Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-03-14
des Varieties by ASSAULT" he exclaimed,
100 ,;r ~ ~ has 4 m rim CIV

gazing at her admlrlngly.
A mounted orderly dashes up to the
cafe, and hands note to the colonel,
for such was the rank of the stout Off
cial. He hastily opens it, and his face
Immediately takes on serious look.
The other officers notice the change in
his expression, and gathering in small
groups, they converse in low voice.
No one notices the flower girl ; all
seem to have forgotten her presence
Suddenly, with a quick, panther. like
movement, she tears the note from the
colone's hand, drops her basket, and
before the officers can recover from
their surprise, she h. dashed through
an open door and di,.ppeared.
"After her, curse you! Stop her!
She has most important order! yells
the colonel. Tweny young officers
start in pursuit, but only to return
crestfallen and ashamed, and own that
they had been foiled by a woman.
The scene changes to the ancient city
of Tlemcen. The gallant chief, Add lei
Kader, sits in solemn council with his
trusty warriors. It is midnight a
deathlike stiffness prevails throughout
the town. A glimmering light or
watchful sentry alone betray the pres
ence of living beings.
The ancient walls of Tlemcen seem
deserted. Everything breathes quiet
and sleep.
The council of war slowly breaks up,
and its members are all retiring, when
q powerfully-built Arab hastily enters
the hall, bearing in his arms the lifeless
form of o woman.
Most noble marabout, we found
this woman in fainting condition al
the entrance to the bastion. She i'm.
plored to be Immediately carried to
your presence. / have done So" says
the intruder.
"You have done WE'LL" answers
Kader, and, suddenly recognizing the
face of the senseless woman, he ex-
claims, cit is Mira, the last of the
Ell Uffias"
His eye now encounters her clinched
hand. Hastily forcing it open, he ex'
tracts piece of paper. 1t is the note
distracted from the French colonel.
"To arms! Man the walls!" shouts
Abd-el-K ader.
"General Boyer and his cursed Las
cars are upon u.s."
Not minute too soon. For in the
distance could be heard the approach
of the French troops, who, under cover
of the night, had sought to surprise
the gallant Emir.
Forward dash the French troops with
a cheer, but the walls of Tlemcen send
back an echo of fire and lead.
| "See, they waver," shouts Abd-el.
Kader. "Open the gates and charge
for God and Mahomet his prophet
Led by their valiant chief, the Arab
horsemen throw themselves upon the
French columns, who, astonished at the
non.success Of their plans and fearing
treachery, retreat in disorder. The re.
! treat soon becomes q fight, and the
Arabs are soon cutting down fugitives
by the hundred.
Foremost in the pursuit is beauti.
full female mounted ON splendid steed
| WELDING O trenchant scimitar, alter.
nately cutting down French soldier
or cheering on the Arabs, rides Mira
the last of the Ell y fias.
Suddenly she reels and falls from hel
horse. A parting shot from q fleeing
Frenchman has pierced that noble
heart.
She was buried on the field of bat
tie, and till within few years, a large
marabout marked the last resting place
of the Maid of Tlemcen.
Il n Il Il
Mira was the only survivor of the
large tribe called the El-Uffias, who
were so treacherously massacred by the
French General, Savary, Duke of Ra
veto. in 1881. From a girl she hac
vowed eternal hatred to the invaders
and she had been used by Abd-el
Kader as spy.
It was on one of these expeditions il
search of news that she had seized the
note addressed to the colonel, and had
thereby become informed of the pro-
jected surprise of Tlemclen, at thai
time the headquarters of Abd-el. Kader
With the utmost difficulty she man
aged to escape from Oran, and in
formed Abd-el-Kader in time, and thus
enabled him to defeat the enemies o.
their country and religion.