San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-04-22
THE FALSE PRINCE.

iourneyman tailor named Labakan, who was
employed by skillful master. He was
neither a poor workman, nor was he lazy,
Still, there seemed to be something wrong
with him, for while at times he sewed so
| diligently that his needle and thread became
hot and threw off smoke, he, on other occa
sions, would sit lost in meditation, his face
wearing so peculiar an expression that his
master and comrades were wont to remark
"Labakan again wears his aristocratic
facet"
On Fridays, instead of going directly home
from prayer he would don his finest garments,
and with proud stride would strut through
the streets and public places, and answer the
Peace be with theel" of his friends with
condescending wave of his hand.
One day as Selim, the brother of the sultan,
was passing through Alexandria he sent
very magnificent garment which needed GER
tain repairs to the tailor, who intruSted it to
Labakan as his most reliable assistant.
That evening, after the young man had
quit work, he was driven by an irresistible
longing to return and admire the gorgeous
colors and rich embroidery of the royal dress.
The temptation to put it on was great, and he
was delighted to find that it fitted him per-
fecty r.
"Who is more entitled to wear this than II"
he exclaimed THE master himself has said
that was born to be prince!"
One day, as he plodded along country road
mounted upon his decrepit Murva, he was
Joined by horseman, who begged for the
pleasure of his company. The stranger was
joyous young man, handsome and of engag-
ing manners They were soon chatting ia
military, and Labakan learned that he was
Omar, the nephew of Elf Bey, the bassa of
Cairo, and was now Fastening to fulfill a be-
hest of his uncle, with which the latter had
charged him ON his death bed Labakan
merely limited at being of noble descent and
of travelling for pleasure.
Their intimacy increased and on the second
day, in answer to Labakan's inquiries, Omar
gave him this strange information:
Omar had never known his parents and had
been raised from infancy by Elf Bey. Upon
the latter's fight, induced by mortal wounds
received in battles, he had disclosed to Omar
that he was not his nephew, but the son of
mighty ruler, who, in fear of the prophecies
of his astrologers, had removed the young
prince from his court with the vow never
again to see him until the latter's 22d birth
day..
Elf Bey had not spoken the name of
Omars father, but had strongly impressed
upon him to be at the well known column of
El-Serujah on the fourth day of the coming
month, Ramadan, on which date he would be
% years old There arrived, he was to hand
to man, among several whom he would
find at the column, a dagger, with the words
II am he whom ye seek, -" and if the answer
were: praised be the Prophet that hath
protected thee!" he was to follow them and
be conducted to his father.
Omar's story filled Labakan with envy.
Although comparisons between himself and
the prince were not unfavorable to the lat
ter, he felt that he himself would be more
welcome to the royal father than the real
neir.
That night he fell asleep brooding over this
thought, and as he awoke in the morning and
beheld Omar sleeping peacefully, he con
ceived the idea of acquiring by cunning or
force that which destiny had denied him.
He gently drew the dagger of which Omar
had spoken from the owners girdle, and
raised it to plunge it in his breast, but the
thought of murder Mortified him, and he hid
the dagger on his own person, and mounting
the feeter steed of his companion, he had
found himself robbed of all his expectations
At the end of the second day of the month
of Ramadan Labakan perceived El-Seruiah
at distance of eight or nine miles His
heart beat painfully, but the thought that he
was born to be prince strengthened his re-
solves and he encamped there. At noon on
the following day he saw long train of
horses and camels going towards El-Serujah
H., LoI+ ,1, g. .of% 81, 1,
which the column was situated and the mag
nifcence of the appointments testified to"its
being the retinue of a great prince
The sun on the following morning awakened
him, and he realized that he was about to
take the most important step of his life. As
he saddled his horse in order to ride to the
column he became conscious of the extreme
injustice of his course, and thought of the
disappointment Omar would experience But
the die was cast; it was impossible to retrace
his steps, and his self love told him that his
appearance was doubtless stately enough to
impress the father. Encouraged by these re-
Elections he spurred on his horse and in a short
time reached the hill
He disrnounted and walked up the hillt
holding the dagger in his hand. At the base
of the column he perceived seven men, one OF
them Of exalted and royal mien. His mag
nificent gold embroidered caftan, partly bid
den by white cashmere shawl, and his white
bejeweled turban denoted him to be a man OF
wealth and station Labakan approached
him, and making profound obeisance while
presenting the dagger, be said:
Il am he whom ye seek"
praised be the prophet that hath protected
theeI" responded the old man, with tears in
his eyes Embrace your old father, my be
loved son Omar"