The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-01-15
THE CALIPH'S DAUGHTER.
Why Her Father Allowed Her to
Wed an Englishman.

The Caliph of Allamagdalla. MuZaben
Nozier, sat cross-leggeQ on great heap
of cushions. clad in long silken robe
that was drawn closely about his thin
form. A tall hoollah stood on the floor
near his feet. and in his hand he held
its heavily jcwcled mouthpiecc, which
he raised now and then to his lips,
and sent a curling wreath of smoke cell
ingward.
He was an interesting man to look at,
was the Caliph of Alllmagdalla. His
face was Wrinlilcd and OF ashy pale
ne. 5, his brow narrow and drawn to-
gCthcr over his eyes into a heavy froWn,
whose severity was heightened by a long.
dropping white muStache, which fell
rigidiy over hisrobc. \ parrot 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.
the 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 50 unpleasant that, if possible. his
face was 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 a dog, he
said, pushing the dish toward the slave,
''cat that
Now in a 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 a pastime for
those in high authority, an order that is
in any way unusual is likely to be con-
Siderrd as q death warrant. The I'M
fortunate slave knew that to diSobcy
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 sun" 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 ab-
solute obedience. lie pushed the dish
fairly under the slaves nose.
Eat, dog he cried.
The slave rose, trembling in every
limb, and his face growing CHASTITY I'M
der his swarthy skin. He stepped back
pace or two and hung his head on his
breast.
Il can not" he said, simply and sui
lenly
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
L. l, I, L
ly lived.
Two things appeared to him certain.
lie must increase his body guard and he
must have 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.
The latter came, salaaming pro-
foundly.
The Caliph told the man what he
wanted, gently limiting, at the same
time, at the penalty which was involved
in failure, viz, that his body should be
torn by vultures or given to the jackals
and Wild pigs of the forest, and that
after death his spirit should enter into
the dog, who was indeed his father, etc.
The man bowed himself low.
Thou art the Light of the Earth. O,
Caliph. 1t is DONE" he said, and went
out salaaming.
Tom Walters, young English chem
list with a taste for out-of-t he-wav
places and solitary travel, awol1e with a
sense of pain throughout his whole
body, and put his hand to his head.
Where was he-what was the matter?
He saw two tall brick walls on either
side of him and a narrow strip of blue
sky above his head.
He slowly picked himself up and
looked around. He had been asleep in
an alley, with his head resting on the
cobble stones. SO much was evident
but how ed he get there?
For long time he stood quite still
with his hand on his forehead, trying
to collect his thoughts, until at last q
flood of memory came over his be-
muddled brain, and a look of dismay
succeeded that of vacant bewilderment
which had but now shone on his broad
and open face. He went through his
pockets hurriedly, and then again de
liberately.
About as l thought" he muttered
"Robbed and kicked out, and now the
very devils to pay. Not a cent to my
name nor a friend, and scarcely any
knowledge of the Internal lingo What.
to do, any how?"
With Characteristic decision, how
ever, he began to brush his clothes a.
best he could and rub he numbness gu
of his limbs. Then he turned ant
walked down the alley and entered til,
scarcely wider street al it's end.