Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-01-10
THE CALIPH'S DAUGHTER,
Why Her Father Allowed Her to
Wed an Englishman.

The Caliph of Allamagdalla, Muzaben
Nozier, sat cross-legged on great heap
eof cushions, clad in long silken robe
that was drawn closely about his thin
form. A tall hookah stood on the floor
near his feet, and in his hand he held
its heavily jeweled mouthpiece, which
he raised now and then to his lips,
and sent curling wreath of smoke cell
.ingward.
lie was an interesting man to look at,
was the Caliph of Allamagdalla. His
face was wrinkled and of ashy pale
ness, his brow narrow and drawn to-
.gether over his eyes into heavy frown,
whose severity was heightened by long,
dropping white mustache, which fell
rigidly over his robe. A pair of dark eyes,
deep set under his heavy eyebrows, gilt
tered unpleasantly as he sat there, I'M
moved and unmoving, save as he carried
the stem of his pipe to his mouth and
back again.
Despite, however. his seeming calm.
tie Caliph was in trouble. Something
had occurred when he was eating his
morning meal which had aroused his
fears and set him thinking in a chan
mel so unpleasant that, if possible. his
face was a shade paler than usual, and
the little eyes moved restlessly to and
fro.
He had noticed, or thought he noticed,
"a peculiar taste in one of the dishes
which his servants had set before him,
and, with the instinct of one who is in
perpetual dread of assassination, he
called the head servant to him.
''Here, thou dog and son of dog, he
rsaid, pushing the dish toward the slave,
'''eat that"
Now in land where the people feel
for their heads the first thing on waking
in the morning, thus assuring them
:selves that that uncertain member has
not been Topped off during the night;
where murder is of such common occur
renee and so much of pastime for
those in high authority, an order that is
in any way unusual is likely to be con-
rsidered rs a death warrant. The un-
fortunate slave knew that to disobey
meant certain death, but he also knew
that it was very probable that the food
was poisoned, as the Caliph suspected.
At any rate, he preferred not to risk
the poison. He threw himself down be-
fore the Caliph and ground his forehead
in the dust
Thou art the most mighty ruler,
with dominion like unto the dominion
of the sum-" he said. THY majesty is
most exalted of all under Allah. Allah
is great. / can not eat"
The last words were spoken almost in
"a gasp, for the Caliph's brow was grow
ing darker with the awful rage OF one
who is unaccustomed to aught but abb
ssolute obedience. He pushed the dish
fairly under the slaves nose.
EAT, dog" he cried.
The slave rose, trembling in every
limb, and his face growing CHASTITY un-
der his swarthy skin. He stepped back
a pace or two and hung his head on his
breast.
az can not" he said, simply and sui
1enly.
OF course there was but one thing
that could happen now. They carried
the poor slave away to meet his doom,
but for once this did not soothe the
.Caliph's troubled mind, and, as he sat
there on his cushions, thinking, think
ing, thinking, he realized almost for
the first time that it was in every way
likely that his people all hated him and
would be rejoiced at his downfall. He
could think of not one reason why they
ought TO love him and his long, bony
fingers frightened rigidly about the jew
..elled mouthpiece of his hookah, as he
thought of the danger in which he hour
1y lived.
Two things appeared to him certain.
He must increase his body guard and he
must have q faster for his food. The
former was easy to accomplish, but he
knew that it would take large reward
and unusual persuasion to obtain the
latter.
To obtain this end, however, he was
determined, and, having once deter
mined It, he sent for the head Of his
household