Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1894-07-12

lie trembied from head 20 foot. HE
eyes-the eyes 81 a lover. Against
which no woman ever vet disguised
herself-had recognized his cousin
fat-Neh on the instant Why she thus
masqu-radcd he did not know, but she
had asked for him and wild fsncies
filed his mind Now a. he knelt
there he whispered.
Il know you. I know you. Fat
Meh. Tell me quickly what Il is that
ais v0u.
oh Cousin hin. il Is a wound" tho
girl gasPed-~hers in my arm I came
with the new soldiers who came
to-day Two ~ them quarreled tine
struck at the other lie sprang behind
me and the blade entered my arm. I
am dying And, oh, IL was - horrible
- think ~ diving strange
men. and that they N ruld know And
! knew that YOU would keep my secret
Hide me, Let no one know even after
am dead
Have no fear I viii shield You with
my life II necessary. said bin. Here
on your sleeve I see blood 10 il
here
-Nc~ whispered the girl
pu the instant Tbin ripped NJ the
sleeve. AMI 20 his JOY found q little
wound. which had hled badly but not
dangerously. When he bound il M
and reassured her he covered her face
and left her 70 rest and went out to
tellhis tale The little soldier. he said.
was not much hurt. He wa a mere
boy and f~anciei himself dying and had
asked for him that he might send a
message 20 has parents. For the pres
ent he would care for him Then he
returned 20 his tent
Fat-Nleh was awake. Her great eyes
turned upon him.
~Ibtn, she said. do I seem bold -
YOU? suppose 81. But listen. I have
been learning lessons In Egypt wom-
en- are slaves. Thy sell Us A. IL we
we're birds. l. for instance. have a
heart I wish - marry one I love.
And there came 20 our house an old
woman who told nv parents that a
rich man wished - marry me. and
they said I must marry him. I prayed
them not to give ne ~ him. They
laughed The preparations we're com
piete The time hat come Do you
blIme me- for running away A f-w
jewels bought the heip - an oid ruu-
an. While thcv ware looking for a
lost girl. a buv marched away with the
soldiers
oh. voHld have done anything -
escape that frightf1l man ~ss. : have
even cut nv long hair D1~s IL maze
me ugly po veu think me hola AMI
had-vprv. very BAH I saw that vou
lnved me when You looked NJ a. N.
from the garden But. Il { have made
YOU deSpi-e me-. n least let ne stay
and be a little soldier. n s-~ vnu now
and then. and perhaps. wait on you
sometimes. And when there is a hat
tie. fight beside you. only do not send
me back 10 marry somebody { hate.
Pity me. even II you scurn me-
ON this. Capt Tbin El-War7kah
quite forgot Egyptian goo-i
and took Eat-Nieh's hand in his and
held it against his heart. and told her
that she was a rose. a nightingale and
a dove. and he recited this verse 20 her.
&c va milah knafoo min Allan
Wa shamai ashis leah
Hohukum mex toah min tIiah.
kAddarn I mowls aleirlia
Which might be very freely trans.
lated thus
"Oh. beloved one. since Allah ha<
given rs 10 each other. the love We t--l
is ordained by him. Therefore. let NJ
one blame W. Tor what was d~ecreeI in
paradise
But in spite II this bold speech and
their brave hearts, matters might have
ended badly for both had il not hap
pened that the khedive elected 10 visit
his soldiers that morning. mounted
on a prancing horse, followed by
other highmightin=s-es mounted on
other prancing horses, with music and
clash and jingle and floating banner
and great pomp and ceremony. And
IL 50 happened that capt Ibiu El-War-
rakah had ot late accomplished certain
doughty deeds, and been reported IN.
vorablv for them. N that when he
begged for mercy, mercy was granted.
Like all the v~iziers and suItans in
the Arabian Nights Tales the khe-
dive was sentimental. He felt for true
lovers. Therefore. having a right ia
10 as he pleased. he declared that these
lovers should be married, had the eere-
mouv performed "a soon a possible,
bestowed his blessing and u dowrv
upon the bride, made the captain a
colonel. and sent Il message to the
parents TO the effect hat they had bet
teruot let him hear them make n oh.
jections.
And this was all very lucky for little
Fat-Meh. for Egyptian fathers make
nothing Of putting daughter who has
disgracsd her family as completely a.
this little rebel had certainly done into
a bag. along with a few humps of lime.
and having her quietly tossed into the
nearest river. A. it ended. we may
suppose that she lived happily ever
afterwardICoL Howard Applebv. in
y. Y. Ledgen