The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-07-21

I
up the domes and minaretS of many An
imposing mosque. was in trouble as
to the course / should pursue. The
people were all strange and forbidding
in appearance. and uttered not word
as they strobe on, with stats in their
hands, toward the city, while in the OPP
| pOsite direction to that in which my
course seemed TO lie reposed the ap.
parently amending, drifted sands of the
desert. From the city perfume as of
| sweet spices was waited, while from the
desert a hot and whitening blast as
SailAd ma wifi, its searching breath.
Suddenly woman stood beside me.
could not tell from what quarter she
had approached. She was clad in the
garb of an Arabian maiden, her face
artfully concealed beneath a turban,
from which depended heavy veil.
She spoke to mel have never heard
but one other voice so sweet and music
al-and addressed me in my native
tongue
"'Whither dost thou GO, mortal?' she
inquired.
"'In truth I do not know was my
response. Duty seems to demand that
should cross the desert waste before
me. but nv way is not plain, neither do
believe l shall survive the trials and
fatigue of the journey. Inclination inn
pelS me towards 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
"'TOuch them not The fruit is the
apple of Sodom, and is as ashes upon
the tongue. The odors which seem so
delicious and enhancing are deadly poi
sons; whoever breathes them is con-
demned to forever wear heart of stone.
Follow me; and l will lead YOU to
haven of safety, for has not Allah in
trusted you TO my care? Doubt not my
sincerity, for if You do so you will fall
and faint by the way
land who are you, good lady? How
can YOU resist the deadly perils of the
trackless desert? If l trust you, what
assurance have [ that you will not lead
me forth to die and be forever lost in
the ever-shifting sands?'
TASK your own heart and be mind
full of its dictates. / can not deceive
you if | would, for Allah has created
me to keep watch and guard over you
81 was convinced that the maiden
spoke truly. Turning TO my yelled
companion, after one last glance to-
wards the city, | said:
LEAD on. / will follow you with.
out reserve. L put my trust in you,
though the way appears difficult and
the end is as closely vailed in obscurity
and doubt as are your features hidden
from my sight
..She turned and walked fleetly
across the desert, and soon the blisSful
city was lost from view below the hori-
zon, and all around us lay the silent
mercileSs sands.
''Day after day and night after night
we plOdded on. Sometimes an awful
sense of WEAKNESS oppressed ,me; my
feet sunk TO the ankles in the remorse-
less, yielding sands; the intense heat
shriveled my skin and .parchedd my lips,
and paused not. If l turned laggard
she prompted me TO greater exertion
with the words: Even the desert has
an end. 1onder lies your wav. The
troubles you now endure are but bless
ingS in disguise. At the end there is
eternal peace and laurel wreath for
your brow. Would you fail now, after
you have suffered so much?'
AT each sound of her voice nv faith
was renewed as if by magic and NV
strength came back TO me.
cit seemed TO me that months had
been consumed in our journey, when
at last we attained the banks of a linn
pid stream. Beyond it was a stretch
OF palms and cedarS. intermingled with
luxurious plants and the most exquis-
lite of flowers.
"'You have attained the reward OF
your sufferings,' said nv guide. Here
at last is rest and peace. All your
journeyings are at an end and now
comes your reward. Henceforth You
will never know a want, but pass your
remaining days on earth in doing good
to your fellows. Our paths lie a little |
apart from this time, but will watch |
over you. A sense of my presence will |
always be vouchsafed to you, and in |
Paradise we shall be reunited
"'But. | implored, why must You
leave me? You have been nv good |
angel. my guide, my savior in all the |
trials which have beSet my path. Re I
main ever at my side, for L may vet |
fail without your aid
81 would that it might be so; but |
fear it can not. Be patient. In an
ether state of existence we can not be |
parted.
Then LET me see your face once
before we part. Your voice has sus-
tanned me-to look upon your features
would be far greater than bliss
know YOU not that the face of an
Arab maiden is ever vailed? Even so |
it is with the angels when in human
company. If you should but look into
my eyes L should become human like
yourself; then our cOmpanionship could
never end
land that is my chief DESIRE was
my response, and Selling her vail tore
60 L.