San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-15
CHAPTER l.
OLD FRIENDS IN NEW PLACES.

"a
LatOur started fOrlUdrd aud Udsped Lord
-... Mdrtinddle'S hand.
One of those delicious December after
Moons, only dreamed of elsewhere, but
common under Egyptian skies, was set
ting down over Cairo.
Warm, soft and hazy as the Indian
summer" Of America, the day was drop
ping half reluctant in the lap Of night.
The red globe of the sun hung low over
the distant desert across the Nile, its
ever shifting sand waves motionless
now, under the light breeze, and the re-
freshing moisture Of night beginning al
ready to creep into the air.
Far to the southwark showed the dim
ming line of the Mokattam hills, while
away toward sunset rose the tall cones of
the pyramids; the Sphinx grave and
silent sentinel thrown forward in ad-
vance. Between them and the city the
immemorial Nile sent her current rae
ing to the sea, low now and curving like
a silver serpest between retreating banks
fringed with tall topped palm trees and
dotted with splenOld palaces.
Within the city sights and sounds be-
gan to make themselves known which
ever shun the day in this strange land;
for day is dull and still in Egypt to all
save those unfortunates whom need and
toll call into activity; and there, by the
fat of climate, only night lives.
Central in El-Kehirah, the victorious
city, is the great groved public park,
covering several acres and known as the
Ezbekieh. Ancient-for what is young
in this land which makes Antiquity her
self look new?-and unique, too, this
common breathing place of all the mixed
races combines the gayety of the Boise
de Boulogne with the chafering of the
Bowery. About this great open park
group the principal hotels and many
residences of the better class of Euro
pean population, occasional palaces rear
ing their lofty domes among them.
Over one of these last, at the gateway
of which an armed soldier walked his
post, in place Of the usual bowab or
porter hoated the crescent flag of the
Sublime Porte; for the semi-sovereignty
Of Egypt, under the firman granting its
powers, is permitted no separate flag.
In its spacious court yard and garden
was stabling and grooming space for a
cavalry detachment, the lower range
of rooms being used for offices and bar
racks. .... .......t ..-....r. ............
T., kIn 81, arfy ont al orr
upon a divan and enjoying the long,
deep whiffs from his nargileh, reclined
an officer of the army of the Khediye
Isnail Pasha, for that luxurious grand
son of warrior OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Ali, ''the Lion of Islam"-now held the
reins of n government almost independ-
ent of STEAMBOAT. This soldiers 1.-the
but powerful frame was half hidden in
the full folds of pajamas of India silk,
but the languid pose and femininity of
dress were negatived by the clear, strong
lines of face out of which flashed black
eyes, restless and defiant even i'll his
reverie. The thick, short black hair,
touched with white about the temples.
proclaimed him Christian. spite of the
red fez lying near upon the cushion, and
the features were those of q Frank,
though their swarthy olive denied his
being Ingleeze. asf u,a t.f .a.ss
Even On old acquaintance might have
needed second glance to recognize In
Latour Bey the Creole youth SO famed
for manly prowess at West Point dec
ade gone Yet Time had set no special
pressure of his signet on him, spite of
the light snow round his brow and the
stray white threads marking the droop
ing mustache. The change was that
nameless something which indurates
characteristics, impressing the inner
upon the outer man; that something
which whispers, even through casual ex-
preston and movement, that the man
has lived. .....t .... .
His head resting on hands locked be-
hind it, Adrien Latour gazed through
the western easement long and without
motion, but his eyes-in which the light
flfckered, glowed and died in turn-held
Ht4lD IF the level Landscape there.