Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-01-08

to accomplish that which he had so read
lily told his master was done.
Tom Walters stood for some time
looking at the proclamation Finally
he turned away.
''What lark he said. ''And really
I've got to do something until can hear
from London, and through these
wretched mails, too"
ZiIlah, daughter of the Caliph of
Allamagdalla, was walking one sultry
evening in her little garden accom-
panied by single attendant, a girl of
about her own age. The Caliph's daugh-
ter, as BETTING the offspring of one so
divinely endowed Us her father, was tall
and straight and walked with n queenly
stateliness that became her well.
She was quite young, though a
woman grown, with large dark eyes set
under noble brow, over which her
dark hair curled caressingly. She was
walking slowly up and down in the twi-
light, now and then STOPPING to pluck
flower, or pausing to speak word to
her attendant, when suddenly there was
sound as of somebody coming over
the wall and the maid pointed, with
little scream, to the farther end of the
garden.
The Caliph's daughter looked in the
direction of her attendants gesture and
beheld tall young man, dressed in the
uniform of her fathers court, leisurely
picking flower from one of the many
beds that sl1irted the wall.
As she saw him he looked up and
caught her glance. lie Strengthened up
and came toward her in a manner that
fitted in queerly with his Oriental dress.
Excuse me, ladies'" he said, trying
to summon all he knew of Arabic to his
aid. Il saw the flowers from the win
dow above, and could not resist the
temptation to drop down and get over.
did not know you were in the garden.
1 am sorry to have disturbed you"
Zillah's face had at first assumed an
expression of extreme hauteur, but as
the stranger Numbered through his
speech, smiling confidently all the time,
her expression changed to one of be-
wilderment, and her hand trembled a
little, for she began, strangely enough,
to be frightened for her queer visitor.
"Hush!' she said, hurriedly; ''some
one may see you"
Tom did not stir. He began to real
lie that he was talking to a very pretty
girl, and such an occurrence was so IN
usual to him at present that he did not
wish to break it off so suddenly.
MAY have the fOwer?" he said, to
gain time.
She made no answer to his question,
but put her hand on his arm command
ingly.
care you mad?" she said. "If you
were seen here"
Tom squared his big shoulders and
showed no inclination to go. Really
she was a very handsome girl.
Are you his Majesty's daughter" he
asked.
BY this time the attendant had recov-
cred from the shock that the young
mans appearance had given her, and
was trying to draw her mistress away.
The latter yielded to her guidance and
was about to turn from him, when Tom
interposed hurriedly.
~ say now," he said, rapidly, don't
go. I'll go myself if staying here is 60
ing to drive you away, but you see be-
long to the old duffer-I beg your par
don. to the household of the Light Of
the Universe in there, and 1 thought,
being one of you, might take a turn in
here. I'm awfully sorry l disturbed
you," and with Il quick turn he regained
hir,,ca1f ovaT-
Zillah looked after him until his long
misfitting Oriental robes had followed
him over the wall, and then she turned
away with queer look on her pretty
face.
That night she dreamed of a tall
young man who came down to her in 4
winged chariot from the skies, and who
tried to carry her away with him. Just
as he was drawing her into his strange
car she awoke with n start and little
scream.
A few weeks later another scene was
enacted in the little garden '.tZillah, "
said Tom, standing with both her hands
in his and looking down into her deep,
dark eyes, II don't believe / can stand
this much longer. 1t isn't natural, why
can't l just ask the Caliph to let me
have you and end it there. He can't
more than refuse, and if he does-well
I've got money enough and Ill just
carry you off like young Lochinvar. |
beg your pardon-you don't know about
Lochinvar probably, but it's all the
same, will yOu?"
''You do not know what you are say
ing" said Zillah. Cant you under
stand, he would have you sewed up in a
sack ard thrown into the bay before
night if you were to do such thing.
1t is hopeless, and you had better leave
me-"
Tom let go her hands.
81 don't believe you would care" he
said.
Zillah's eyes filed with tears and she
stood very still. Tom saw it, and in a
moment he had his big arms around
her.
There" he said, 81 didn't mean
that And 1 won't leave you; no, not
If I have to die for it, which, by the
way, am not going to do. I'll just go
to the Caliph and tell him how it is, and
he can't help himself Or, I'll tell you,
let US both go, you and me, together.
I'm quite sure that would fetch him"
All this time Zillah said aever a word.
Her head was buried in Toms big chest
under the folds of his baggy robe.
Suddenly they heard the sound OF ap-
preaching footsteps Both looked in the
direction from which the noise came
and saw three men coming toward