The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-10-26
AN EGYPTIAN REBEL.
A Romance in the Land of the
Sphinx.

arose. Whlte as snow, against Sky OF
ultramarine-belOw spread the white
sand. Heat more intense could not be
imagined. The air fairly quivered
with it. and it had upon the eyes the
binding effect of the flashing of the
mirror in the sun. 1t was not a time
If battle.
The little army composed the mill
tary Gordon with which Ismail Pasha
protected the recently established
agricultural districts on the borders
OF Abyssinia and the roads for traffic,
which in 1866 had not long been
opened.
The dearth Of cotton, caused by the
civil war of the United States, had
given lsmail the idea of making Egypt
i great cotton-growing country. and
Since then, railways, telegraphs and
all manner of improvements have been
introduced
At the date of the story, great
caravans of camels bore the products
of the fields to the various markets,
and no roaring, red-eyed steam mon
ster had yet invaded the land OF
mystery, silence and the sphinx.
Everyone was languid. The officers
resting in their tents, the common
soldiers suuatting about at ease. A
caravan on its way south had paused
to eat and rest until night fell, and
that great, golden thing, the moon OF
Egypt, should rise to light them on
their way. Eacl. man had said his
prayers, and before praying. since
water was not plentiful. had rubbed
his hands with duSt-which was
counted to his credit just the same. by
the recording angel of hi, paradise,
who always makes allowances for
circumstances. Now peace had fallen
upon the hot world, where almost
everybody slumbered.
In his tent, Capt bin El-Warrakah
was dreaming. His dreams carried
him away from the tents. the soldiers
and all his present surroundings. lie
was once more in the home of his
Uncle Rizk-entcrtained as Il beloved
guest. He had seen his aunt. who was
his mothers sister. even without the
face veil But She having sent kind
messages to his mother and given
him q present. had retired To the pri-
vatr rooms OF the women. from which,
nov ami then. came Il Silvcry ripple of
laughter. and words spoken in Il voice
that was the sweetest he had ever
heard.
He knew it was that of his Cousin
fa;-Meh. Fat-Meh had been beau
tiful little girl. lie had always re-
mcmbered Fat-Meh atfcctionately.
Eut now he could not ask to see her
any more than if she had been the
daughter of some stranger He might
NOT look upon 4 wolnan's face. even if
she were his cousin. He bowed to
custom. a, the young man of this cOun-
try does. But it came into his mind,
uow that little Fat-Mch. who had
been a. dear as Il sister to him III those
baby wears. was yelled and hidden from
him as from Il stranger. that even old
established Egyptian customs might be
carried too far
lie sat and ate the various dishes
which he black slave offered to the
CHESTS. But III the while he thought
of little Fat-Meh. and laid a plan by
which at least to see her.
In Egypt, one is not obliged to sit at
table until all the company have fin
ished their meal Each may rise when
he is satisfied, say: Praise be to GOd,"
wash his hands in the ever which the
servant holds for him before and after
meals, dry them on the embroidered
towel and retire from the company.
And so, as soon as he dared, Ibin did
this, and saying that he wished once
more to see the garden and pome-
granate trees under which he had
played in childhood, left the room.
Ont into the garden he went and,
standing where he could see the lat
ticed windows above, began to sing a
little rhyme that children sing when
they play together, beating time with
the palms. What more natural, when
memories of youth returned with the
sight of the garden where, before Fat
Meh had been able to walk alone, he
had led her by her tiny hand-what
more natural than that he should re-
member the rhyme and sing it again?
And while he sang, another voice,
soft and low, took up the strain. Some
one was singing behind the lattice of
the window. He knew it was Fat-Meh.
4 little later he saw that the lattice
was pushed softly open. A yelled face
peeped forth, hand was extended for
y moment and rose dropped. Above
the veil he saw great eyes, like stars,
borGc-"d with kohl. Then, as if by
accident, he vail dropped, and he saw
his cousin Fat-Meh's face-the baby
face become wOman's, and beautiful
exceedingly.
1t vanished. The window was closed.
lie picked up the rose and hid it in his
bosom and returned to the house.
Before he left his uncle's abode, how
ever he had asked sohsS questions and
learned that Fat-Meh SNe o~Iready
promised in marriage and Cna the
meeting of relatives to settle the quss-
ton OF dowry would occur very soon.
1t is not often that young Egyp-
tian sees a girls face, and this one
glimpse of his cousins face remained
IN lbins heart as a kiss might in that
OF an Englishman. He was dreaming
of her as a man entered the tent in
haste and voice called: Captain
NY captain." and he looked up and saw
soldier beside him.
Captain this man said, saluting
him, "a boy. who appears to be dying,
asked to be brought to you. Will you
bee him?''
lbin sprang to his fee. and followed
the man into the open air. There, sun.
ported Dy two other men. stood beau
t!ful. bcardless boy, who lifted his
eyes and looked into Ibin's face i'm.
ploringly.
Captain" he said, II have some.