The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1885-09-23
sllo inquired.

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fore me, but my way is not plain,
neither do believe shall survive tho
trials and fatigue of the journey. In
clination impcls mo toward the city,
where all is repose, and where the
most luscious fruits tempt my eyes and
the perfume of rare oxotics is grateful
to my senses.
"'Touch them not Tho fruit is tho
apple of Sodom, and is as ashes upon
tho tongue. The odors which seem so
delicious and ontrancing arc deadly
poisops; whoever breathcs them is con-
demned to forever wear heart of
stone. Follow me; and will lead you
to haven of safety, for has not Allah
intrusted you to my careP Doubt not
my sincerity, for il you do so you will
fall and faint by tho way
And who are you, good ladyp
How can you resist the deadly pcrils OF
tho trackless descrtp IL L trust you,
what assurance havo | that you will
not lead me forth TO die and be forever
lost in the cver-shifting sandsp'
"'Ask your own heart, and bu mind
full of its dictates. l cannot deceive
you If l would, for Allah has created
INC to keep watch and guard over you
81 was convinced that the maiden
spoke truly. Turning to my voilcd
companion, after ono last glance to-
ward tho city, l sad
load OH. l will follow YOU with
out reserve. Iput my trust in you, al
though tho way appears difficult and
the end is rs closely veicd in obscurity
and doubt as arc your features hidden
from my sight
"Sho turned and walked noetly
across the desert, and soon the blissful
city was lost from Wow below the hor-
izon, aud all around us lay the silent,
mcrcilcss sands.
ebay after day and night after
night we plodded on. Sometimes an
awful scpsc of WEAKNESS oppressed mo;
my feet sunk to the ankles in the re-
morselcss, yielding sands; the intense
heat shrivclcd my skin and parchcd my
lips. But my companion was never
weary and paused not. IL | turned
laggard she prompted me to greater
cxcrtion with tho words Even tho
desert has IN end. Yondor lies your
way. The troubles you now endure
arc but blessings in disguise. At tho
end there is eternal peace and u laurel
wreath for your brow. Would you
fall now, aftcr you have suffered so
muchP"
"At each sound of hcr voice my faith
was renewed as if by magic and my
strength came back to me.
"lt seemed TO me that months had
been consumed in our journey, whom at
last wo attained the banks Of limpid
stream. Beyond il was q stretch of
palms and ccdars, interminglcd with
luxurious plants and the most cxquis-
ito of flowers.
You have attained tho reward of
our,sufferngs,' said my guido. Hero
Mt last is rest and peace. All your
journeyings are ut m end and now
comes your reward. Henceforth you
will never know want, but pass your
remaining days on earth in doing good
to your fellows. Our paths lio little
apart from this time, but l will watch
over you. A sense of my presence will
always be vouchsafed to you, and in
Paradise wo shall be reunited
"'But,' l implorcd, why must you
leave meP You have been my good
angel. my guido, my savior in all the
trials which have bcsot. my path. Re-
main ever at my side. for l may yet
fail without your aid
II would that it might DO so; but /
fear it cannot. Bo patient In anoth-
cr state Of existence we cannot DO part
cd
Then let me sec your face once
before we part Your voice has sus-
tanned me-to look upon your features
would be far greater bliss
Know you not that the face of an
Arab maiden is ever veiledp Even so
it is with the angels when in human
company. II you should but look into
my oyes / should become human like
yourself; though our companionship
could never end.
"'And that Is my chief desire was
my response; and scizing her veil tore
it from her facc. 1t was not a coun-
tonancc Of rare beauty, rs the world or
dinarily judges the Establishments of
women; but 1t was puro and sweet and
true. 1t touched my haai; as never
had woman's faco appealed to 1t be-
fore.
"Tho great soulful eyes looked stead
fastly into my own. You have found
me, after years of vain searching, and
released mo from my bondage. Hence
forth nm with you TO tho ond OF life.
For you was created, and faithful will
remain unto you until death; and
even tho grave will not hide us from
each Otncr.
II awoke, The fire had died away
to embers, and the room was growing
cold. Long marvelod what such q
dream could portend. Weeks rolled
by, and tho face OF the Arabian maiden
was over before me. The months
passed into years-and still every lin
eament of those angelic features and
tho expression Of the deep, soulful eyes
remained implanted In my memory.
Half unconsciously scanned tho faces
of thousands in tho busy streets, but
among all the hurrying throng Mat
face was never encountered. Still,
was impressed that one day I should
find 1t. persevered in my profession,
and, whom downcasS by adverse for
tunes, that silent face strengthened
Inc, as 1t had In my dream OF tho Jour
ney across tho desert"
II had become intensely interested.
for my friend was an excellent story
teller. At this point he paused.
We'll" said l, inquiringly, "what
oa,na ~