The Ottawa free trader., 1873-11-01
cEClI.E.

Algiers IS the Paris of Africa, ar rather
not Il portion of Africa, but part Of Franc,
that had been created by the armies in tht
time OF peace as 1t has been conquered in
war by the French armies. Algiers is not Pari.
OF 0fcoursc, but in becoming French it has no
lost all its oriental peculiarities, and in thi,
1t is as much more attractive than Paris a
romance Is 20 real life.
When ! was ordered to remain IA Algicr.
with my regiment coming from Narselles
came with most delightful anticipatons
was young Lieutenant then and my sue
cess with the fair sex in various garrison
towns where / had been. gave most brillian
ideas IN regard 10 the adventures that woult
beiall me in Algicrs, Hours, with eyes like
stars, cnyeoped in cashmere, covered will
diamonds, living in palaces with fountain,
OF rose water, and bowers of orange flowers
rose before me- Indeed, the officers talked SC
much and 80 eagerly about the charms o
the eastern women, their passion and dcvo
ton, that felt ready to risk my life to obtain
sight of one Of the lovely creatures who
haunted my dreams.
Now this was to be a romance of my life
The reality was already arranged and settled
in Europe-and 10 tell the truth, though
my imagination was in Algiers my heart was
in France with the girl TO whom had been
btAbtINI olHtt my iuiuuCy. l4lNt uIl FltllCI
men, knew that | could marry the young
lady who would be thought by my parents 10
be suited to me IN station aud fortune;
knew that only such wife could suit me-
and had not the slightest idea that my eastern
romance would Interfere with any ot my en-
gagemcn'S, not even with my love.
For loved my betrOthed, though ! 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 'hr
strlctest scclns!on, and in my wandering
soldiers life, had not seen her for six years.
But this was my last years probation; Al the
close OF the autumn was 10 return 60 Mar.
scilles Cecilo was % come with her
mother beneath my fathers root, and we
We're TO bc married
The passion ! intended 10 feel Tor one of
the Oriental houris had nothing to do with
thc holy love for my future wie-fGr the
future mother OF my children. She was
incased in the hOliest temple of my heart
the very alter fire Of my life: the Oriental
episodes were but rs the lightning flashes of
summer storm brief, brilliant and evan
escent
1t SO happened that at one of the cafes
made the acquaintance Of an intelligent, rich
old Jew merchant who. from the first ap.
peared TO take extraordinary interest in me.
He amused me with details of Oriental life
and manners; told me tho legends of the
country; and IN fact, seemed to bc living
page from the Arabian Nights
In return, told!him all the circumstances
of my life, my military adventures and even
in moment of extraordinary confidence,
went so far as 90 tell him about Cecile. be.
cause he was so utterly stranger to her
had been some weeks in Algicrs watching
anIiously for an adventure. when one day a
note was put into my hand. 1t was highly
perfumed, and tied, instead of being sealed
with gold thread II was weticn in most
elegant hand, and was In The pures, French.
and II bade me to repair at nine O'Clock toI
one o5 the mosques, where most impor:anil