The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-05

ing my heaG sl4shed OFT my shoulders.
The sight Of one eager face, however,
among the many fawning ones gave me a
genuine thrill Of pleasure. Said Achmet
had haunted the place all the morning like
a perturbed spirit, and now on the first OPP
portunity &c came running forward TO con-
gratuate me on my new lease of life. had
not much to say, but gave the good souls
hand hearty Christian wiring, and he did
not resent it, though to shake hands with
an infldel or stranger is pollution to the or
dinary Musselman.
When sorrows come, says the poet, they
come not IN single spies, but in battalions.
Once or twice in a lifetime few happy
mOrtals have the sweet experience OF find
ing joys, too come trooping in companies.
While my beuefactor and myself were in
converse together, TO the further delight Of
us both, word came from Abou Kuram
that until the troops were ready / was to
be his guest or Said Achmet's, just accord
ing TO my fancy. Needless TO say what
choice made nor how deeply grateful
was 10 Abou Kuram for this fresh sign of
his graciousness.
Said Achmet carried me off with as proud
heart as il | were the greatest man in the
land and treated me with n tenderness that
mere greatness could never have evoked.
Indeed If had been his own son risen from
the dead he could not have been more Law
ish of the caressng attentions in word and
act that the tremulous affection of an old
man delights in or eyinced liyelier regret
at the parting that was near.
For the most part of three happy days
was with him, listening to wondrous tales
OF the diabolical prowess Of the man on the
f,a1 4
prospects of the campaign with him, or
drinking in the wise and varied discourse
of my host himself as we sat inhaling fra
grant essences in the shade of his garden
palms.
How far off all that is now, and how
strangely tinged with mystic huesi Said
Achmet has long since gone TO his account
Aud on his grave, with shining eyes,
The Syrian stars look down,
but the memory Of his benign refuge re-
mains with me as a beautiful dream Of a
day spent on an azure summer isle after
escape from devastating tempests.
The preparations at the castle went on
with more hustle than speed, for it APP
peared to be the determined object Of every
man TO get into his fellows way and thwart
him in his work. The scene was one of
constant confusion and uproar. Night and
day the hubbub went on, waxing ever
louder and shriller, till it seemed like pam
demonium come again, but at length order
began to rise out Of chaos, and even the
novice mind could see that the preparations
were really going on.
Men came hurrying I'm from outlying dis
tricts, horses and camels were got ready,
swords, spears and matchlocks were fur
bished up, ammunition was laid out, water
skins were filed. provisions were loaded
on swapping, grunting pack camels-a hun
dred pounds to every beast-and all the
while the soldiers badgered, shouted, TESTED
and blasphemed in way that might have
moved tho envy Of any Christian army in
the world.
On the morning OF the fourth day a mes
senger came 10 me brcathless, saying that
Abou Kuram was seated in the audience
court and wished 10 see me at once. hur-
ried off, Said Achmet accompanying, in
some excitement, fearing that liars and in
triguers had been at their loathsome work
and bad succeeded in turning him against
me. But was quickly treasured, for when
| entered his presence with palpitating
heart and hesitating step he beckoned NE
90 him with gracious smile babe a cush-
ion be placed for me, and proceeded 20 in
qure in his most affable tones, and rs
thought, with covert glances at Abdallah.
who sat close by, about my health and vel
fare
Time. perchance, hangeth heavy upon
thee" he said. But thou shalt soon have
sport enough Ere the sun 90 down again
we shall be on the march to meet Yumon
Nusel and his helper satan. We shall see
how thou canst sheathe thy sword in flesh.
a..
be plenty Of it going"
And then in the hearing OF all he re
peated that was 60 ride by his bride in
the character Of physician and personal at
tendant, and that was TO be mounted on
a favorite mare from his own stable. Alb.
dallah sat looking on the ground with a
clouded brow and compressed lips, but
| dared not speak word. The crowd gaped