The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-24
mis- graclousness.

Said Achmet carried me off with as proud
heart as II / were the greatest man in the
land and treated me with tenderness that
mere greatness could never have evoked.
Indeed il had been his own son risen from
the dead he could not have been more Law
fish of the caressing attentions in word and
act that the tremulous affection of an old
man delights in or evinced livelier regret
at the parting that was near
! For the most part of three happy days I
was with him, listening to wondrous tales
of the diabolcal prowess of the man on the
black horse from Tabal, OF discussing the
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
And on his grave, with shining eyes,
The Syrian stars look down,
but the memory of his benign refuge re-
mains with me as n beautiful dream OF
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 ap-
peared to be the determined object of every
man to get into his fellows way and thwalt
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 pan
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 in from outlying dis
tricts, horses and camels were got ready,
swords spears and matchlocks were fur
bshed up. ammunition was laid out water
skins were filled. provisions were loaded
on swapping, grunting pack camels--a hun
dred pounds to every beast-and all the
while the soldiers badgered, shouted, jested
and blasphemed in a way that might have
moved the envy of any Christian army in
the world
On the morning of the fourth day a mes
senger came to me breathless, saying that
Abou Kuram was seated in the audience
court and wished to 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 had succeeded in turning him against
me. But was quickly reaSsured, for when
l entered his presence with palpitating
heart and hesitating step he beckoned me
to him with gracious smile, babe n cush-
ion be placed for me, and proceeded to in
quire in his most affable tones, and as
thought, with covert glances at Abdallah,
who sat close by, about my health aud well
fare.
'Time, perchance, hangeth heavy upon
thee, he said. but thou shalt soon have
sport enough. Ere the sun go down again
we shall be on the march to meet Yumen
1Eal p,,I l. - L,1,, .-ty
how thou canst sheathc thy sword In flesh
'Tis merry game, and methinks there will
be plenty of 1t going"
And then in the hearing of all he re-
peated that was to 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
clouded brow and compressed lips, but
dared not speak Il word. The crowd gaped
and beamed on me as one basking in the
favors of an all powerful prince, though
doubtless puzzled by the change OF senti-
ment that conferred on me my distinctions
IAN Arab can confer no more signal honor
than to present guest with horse of high
pedigree. A wife from his hareln is Il small
thing in comparison.l
Thou wilt find the little Fatima of the
purest Kohlani breed, he went on, ad-
dressing me, lin shape and spirit IN
eqnaled outside my royal stables In her
veins is tue unadulterated blood of the
prophets own mare. In heetness as tue
deer, in courage as the lion, in gentleness
as the lamb, in beauty as the gazelle, in in
telligence as the serpent, she will be to thee
both companion and protector, obeying thy
wishes ere thou hast time to express them.
She will carry thee bravely to victory or fiy
with thee swiftrr than the wind in defeat.
She will nurse thee when thou art sick. re-
ioice with thee when thou art glad. She
will be thy lover and thy slave. See thou
prove worthy of her. And now there is
but one thing more; when thou seest the
ann looking for his bed IN the west, come
hither and thou shalt find her ready for
thee"
He waved his hand to signify the audi
snce was Mt an end aud rising passed into
the interior Of the castle.
Verify the great Abou Kuram hath
shown thee favor beyond example, re-
marked said Achmet as we returned for
little to his home. II think thou hast thy
fair face to thank The truth of nature
will overturn many lies. As for the enter
prise on which thou goest it accordeth well
with thy adventurous spirit The scent OF
hohESi 10 " Alite ttH tHt sGtilu VI IIt9 " LlG
lion. Thy gladness Is shining in thine eyes
l would could see thee again.
And may not return to Marabel in tri
umph2p l asked
''1'ruly thou mayst, but something tells
me thou wilt not. 1t was pleasant to sit
with thee over the evening pipe or pluck
Ing the ripe fruit, hearing thee talk Of thy
country and adventures. But the bitter
must be with the sweet All things have
an end, and that which once was becomes
but dream. The time of parting is at
hand, and | shall lie awake on my bed at
night thinking of the stranger who came
from afar to cheer me in my solitude :"
And the stranger will think of thee
with gratitude" returned. ut is all he
has to offer, and thou hast it in full meas
ure. Wherever he may 90, whatever may
be his lot, he will remember thy kindness
in the day of his trouble.
ITO BE coNTINuEp.l