The Somerset reporter., 1894-04-19
KADOUR AND KATEL.

kadour- ben herifa, sergeant major in
a native regiment of tiraileur7, was al
most dying the evening they carried him
to Rippert's sawmill on the Sauerbach.
and for five long weeks, raCked by the
pain Of his wounds and burning with
fever, he lived as though in dream.
At times he thought himself still in the
thick Of battle, shouting and leapine
through the faxfelds of Wissem bourg,
or, again. he was away off in Algeria, in
the house of his father, the caid of the
Matmatas.
AT last one day he opened his eyes and
became vaguely conscious Of bright,
calm white curtained room, with green
branches swaying outside its windows in
the soft, tempered sunshine, and near his
bed silent little sister of charity, but II
little sister without beads or silver cross
or blue veil; only two heavy braids she
had, falling down over a velvet bodice
From time 10 time some one would call
out, "Katel. Katel.' and the girl would
EO away Dh tlRAp's anu wv Nphi''h 10y
could hear in the distance n sonorous
young voice, as refreshing to listen to a.
the brook running under the sawlnills
windows.
Kadour- ben Cherifa has been i'll long
time, but the Hipperts have taken such
good care of him that his wounds are
healed, and they have hidden him so well
Int tl,. Dr., hn, F,1nI him
to send him to die of cold in the Mayence
prisons. Now he commences to talk, to
show his white teeth and to take few
steps around the room, letting one of his
sleeves-the one with wide, gaping
hole in the midst of its embroideries-
fall empty over well dressed and ban
daged but still impotent arm. Every day
katel carries wicker chair down into
the little sawmill garden for the conva
lescent and finds for him the sunniest
corner, along the wall where the grapes
ripen quickest, and Kadour, who, being
a calds son. was educated at the Arabian
college in Algiers, thanks her in some
what barbarous French, well sprinkled
with bono bezeffs and macach bonos.
Without realizing it, the young Arab
is under II spell. This easy gayety of u
Frankish girl, whose life is as free as a
birds, without enveloping wells ont Of
doors or barred windows at home, aston
ishes and enchants him. So different
from this is the clustered life of the
women of his land = the little white
masked, musk perfumed Moorish WON
II IL,
trife too black, but he seems SO good, SC
brave, and he does so detest the Prus-
slams! One thing only troubles her. OF
there IN that Algeria of Africa men have
the right to marry several wives. katel
cannot understand that at all, so when
the Algerian, to tease her, says in his
jargon: 'Kadour marry soon. He take
four wives--four.' Katel becomes very
angry.
"Oh, what wicked kadourl What a
heathen"
Then the Arab laughs hearty boys
laugh, but suddenly he becomes serious
again and is mute before the young girl,
opening upon her eyes SO wide-so wide
you would thing he wished to carry hei
away in their gaze.
1t was thus that the loves of KadouI
and Katel commenced.
Now that he is well, Kadour has re.
turned to his father, and you can imag-
inc if there has been merrymaking in
his honor in the land of the Matmatas.
The reed flutes and little Arab drums
have played their prettiest airs to receive
him. AS the old caid, who was sitting
before his door, saw in the distance
coming down the cactus alley this be
loved son whom he thought dead, he
shook under his wooden burnoose as
though with chill For whole month
there was an uninterrupted series of diff
fas of fantasies. in the tribe. The caids
and agas of the neighborhood disputed
with each other the honor of having ka-
dour-ben Cherfa for their guest, and ev-
cry evening III the Moorish cafes they
would make him tell them over and over
again of TIE great battles in which he
had taken part.
But all these honors, all this feasting.
do not make Kadour the happier In