The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-12
KADOUR AND KATEL.
From the French of AIphonse Ddudet in &
oh

From the French of AIphonse Daudet in the
Epoch.
Kadour ben-Cherifa sergeant major of
the Algerian sharp hooters, was believed to
be dying when he was carried into old
Rippert's saw-mill on the Sauerbach. For
five long weeks he lived as if in dream,
parched with fever and racked with the
pain Ct his wound. Sometimes he thought
he was in battle again, shouting and
bounding across the flax fields and hop
gardens of Wissenbourg; at other times he
fauced himself once more at home III AL
giers with his father, the kald of Matt
matas.
At last he opened his eyes and became.
dimly conscious of being in a cool, clean
room, with white curtains at the windows,
and outside green branches waving, and
light clouds passing before the sun. Near
his led sat @ little Sister of Charity, watch
ful and quiet, wearing iGdeed no silver cross,
no rosary, no veil, but, instead, two long
velvet braids of yellow hair falling over a
black bodice. From time to time some one
would call "Katel! Katel" and the peasant
girl would go on tiptoe out of the room, and
then the invalid would hear clear young
voice which seemed to him rs refreshing as
| the sound of the brook that ran murmuring
| under the windows of the mill
Kadour was i'll for long time, but the
| Ripperts took such good care of him that
| his wounds healed, and they concealed him
SO cleverly that the Prussiaas were not
| able to send him to die of cold in casemate
at Mayence. Soon he began to talk, show
ing his white teeth; then he took a few steps
| round the room with one sleeve hanging
empty aud great gaping hole in the midst
| OF the embroidery, d his arm still band
aged and helpless. Then he went every
| day into the little garden and
| Katei would bring out rush-seated
armchair for the Invalid, putting it down
in the warmest corner by the wall, where
the grapes ripened the earliest, and Kadour,
who, being kaid'S son, had studied in the
| Arabian college at Agisrs, would thank her
in French, which sounded little barbarous
mingled as it was with bono beef and
mdedch bono.
Without suspecting it, the young Turk
was falling under spell. The easy gaiety
OF the French maiden, who lived as free as
a bird, her facs unveiled even il tine open
air, and her window unbacred, astonished,
while it ia cinated him. 1t was 50 very
different from the walled-up life of his
| countrywome1, with their white lemon
scented wells.
Katel. on her part, thought the stranger a
little too dark skinned, but he had such a
frank face and he hated the Prus ians so |!
One thing dlspleased her terribly, and that
have several wives. She could not under
stand that, and one day, when Kadour to
tease her, said, in his foreign jargon,
"kadour soon marry-nave four wives
four" the girl exclaimed, angriiy, -Four
wives Oh, the william, tae pagan!"
Tie Turk burst out laughing as gleefuly
as child, then suddenly growing serious
and silent he fixed his great dark eyes upon
her face. That was the beginning.
Kadour, completely cured, went home to
his father, and one can imagine the festivi-
ties that were held IN his honor, in the land
of tae Matimatas. The reed-hutes and the
little drums played their sweetest airs to
welcome him, and when the old ,kaid
seated in his doorway, saw coming down the
| cactus-walk the beloved son whom he
had thought dead he trembled as if with
ague uader his white burnous. For q
whole month there was an uninterrupted
series OF diffas and fantasies, all the kaids
ami agas of the neighborhood disputed for
| tae honor of ente tanning Kadour-ben-
Cherifa, ard every evening in the Moorish
cafes lie was entreated to describe the bat
ties in which he had fought
But alas! all these feets and honors did
| not make him happy. In the midst of the
souvenirs OF bis childhood, his horses, his
greyhounds, MS arms, and all the sp,endors
OF his fathers mansion, there was one thing
WaHtlng-the artlesS, merry laugh of Karel.
Inc little perpetual prattli * OF the Arab
women, which had oLce male lis heart
| beat with pleasure, now fatigued aud ar
noyed him; he could not admire their
orange-hower wreaths and wide trousers
| or rose-colOr satin. bus thought ONLY
OF pair of long bcGids having no
pearl ornaments, yes shining like golden
Ihreaus uiuer the settiug sun, in q little
Aisa5lan garden lar away. And vet. if
| hadour ould bat LOOK about him. he could
SEQ pair OF beautiful black eyes made an
| guid with ko /. watching him from behind
tue grated window OF al ngas house. not