The Penn's Grove record., 1884-11-29

] nate cries OF Duhhci''H' NOuuutu III
their ears !; and ii was not until Louise
had thrown among them the handful of
loose change she usually carried in her
pocket for beggars that the men disap-
peared.
"Well Mis- Tharne, are you satisfied?
Is ascending the Pyramid the delight
full experience you anticipated ? And
how do you feel as to historical assOcia-
tions and antiquities now p
ooh, my arms" groaned Florence
irrelevantly.
''And my back p vailed Louise.
Think what a pair Of guys we shall
be gong home ! Look at this great tear
in my founee /; and there isn't a string
left anywhere y
A long silence followed, while the
two girls. totally regardless of perhaps
the most interesting and striking land
scape in the world, ruefuily examined
their tattered toilettes,
But even the most careless and frivO-
lous must at last be impressed with
such a sight a. met their view and the
two friends gradually relapsed into a
dreamy revere while, f0rgetful of
aching limbs, extOrti0nate BedoUins,
and ruined fnery, they gazed out over
the prospect of mingled life and death,
fertility and desolation.
The quiet was interrupted half an
hour later by the return Of the Bedouins,
who put to flight all serious reflections
by their repeated demands for bdkhShiSh.
Florence. somewhat frightened by their
gesticulations, drew out her purse and
endeavored to satisfy their demands by
thoughtless llberality But, alas, they
caught sight of a few glittering gold
pieces, and, pocketlng- the silver be-
slowed upon them, grew every instant
more exorbitant in their demands and
more threatening in their gestures.
"They declare they will leave us here
all night il we do not give them every
thing in our purses, " said Louise, with
a white face.
As she spoke, the men angrily turned
to depart, r~eiterating their intention y
leaving the two girls to their W de-
wees, when Florence sprang desper-
ateiy towards them and threw the purse
into their midst.
"There-take it it is all we have -
she cried Historically. Nothing could
induce me to stay in this dreadful place
all night"
The men grinned, retired for a mo-
ment, and bad q hurried consultation
among themselves /; then, TO the girls
utter amaZement, n Of them APP
preached and began over again the i'm
Fortunate cry
Observation-Disclosures
Louise managed Indignantly to ex-
plain that they had already given every
penny they had but, to her consterna'
ton, the man still continued his de-
mand, at the same time pointing to the
ornaments they wore-fortunately very
few and of little value that day.
"No, no ~ cried Louise and the
men really departed, with the cheering
information that they should not re-
turn.
"Oh, Louise, what shall we do ?"
cried Florence, in an aGapy 4r terror,
"Must we call them back ~
Certainly notI' her friend ex-
claimed, almost sobbing with vexatiOn.
st is too outrageous. We can't go
down alone, of course but perhaps
some other party will come up"
For what appeared hours the two
girls waited alone in the midst OF the
deathlike awful desert. At last the
sound of scrambling steps greeted their
delighted ears. Looking over eagerly,
their disappointment was at first intense
at seeing only the returning figures OF
two of their prosecutors ; but, IN their
terror and loneliness, the sight OF any
thing human was something OF a relief.
~ suppose We must do what they
ask" muttered Louise, lingering her
silver bracelets regretfully. Fortunately
her watch and chain, as well as Flor
ence's, were hidden under the outer
garments they wore.
Just then the two men appeared at
the top with their accustomed demand
this time in triumphant jeering tones
significant of success. Silently each OF
the girls removed her bracelets and ear
rings and surrendered them into the ra-
pacious grasp of the BedouinS but this
was not enough. They roughly seized
A hand Of each and the two friends
saw that they must part with their
rings as well.
THANK Heaven, my gloves were too
tight TO allow OF anything but this
plain gold ring p muttered Louie,
NAiiO u ipINilCt ltih ii ia "A'NS tHN
reluctantly in the outstretched dirty
hand.
Another ring had been below the
pearl-a peculiar arrangement OF tur-
quOises, so small as TO have been almost
hidden by the pearl. This Florence
made no attempt to draw 0tf-On the
contrary, closing her hand very quickly
and doing everything in her power to
hide it. Unluckiiy she had not been
quick enough the man saw her mo-
ton, and, imagining from her reIuc-
lance to part with it that the ring was
of value, insisted upon having 1t also.
"NO, no, no - cried the girl. "I on
surely have enough /; this Will keep"
but, Florence" said her friend,
frightened by the cleaning eyes, the
clenched fists, and the angry menaclng
movements of the barbarians In whose
power they had so completely placed
themselves, ''that ring is worth nothing
comparatively. You surely will not
allow all the other things we have sac
rifced to go for nothing Just Tor that
tribe 2"
"Oh, | can't can't must keep
my ring ~ cried the grl, fairly break.
ing into a fit of hysterical weeping nut
the Arab seized her hand, tore of the
ring with a jerk, and the next instant
the terrified girls found themselves be-
lug dragged down to the ground even
more expeditiously than they had as
cended.
Their carriage awaited them at some
distance, and they were soon driving
along the shaded road to Cairo, as mis-
cradle detected, s~orry-looking a PAIR as
could possibly be imagined.
Louise, promise me. solemnly never
TO tell a soul of this escapade," SAID
Florence mploringly, as they drove
swiftly towards home. Il should die
Of modification if my frlends-espe-
cially Mr.. Norris-heard what we have
gone through"
"Of course | shall keepquiet, Louise
responded. "But now [ should like u
know the secret Of your affection for
that trumpery little turquoise ring.
At first Florence obstinately refused
any account of the ring; but a Judi-
cious mixture sf coaxing and reproaches
soon put Louise in possession or the
facts of the case. IlOyd Norris nad