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

An ESCAtADE"
Over the walnuts and WIN after DIM
ner, at the new hotel in Oriental Cairo,
d party of English-speaking tourists
were discussing in rather an lrreverent
manner a subject that was deserving OF
more respectful treatment than it was
receiving from the good-looking broad
shouldered young American and his
fair-haired English companion with the
silky dropping m~oustache, who, for the
benefit of their friends, were giving a
description of their scramble up the
Pyramid, whence they had returned just
before dinner.
"A truce to your sentiment ~ cried
the American, Harry Thorne, when his
friend ventured to speak of a fantastic
legend of the spirit of the Pyramids.
Think of the condition of that man
who pushed you upr"
II flatter myself l had the advantage
of you, Thorne," returned Lloyd Nor
ris, with a shrug of the shoulders "for
anything more appalling than the state
of that copper-colored villain who
dragged you would be difficult to i'm
aginel Washing in the Jordan seventy
times seven would be scarcely too much
to purify US from contact with such fell
ioWA.o
Harry Thorn's pretty sister Florence
was listening with eager interest to this
conversation-silently at first +; but the
dolorous sigh which was heard in the
pause following the last remark called
attention IN her direction.
whats the matter, Florry, my
pet 2" asked her father. "Are you
mourning over the bad ht of your last
new dress or the u~ncleanliness of the
Bedouins of the desert ?'
Neither, papa ; but, if you ali knew
how ardently l desire to ascend the Pyr-
amid, 1 am sure you wouldn't oppose
me 30 heartlessly in carrying out such
project"
"Now, Florence, don't be a Donkey
grunted her brother.
"My dear, put such an idea out OF
your head at once" was her fathers
dictum. sit certainly is the last place
in the world for ladies !" while her
mother added
''Surely your brothers. experience
ought to settle the matter for you, my
child 7"
"Mr. Norris, do you think 1t so very
bad ?" cried the girl, turning with a
last remnant of hope to the only men,
Der of the party who had as yet said
nothing-she was not accustomed to
opposition from this quarter.
Lloyd Norris was lying back rather
iazily in his chair when thus addressed,
and. before answering very slowly, sur
yeyed in a somewhat absent-minded,
meditative way the lovely flushed face
of the girl awaiting his decision so INK
iously-
81 am sorry TO say anything disagree
able, Miss Florence; but | am afraid 1t
would have rather a damaging effect
upon my respect for any lady to imagine
her hauled about in 50 free-and' easy a
style by such a pair of fellows"
Florence drew back, flushed with
vexation !; and the next remark cane
from the other end of the table, where,
unnoticed, a raw-boned, masculine
looking American lady had been listen
ing to the whole conversation.
"Gentlemen, you are all quite mis-
taken" she said emphatically. "Ladies
who are moderately strong can ascend
the Pyramid with very little incOnve-
nience. / know what / am talking
about, for / have been up there twice,
and hope to go again before l leave
Cairo"
Florence glanced gratefully at this
unexpected champion /; the others-a
little startled-found nothing to reply
for q moment I; and in the pause which
followed the stranger rose, and, cross
ing the room, walked out on the adjoin-
ing verandan.
Upon my word, that's a cool old
lady !" murmured Harry, as all, with
the exception of Florence, rose from
the table.
"Are you coming into the garden,
Miss Florence ?" asked Lloyd rather
deprecatingly, lingering behind the
others, and turning TO Florence, who
had not favored him with a word OF
glance since he had expressed his I'M
welcome opinion"
"No, 1 thank you," responded the
young girl frostily (; and she disappeared
on the verandah.
Miss Arabella Brooks was standing
at the farther end, looking down into
the street and to her Florence imme-
diately made her way, walking quickly,
AS If she somewhat doubted her own
resolution.
"Madam," she began nervously, Il
beg your pardon. You said, 1 think,
that you have been up the PyramidS''
Eyes, Miss Thorne, l have" an
swered Miss Brooks, with an amount OF
energy which somewhat startled Flor
ence sand / hope you will not allow
all that nonsense to which you bavd
been listening to keep you from going
up too !"
"Yo GU really think it might b donep'
~intorrogated Florence, not giving hei
courage time to e~vaporate. II mean,
do you think ladies could do it alone,
without a gentleman Two ladies to
gether, for Instance 2"
"A gentleman ~ calculated Mis-
Brooks, In sonorous, scornful accents,
loud enough to cause Florence to glanc'
nervously In the direction of the gar.
den, dreading possible auditors. -
should like TO know what possible gooc
a man could do you Don't talk non
sense, Miss ThOrnel Amy woman who
respects herself and has the least atom
of common sense can go wherever
man can 20. WIG shouldn't she.