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


three years ago. a young Arab was
sent to Bordeaux to complete his edc-
cation. He fell in love with me. A
marriage between us was, of course
impossible, even badInot been betrOth.
ed to you. Hassan understood this
and seemed to have abandoned al
the feelings of love he had enter
tanned for me. a month since he an
nounced to US his departure for his
native country, and, as last proof
. of his friendship, asked my mother TO
honor MIN with a visit en- board the
vessel that was to take him from us
"a condescension, he called it. Ny
mother consented. We went, accom-
, panied only by Hassan, who came to
. fetch us. It was easy to separate Us,
J both curious to see the various parts
of the ship. When at last tried to
join my mother she was gone. What
became of her 1 cannot tell you. All
know is that the vessel sailed, while
fell in a swoon at the feet of Hassan.
When L recovered he told me that he
had determined that 1 should be his,
he had sacrificed everything to obtain
me- So / am here, and Providence
has sent you TO my assistance"
"This very night we will fly
"That cannot be. should be missed,
traced, and again captured. No,
RaouI, you must take me hence to q
French vessel ready to sail that very
night"
1But I cannot go with you. 1 dare
not leave Algiers without leave of alb
sence."
az can reach MarseilIes in safety.
! There can await you. Only get me
beyond the power of these people,"
/ sWore to free her-to obey her;
she was so beautiful, so tender, SO sad,
that 1 would have dared anything for
her deliverance. Each night, into
dueed by the Arab woman, came 10
her. She was more lovely even than
1 had ever dreamed. She had grown
into different being from the one
had cherished in my heart; often, in
our short interviews, did refer to our
early days, but the remembrance
seemed too sad for her the names Of
those we loved, her family-mine; all
brought tears to her eyes.
There was an ineffable joy to ME in
these interviews, stolen and danger
Gus as they were, and but of a few
minutes duration: still burned to
free her from the power of this Has
san, even at the pain of not seeing
her. L would have tried the French
authorities, but what had to prove
the truth of my story or the identity
of Cecile? Then the French authOri-
ties are chary of interference with the
native customs; in fact, as Cecile said,
the only safety lay in our secret flight.
Hassan was away. Once Cecile had
been in his power, he had made no
effort to force her love; he trusted to
time, to absence from all other ties,
and to his devotion, to ultimately OBJ
tain her love.
At the thought of this, my heart
beat with rage and terror. resolved
to delay no longer. Vessels were sail
ing every day to France, but want
ed not vessel full of passengers, but
some small merchant vessel, where
none would know even Cecile's pres
ence.
At last it was found, and all was
arranged. A European dress was
procured and conveyed to Cecile. In
these one night, without any inter-
rHption, she passed out of Hassan's
palace the way l entered it.
We were in the street; dare bring
no conveyance. We had to walk with |
rapid steps down to the quay. On we
rushed, when suddenly a man darts
from one of the dark porticOs, and |
stands before us.
1t was my friend, the Jew.
"You are pursued" said he; "her
flight is discovered. Trust her to me;
this IS my house. 1 can shield her. |
No one Will suspect me. You can
save her only thus, and only thus
save yourself the disgrace, which, as
an officer, will fall on you"
Disgrace ~ cried Cecile, starting
from me; "take me, lead me any
where. Raoul, fly"
"With me she will be safe; come to- |
morrow; she will be ready"
''But she will miss the vessel; it sails
tonight"
"There will be another, then; but 1 |
hear footsteps; fly"
The Jew and Cecile disappeared iNto |
one of the houses, and l, bewilderSd |
anu dOeply mortified, went to mSl
quarters.
The next day there was great ru-
NOR in the tOwn-the French authori- |
ties had been appealed tO-a most
daring robbery had been committed;
one of the favorite slaves of the de- |
throned Dey had escaped from his |
palace with jewels of enormous value. |
She was q European, too-some dane |
ing girl he had picked up from the
French Theatre in Algiers; she had
sailed for France, it was supposed, but |
where and how, and who had been |
her accomplice, it was impossible to
discover.
1 heard this with indifference, and,
as soon as deemed it safe, proceeded,
racked with anxiety to the jews
house.
1 reached it, and on the threshold
stood the Arab woman.
"Cecile," said L.
She presented me with note with
out speaking word.
1 tore it open.
"I am safe; you will not betray me,
for if you do l will swear that you are
nv accomplice. [ have long been
waiting for this opportunity, and 1
thank you for helping me and the
Dey's Jewels off together. 1 am
merely the Dey's slave-a Partisan
with only her beauty and her wits.
Now am rich, and will pray for you,
my gallant and credulous cavalier.
You should not have confided your
secrets and your love to the Jew. He
is with me, and we will not forget
you. CARMEN"
/ stood as if turned to stone. l
could not collect my thoughts. Cecile
an imposter ? No, not Cecile at all;
and the dupe and accomplice Of this
bold, bad woman.
Ny first impulse was to denounce
her at all risks-tO tell the truth. But
the fear OF ridicule or the dread of
disgrace at last restrained me, and
made me consent to endure the terri
bic completely.
Carmen was never found, nor were
the Jewels traced. Probably she had
sailed from France for America, and
so evaded the police.
As for Cecile, six months later /
found her by her mother, pure, fresh,
and innocent; and not until we had
been married two years did relate to
her my adventure in Algiers.
Great and Small Heroes.
l. of