The Portland daily press., 1888-02-11


story. and then | could decide whether or
not ! would lose sight of so mysterious a
parsonage for vague suspicion had suddenly
suggested ltself-who and what had that
mnmmy-case. really brought to England?
Remembering a French restaurant in the
neighborhood where sometimes took my
dinner, led the way thither, and on enter
ing, secured compartment where we could
be alone.
My companion had little difficulty in max
ing. the waiter understand what he deslred =,
IN fact his familiarity with European Bill
OF fare surprised me, seeing which ne ex-
planned that he had travelled extensively on
the continent and was even no stranger III
England.
While the Arabs repast was being cooked
and eaten listened to the following story,
which I will give as nearly as / can, only
substituting the English Tor the french
tongue; erst that have for wars
occupied a high position IN the government
Of nv own land, which has made me CONVEX
SAINT with certain state secrets which it
would have been death to reveal, and which
was in honor bound to guard with my life,
within the last year more than once pri-
vate matters have been exposed, which
prove that there must have been traitor at
SWhen learned, as / did one day through
a friend, that the khediye'S suspicion had
fallen on myself. knew there was no alter
native but to produce the offender or expiate
a crime of which was not guilty. The first
was unable to do, and the last | resolved
would not, II human Ingenuity could save
me.
IF / had remained in Cairo "A hours
longer, should have disappeared from the
face Of the earth, and my friends would
never have been the wiser as to what fate
had overtaken me. The story of Ismail
Yadyk is too fresh bit Of history to need
that l should enlarge upon the matter But
the question was, how could l escape out of
a country every avenue of which would be
guarded against me? For Twas well known,
and my movements were now under a con-
slant surveillance.
''As | said before, my official position
made me cOgniZant of private government
transactions, and it was in this way learned
that Lord Clithero was, by special favor, to
take home with him valuable antique in
the shape of a mummy. | at once deter
mined to go to England in place of the
bundle of bones, which could do no one any
good.
'Your mind is staggered at the thought of
a living man accomplishing such journey
shut up in an alright box, but that is just
what that mummy case was not, as you will
see by examining it, For the rest, Oriental
wisdom was all sufficient" with smile.
| could substantiate his statement as to the
case, for l had discovered its porous condi-
ton ere had an inKling as to what it really
contained | did not allow this to my COM
panion, however, but waited for him to re-
sumo his story, for he had fallen into sudden
silence.
Instead of taxing up the subject again as l
expected, he abruptly asked if were ever in
love.
Il have been, perhaps, in my time" / re-
piled, thinking the question rather irreie-
want
'If you ever loved woman one-tenth as
well as i love my Aidee, you will understand
me when | say it was for love, as well as
life, that took the risk of coming to England
in mummy case"
| confess / felt somewhat relieved to learn
that it was no foreign preteuder, or political
spy who had been smuggled into the coun-
try. Only an ardent lover who had thus de-
fed the powers that be.
That an Arab should peril his life for love
of one woman, however, was fact yet to be
adjusted in my mental consciousness.
But where was his Aidee? | was about to
ask this question when he continued:
''If my darling were in England tonight, |
should be the happiest man ON this planet"
'sIf he had left her in Cairo what did it
avail him to have put such distance be-
tween them? He certainly could not return
for her. nor could he have reasonable hope
that woman trained TO a life of seclusion
and dependence in the East. would either
have the spirit or courage to join him in a
foreign land,' was my thought, but before
cOulu give eApIceolOH w ID NC iSsuM0u iiiS
story.
.'My Aidee is the child of an Eastern
grandee and an English Christian mother.
She has been brought up in the palace, the
constant companion of her father, whose
idol she is, and allowed all the freedom pos
sible to female child. Educated by Europ-
can teachers, she has imbibed their preJu-
dices, and has long chafed at the restrictions
of Eastern life. Her mothers blood is in
her veins, and her dream for years las been
to identify herself with her mothers race.
La the meantime she has bloomed into
luxuriant tropical flower, the l0veliest OF the
fiowery land of the Nile My darling COM
bines the rich, passionate nature OF the
Orient with the wisdom and devout spirit OF
the Christian malden-a rare Jewel is sne,
worth any mans winning.
80 when l learned that the khediye's eye
was upon her, and that he coveted my treas
ure, my blood was on lire to save ner. IL is
littla wonder that in my anger and resent
ment should have called upon myself the
potentate's suspicion. L had known ana
loved Aidee ever since was boy about the
court and she wee, toddling child. l had
seen her develop into the shy, graceful
maiden from whom l could not so much as
win a glance.
II knew it would be death to my darling to
shut her up in a harem, as 1t was TO her
mother before her. | fancy that 1t was TO
atone to the beautiful creature who never
ceased to beat the bars of her cage Till her
spirit was released from all earthly bonas,
that Adde'S father has allowed her more
liberty than is usually given girl IN the
East. He early recognized the fact thas she
was unlike his other children, and has per-
mitted her to be much with Europeans, till
now she is seldom taken for native by VS.
itors at the court.
"When | found that had drawn upon my
self the khediye's ill-will, | determined to
leave the country. and to take Aidee with
me- In this way | could save my darling
from life which knew would be abh0r-
rent to her nature, but from which ! could
not have rescued her had retained my posi-
ton.
BY the aid of trusted servant | gained
access to Aidee, told her Of my love Tor ana
sympathy with her, of my intention to leave
the country, never to return, and then
asked her il She would trust herself to me in
a foreign land, where the Christian marriage
service should make us husband and wife,
and where we cJuld live only for each other
all the rest of our lives.
81 can see my darling now as she looked
when made this proposition. 1t was as if
l had opened Paradise to her. She came
over to me- and putting her little hand in
mine, said Yes, Ismai, | will trust you, and
i will 20 with you to the Christian land, for
it was my mothers land. and will be your
wife by the true Christian marriage, and love
you always as the Christian wife loves her
husband
with only faithful servant to care for
her Aidee is now on her way to England,
disguised as an English girl. ] arranged
everything for her flight before | left Cairo,
and my darling will surely,join me here. or
die in the attempt"
He ceased speaking, and was surprised
to find how much his story had moved me.
The stern realities of very prosaic life had,
| supposed eliminated from my nature every
shadow of sentiment, but had listened to
this romantic tale with the interest of 20
rather than of 80 years.
Now that it was ended, however, the prae-
tical side of the matter presented itself.
Had my Arab friend taken INTO account the
fact that the means of livelihood in England
was a question of equal Importance with life
itself? That the soil, unlike the valley OF
the Nile, would not, so to speak, sponta-
neously yield its substance. Unframed TO
the ways and customs of an adopted county.
he might find the struggle for bread barrier
to the paradise upon which he seemed 10
have counted.
Upon my suggestion that the current com
of the realm was quite as necessary to a
mans happiness in England as in Egypt, he
pulled aside the lining of his coat and
showed me layer upon layer OF Bank OF
England notes. From the glimpse thus at
forded me, have reason to believe tnat THIS
garment was completely wadded with legal
tender Of the same kind. But as 1t proved,
even this did not comprise all the wealth
upon his person; for he now took from his
breast pocket bag which / saw was nearly
full Of precious stones.
so without the means. They would have
taken from me life, lands and love; so with