The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-08-10

eyes-the eyes of a lover, against
which no woman ever vet disguised
herself-had recognized his cousin
Eat-Meh on the instant. Why she thus
masqueraded he did not know, but she
had asked for him and wild fancies
flied his mind. Now as he knelt
there he whispered:
Il know you! l know you, Fat
Meh! Tell me quickly what it is that
ails YOU
oh, Cousin Ibin, it is wound" the
girl gasped-''here in my arm! | came
with the new soldiers who came
to-day. Two of them quarreled. One
struck at the other. He sprang behind
me and the blade entered my arm. |
am dying. And, oh. it was SO horrible
To think of dying amongst strange
men, and that they should know, And
knew that You would keep my secret.
Hide me! Let no one know even after
l am dead!'
Have no fear. / will shield you with
my life if necessary" said Ibin. Here
on your sleeve L see blood. Is it
here?"
Yes whispered the girl.
On the instant Ibin ripped up the
sleeve, and to his joy found little
wound, which had bled badly but not
dangerously. When he bound it up
and reassured her he covered her face
and left her To rest and went out to
tell his tale. The little soldier he said
was not much hurt. He was mere
boy and fancied himself dying and had
asked for him that he might send a
message to his parents. For the pres
ent he would care for him. Then he
returned to his tent.
Fat-Meh was awake. Her great eyes
turned upon him.
''tbIn,' she sand, do | seem bold to
you? l suppose SO. But listen. | have
been learning lessons. In Egypt wom-
en- are slaves. They sell US as if we
were birds L, for instance, have a
heart | wish to marry one | love
And there came to our house an old
woman, who told my parents that a
rich man wished to marry me: and
they said | must marry him. prayed
them not to give me to him. They
laughed. The preparations were com
plete. The time had come. Do YOU
bl anne me for running away? \ few
jewels bought the help of an old wom-
an While they were looking for
lost girl, boy marched away with the
soldiers.
escape that frightful man. See. have
even cut my long hair! Does it make
me ugly? Do you think me bold and
bad-very, very bad? | saw that you
loved me when you looked up at me
from the garden. But, if l have made
You despise me. at least let me stay
and be d little soldier. and see you now
and then, and perhaps, wait ON you
sometimes And when there iS d bat
tie, fight beside you. OnIydo not send
me back to marry somebody 1 hate.
Pity me, even if you scorn me"
ON this, Capt Ibin El-Narrakah
quite forgot Egyptian good manners.
and took Fat-Meh's hand in his and
held il against his heart. and told her
that she was rose, d nightingale and
4 dove, and he recited this verse to her:
Va uiilah knafOo min Allah
Wa shalnai ashik li-ah
Hobukum mex IOoh min Allah,
haddarn l mowla aleiTjia."
Which might be very freely trans
lated thus:
'.Oh. beloved one, Since Allah has
given us to each other, the love we feel
is ordained by him. Therefore, let no
one blame us for what was decreed in
paradise
But in spite of this bold speech and
their brave hearts, matters might have
ended badly for both had il not hap
pcned that the khedive elected to visit
his soldiers that morning. mounted
on prancing horse, followed by
other highmightinesses mounted on
other prancing horses. with music and
clash and jingle and floating banners
and great pomp and ceremony. And
il 50 happened that Capt Ibin El-War-
rakah had of late accomplished certain
doughty deeds. and been reported ia
yorabiy for them. SO that when he
begged for mercy. mercy was granted.
Like ali the yiziers and sultans in
the Arabian Nights Tales" the khe-
dive was sentimental. He felt for true
lovers Therefore, having a right To
do as he pleased. he declared that these
lovers should be married, had the cere-
mony performed soon as possible.
bestowed his blessing and dowry
upon the bride, made the captain a
colonel. and sent a message to- the
parents to the effect that they had bet
ternot let him hear them make any OBJ
jections.
And this was all very lucky for little
Fat-Meh. for Egyptian fathers make
nothing of pntting a daughter who has
disgracsd her family as completely as
this little rebel had certainly done into
a bag, along with few Jumps of lime,
and having her quietly tossed into the
nearest river. AS il ended we may
suppose that she lived happily ever
afteryard.-CoL Howard Appieby, in
n " Ledger.