The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-08-06

she inquired. -s..". A.ha
"In truth do not know was my
response. DUTY seems to demand
that should cross the desert waste pc
fore me, but my way is not PLAIN,
neither do I believe ] shall survive the
trials and fatigue of the journey. In
clination impels mo toward the city,
where all is repose, and where the
most luscious fruits tempt my eyes and
the perfume Of rare eXotiCS is grateful
to my senses.
"frouch them not. The fruit is tho
apple of Sodom, and is as ashes upon
tho tongue. The odors which seem so
delicious and enhancing arc deadly
poisons; whoever breathes them is con-
demDed to forever wear heart of
stone. Follow me; and | will lead you
to Il haven of safety, for has not Allah
intrusted you to my care? Doubt not
my sincerity, for if you do so you will
fall and faint by the way
And who are you, good ladyP
How can you resist tho deadly pcrils of
the tracklcss desert? If | trust YOU,
what assurance have / that you will
not lead me forth to die and be forever
lost in tho cver-shifting SandSP'
"'Ask yonr own heart, and be mind
full of it's dictates. L cannot deceive
you if l would, for Allah has created
me to keep watch and guard over you ;
II was convinced that the maiden
spoke truly. Turning to my yelled
companion, aftor one last glance to-
ward the city, l said:
lead on. will follow you with
out reserve. / put my trust in you, al
,nh Ina a, Il
the end is rs closely vciled in obscurity
from my sight.
across the desert, and soon the blissful
city was lost from view below the hor-
izon, and all around us lay the silent,
merciless sands.
"Day after day and night after
night we ploddcd on. Sometimes an
awful sense Of WEAKNESS oppressed me;
my feet sunk to the ankles in the re.
morSeless, yielding sands; tho intense
heat shrivelod my skin and parchcd my
lips. But my companion was mover
weary and paused not. If | turned
laggard she prompted me to greater
eXertion with the words: Even the
desert has an end. Yondcr lies youl
way. The troubles you now endure
are but blessings in disguise. At the
end there is eternal peace and u Laurel
wreath for your brow. Would you
fall now, after you have suffered sc
muchp"
"At each sound of hervoicc my faith
was removed as if by magic and my
strength came back to me.
cit seemed to me that months had
been consumed in our journey, when a
last we attained the banks of limpit
stream. Beyond it was stretch o
palms and cedars, interminglcd will
luxurious plants and tho most cxquis
ite of flowers.
"'You have attained the reward 0
your sutferings,' said my guide. Here
at last is rest and peace. All you
journeyings are at an end and nov
comes your reward. Henceforth yol
will never know n want, but pass you
remaining days on earth in doing gooC
to your fellows. Our paths lie littl
apart from this time, but l will watcl
over you. A sense of my presence will
always be vouchsafed to you, and il
Paradise we shall be reunited
"'But,' l implored, why must yo,
leave meP You have been my goot
angel, my guido, my savior in all th'
trials which have bcset my path. Re
main ever at my side. for may ye
fail without your aid
"I would that it might be so; but
fear it cannot. BE patient. In anoth
er state of existence we cannot be part
ed.
Then let me see your face ono
before we part. Your voice has sus
tanned me-to look upon your feature
would be far greater bliss
.K 80