Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-08-13
and duty forbid that should favor him,

He sat on, listening to the rude music
of the waters, which, to him, had a
sweetness all their own, for since his
childhood he had never been absent
long from their subtle influence.
Arabs and Egyptians came and went,
but Forbes paid no attention to them;
he was thinking of his lost wife and
child, and wondering why Heaven had
treated him so cruelty in wrestling them
from him, and leaving him to mourn
their loss in utter desolation of heart.
He was aroused from his reverie by
one of the walters saying harshly:
''Now, then, out you go. We don't
want beggars here"
"I can pay you, your highness," said
an aged Egyptian, humbly. "Do let
me rest; am very tired. Tell me, do
you know Pasha Forbes; I want to
find him; he's my friend"
what, Abdullah !" exclaimed Forbes,
starting up and Selling the beard of the
speaker. why, you must have risen
from the dead
The waiter waited to hear no more,
now that a great pasha had recognized
poor Egyptian as his friend. Like
others of his class he was impressed by
externais, and measured man by his
surrounding circumstances.
"My dear master" cried the poor fell
low, sliding down to his knees and en-
bracing Forbes feet. ooh! the Joy of
this meeting. Allah has allowed me to
live to see your dear face once more"
Raising him up, Forbes placed him
in chair, and ringing for the waiter,
ordered him to bring plentiful repast,
saying to Abdullah-
Cat and drink first, then tell me
what my heart yearns to know"
"How can tell my lord of the past ?'
said the poor fellow, whose looks and
general appearance were enough to
touch the stoniest heart.
"My wife-what of her?" asked
Forbes huskily.
Abdullah turned his face away to hide
the tears that rolled down his furrowed
cheeks.
Enough, I am answered; but the
child?"
"She escaped, my lord."'
"Thank heavenl We may yet meet"
said Forbes fervently. "Abdullah, we
must not part again; to make you
happy and comfortable will be the sole
aim of my life."
They sat and chatted on, and when
closing time came Forbes took his
faithful servant with him to his ship
an Egyptian ironclad-named the
"Khedive."
Next morning Valescoe and his wife
came aboard, under the escort of
file of marines, commanded by SER
geant.
evil you give me your parole not
to attempt to escape, Mr.. Valescoe ?"
said Capt. Forbes.
eyes, SIR" was the quiet reply.
'Good; you are free from this mo-.
ment to go anywhere over the ship;
but it would look better if you keep to
the cabin until we clear the harbor.
My state cabin is at your disposal"
Mrs. Valescoe put out her delicate
white hand saying, in soft musical
voice, "Please accept my best thanks
Charles has been badly treated; you
are the first person that has said kind
word to him for MONTHS
Valescoe and his wife disappeared
down the companion ladder, leaving
Forbes deep in thought as to what his
prisoners crime could be, and why he
had been sent on board the "Khedive,"
in conjunction with that mysterious
sealed letter and equally perplexing in
structions.
However, he had too much on his
hands just at the moment to bestow
more than passing thought on the
subject.
The huge ironclad left its moorings
in the charge of native pilot, and
steamed seward past shore dotted
with forts to the west, and lined at the
eastern end by an almost uninterrupted
succession of white public buildings, in
Guiding the pasha's palace, masked by a
forest of masts, both of merchant
vessels and men-of-war, abreast of it be-
ing the docks and arsensl.
An Eastern sun glinted on mosques
and minarets, and made golden the
spiky leaves of the date palm, while
scores of native boats skinned over the
sun-kissed waters like swallows in
search of prey.
Capt. Forbes stood on the deck of his
good ship, drinking in the scene with a
keen relish, although it was as familiar
to him as was his own identity; while
there came over. him one of those
strange presentiments that come and go
like the idle wind, that he was look
ing on the shores of the Pharaohs for
the last time.
Once out at sea, he had time to make
the acquaintance of the Valescoes, to
whom he seemed strangely drawn; so
much so, in fact, that he was never so
happy as when enjoying their society.
Mrs. Valescoe was charming lady,
gentle and winning, but with the fire of
genius and courage in her black eyes
that swan in liquid light.
One day Abdullah, who had been
utterly Frustrated by sea sickness, crept
on deck to get a breath of sea air, and
to look upon the bright sun, SO dear to
his heart as denizen of torrid cline.
swell, old friend" said Forbes, smil-
ing at the old man, 81 see you have
found your way on deck at last. You
must look sharp and get your sea legs