The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1894-04-12

soldier came to my tent and informed
me lady desired to speak to me. /
was very weary and utterly detected
really love sick, I am ashamed to
say"
The grizzled veteran looked down
into the fair faces about him as he
said this, but they were absorbed in
the story and expressed none of that
hurt he imagined they would indicate
at his last remark.
"Such thing as visit from lady
IN that remote locality aroused my Gu
riosity. and, glad to have chance to
talk with one because she was of the
same sex as my absent love, followed
the soldier to the very outskirts of the
camp, where l found an Arabian horse
| of peerless majesty, and standing be-
side him Moorish girl who so close
ly resembled my affianced I uttered a
| cry of astonishment. This seemed to
| delight the little woman greatly. They
have such naive ways about them and
are such clever judges of human
nature. She instantly exclaimed:
"1 remind the pasha of some one. ,
cat the same moment she 1ffQtioned
me to dismiss the soldier.
81 did SO.
4 confess, madam, l said, your
resemblance to dear lady friend in
England is very pleasing to me.
"Then she piled her arts as only the
educated Moor can. Never sugges-
ton, but such languishing sweetness
and intoxicating grace and winning
artifces; they are indescribable.
"'M. Pasha, she said in purest
French, Il have come to you upon an
errand of mercy, for bring you de-
liverance from this life of deprivation.
You are a young man and 1 bring you
the power and the means to return to
England, wed your lady love and live
in peace and luxury for the balance Of
your days. See!'
"She was seated upon the soft sod,
beneath the high-leafed palms, through
which the moonlight streamed. In
her lap she unfolded parcel, and as
she opened it l beheld the most mag
nificent amethysts 1 had ever seen.
They we're I should say, 1000 in num-
Der, both large and small.
"See!" she repeated. "These are
yours, Pasha, if you will but give me
the papers you have to deliver to the
pasha of Meldon-the papers outlln-
ing your campaign. You can say you
lost them. They will not precipitate
any dangers to your forces and l want
them. These gems represent the
dover of princess. Give me those
papers and the jewels are yours
81 cannot attempt description OF
the hurried. reckless review L made OF
my chances of rise in the army of the
Sultan, of my long life of drudgery
in battles harness, with the small in
come it afforded. But these thoughts
all went through my mind like flash,
and, beside myself with fascination
and with the eager ambition to acquire
riches, I delivered into her jewelled
hand the papers l was to convey 10
Meldon Pasha, and received IN ex-
change the bag of amethysts.
moment later the Arabian charger
dashed onto the plain, and she was
gone.
"No sooner was she out OF sight
than realized my blunder and re-
pented it sorely; but I clutched the
bag of precious stones and hurried
back to my tent. / placed them un-
der my pillow and lay sleeping upon
them until morning.
"When it was light l arose and Sc
cured the flap of my tent, so the SEN
try could not peer in, and eagerly
opened the bag of amethysts-the price
of my honor.
"Imagine my CONSERVATION! They
were as white as glass and as lustre-
less!
"Ouickly l called my body-servant'
who happened to be Moor, and snow
ing him the bag of gems, watched ior
his chocolate face to distort WIN
amazement. But he looked at 'he
pebbles and then at me.
"'Well, pasha?' he said' solemniy'
"'Well, replied, ARE they no'
porgeous?' For believed my slgh'
| I r.:IaI x.,o <,r that I had become