The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-01-16
THECALIPH'S DAUGHTER.


The Caliph Of Allamagdalla, Muzaben
Noxier. sat cross-leggcd on a great heap
N cushions clad in long sillxen robe
,hat was drawn closely about his thin
t.rm. A tall hoohah stood on the floor
near his feet, and in his hand he held
n, heavily jewelcd mouthpiece, which
~ raised now and then To his lips.
ard sent a curling wreath Of smoke cell
81 gward.
Ilc was an interesting man to look at,
vas the Caliph of Allamagdalla. His
fn.e was wrinlxlcd and Of ashy pale
= 80. his brow narrow and drawn tor
Y Their over his eyes into heavy frown,
whose severity was heightened by a long,
dropping white mustachc, which fell
riridly over his robe. A pair Of dark eyes,
deep Set under his heavy eyebrows, gilt
tered unplcasantly 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 chan
mel SO unpleasant that, If possible, his
face was a shade palcr than usual. and
the little eyes moved rcstlessly 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
- L..
called the head servant to him.
Here, thou dog and son Of dog" he
said. pushing the dish toward the slave,
seat 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-
sidercd as death warrant. The I'M
fortunate slave knew that to disobcy
meant certain death, but he also knew
that il 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
Il INK dust.
lhau art the most mighty ruler,
vii mi.,ion like unto the dominion
q -un." he said. Thy majesty is
most c>alted Of all under Allah. Allah
Il great / can not eat"
Tie last words were spoken almost in
gasp, for the Caliph's brow was grow
ing larkcr with the awful rage Of one
Who Is unaccustomed TO aught but abb
soiute obedience. lie pushed the dish
fairly under the slaves nose.
LAT dog" he cried.
The slave rose, trembling in every
limb. md his face growing CHASTITY un-
der his swarthy skin. He stepped back
a pace or two and hung his head on his
brna
II can not" he said, simply and sui
lcnly.
~ course there was but one thing
tA4t could happen now. They carried
the poor slave away to meet his doom,
but for once this did noe soothe the
Calirhs troubled mind, and, rs he sat
there 0n his cushions, thinking, think
ing, thinking. he realized almost for
the first time that il 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 lorg, bony
fingers frightened rigidly about the jew
elled mouthpicce of his hooksh, as he
thought Of the danger in which he hour
~ lived.
Two things appeared to him certain.
he 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
foundry.
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 10 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, a young English chem
- with a taste for out-of-thc-way
places and solitary travel, awoke with
sense Of pain throughout his whole
body, and put his hand to his head
Where was hc-what was the matter!
He saw two tall brick walls on either
side Of him and narrow strip Of blue
sky above his head.
lie slowly picked himself up and
looked around. He had been asleep in
an alley, with his head resting on the
ceobble stones. So much was evident,
but how did he get there?
For a long time he stood quite still
with his hand on his forehead, trying
y collect his thoughts, until ut last a
Hood Of memory came over his be-
muddlcd brain, and look OF dismay