was so great that l could |
not restrain it. / cOnfded all To my
friend the Jew.
"Be very prudent" said the Jew,
land remember that the French Gov |
ernment allows the natives the eXer-
else of their religion and the freedom
of thei- own special trades. To inter
fere between q merchant and his slave
would be dangerous" /
/ listened, of course, 70 no argu-
ments, and at 8 o'clock the next night
was at the place the Arab woman in
dicated. Cecile, my Cecile, the pure
and gentle young girl in the power of
MahOmedan, it was horrible.
Follow me-" said the old woman,
and we entered low gate, and, after
various windings, found ourselves in
y white marble hall most brilliantly
illuminated.
"Here is the danger. Once we can
get through here into Cecile's apart
ment we are SAFE" ---..
We crossed the hall without imped~
iment. We entered the apartment,
which seemed dim to me after the
hall; but bright, indeed, all appeared
when, from an inner room, a lady adj
vanced.
She wore the costume of the coun-
try, and the heavy silver walls with
which the women are concealed in
Algiers fell over her.
In another instant she raised her
vail and beheld the loveliest crea-
ture / had ever seen in my life-her
large, brilliant, yet melting eyes, fix
ed on me.
threw myself at her feet.
"Do I then see you again?"
"Raoul," she replied, in low, soft
voice, "haveyou not forgotten me? Do
YOU not love me still ?"
sfLove you still ! Never have you
been out of my thoughts; but how are
here Here and a slave How did