Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-22

yah, the beautiful. the daughter Oh 'ne
Caliph. was dying.
All the men skilled In the medical SCI
ence in Bagdad, mag from Persia
sages from Egypt, who had acquired In
a wonderful way the secrets OF medicine
nossessed by the ancient Egyptian priests,
learned physicians from the Greek en-
pire-all had tried their knowledge ana
| skill on the Princess.
One day. when the sun was sinking In
| the far west a traveller entered bag
| did through one OF the gates when looked
| toward the side OF the rising sun. his
dress. travel-worn and stained. and mace
in a different fashion from the prevailing
way In Bagdad. indicated that he came
rom a distance. The man approached
N Arab standing at street-corner' ana
aid. with quiet digni'y:
Take me to the palace Of thy master
he Caliph."
The Arab answered, simply:
Come with me-" and the stranger ioi-
owed on his footsteps.
When at the door Of the palace the
traveller dismissed his guide, and said
% the guard
II wish TO see the great Caliph; tell
i'm that Wise Man from far-away IN
lila has como to cure the Princess
The soldier took him to the King. for
ne had orders to Immediately Introduce
into he royal presence any one coming
| on such an errand as this.
what dost thou want?' asked the
King.
Mirror Of the faithful, Defender Of
faft Ia a
and power has even reached to the banks
| OF our sacred river-the purifying
Gauges; also. OF how thy daughter, the
| flower Of Moslem, was III and dying,
and earthly science was powerless to save
her from crossing the dreaded bridge; but
| I. o. King, can save her"
How can that be?' asked the Caliph.
| in wonder. Thou hast not even seen
her"
Thou hast said II; but the stars have
| revealed to me their secret, and / can
save her from death. Take me to her"
on a couch surrounded by her female
| slaves, amid cushions and silks OF da-
mask lay Leila-Rudyah. pale as moon
| light; the two midnight stars which in
| health lighted her face were heavily
| yelled by her eyelids. She was supreme
| ~ beautiful, even al her dying hour.
The Hindoo approached her couch. and.
with his hand, touched lightly her fore
| head. She opened her eyes and closed
them again, sinking Immediately into the
| usual stupor.
Then the "Wise Man. walked toward the
exit OF the room, and the Caliph went
with him. The Hindoo walked by the
side of the monarch. silent and thought
full. and when they entered the throne
room, asked from the sovereign a secret
audience.
Hastily dismissing every one. the Caliph
prepared himself to hear what the
stranger had TO say.
The Hindoo began to speak in a low
impressive voice. carrying conviction and
hope to the heart OF the poor father.
1T is decreed by fate that the Princess.
thy daughter. leave this world for the
one promised to the faithful, when four
times the moon shall have shone full In
the midnight sky: but Allah has left thee
one hope Only one thing can save her:
and the remedy is as difficult to OBJ
tain as her Illness is mysterious. Art
thou ready to make every sacrifice for
her?'
Eyes: II thou canst do aught for her.
speak; and If she lives. ! viii give thee
gold. and land. and slaves; Z will make
thee wealthy; more. even her hand in
marriage thou shalt have"
mo, King. / ask nothing; and only
wish TO return to my country when the
Princess is cured. Gold has no charms
for me, nor woman any allurement. Her
hand must be the reward OF her saviour
for / will only Indicate what will cure
her. and a young, vigorous man must go
In search OF ii. Listen 10 me, o. great
Calph!
Far away in the west in the region
OF the setting sun. Is a land the fairest
Is Hispania- In this country the sky
is always blue and pure. In this para
disc OF earth. cultivated by the hands
Of an hour. grows a beautiful. white
flower. exhaling fragrance like unto
that Of the breezas OF Heaven; II
any one can go TO that far-off land and
bring this heavenly flower TO Bagdad be-
fore thy daughter dies. then she will
live: for Its perfume means life and health
to her Have this fact proclaimed
through all thy kingdom. and let those
who wish to undertake the perilous jour
ney go. and may Allah grant that they
return In time"
Through all thy kingdom the criers
proclaim the news, that II any man
however humble or poor he might be,
could obtain and bring the wonderful
flower from the Occident. he would have
as a reward the hand Of the beautiful
Leila Radyah.
Three powerful princes. who loved Lei
la-Radyah. started on the long journey
In quest OF the life giving blossom.
The first. young and handsome. Prince
All. persisted in the burning sands when
crossing the Arabian desert.
The second, a nephew Of the Caliph,
Hassan, decided to make the voyage by
water: so, on reaching the Mediterra-
mean shore. embarked and few days
after fell captive into the hands of pi-
rates He was set at liberty after paying
heavy ransom. and tired OF suffering
misfortunes. returned TO his native land.
The third, Ab-de-Rhaman, was
prince OF the royal house OF the Om-
nyades. a dynasty which had been over
thrown by the grandfather OF the pres
ent Callph. Ab-de-Rhaman was young
and handsome: Princess Leila-Radyah
was the soul OF his soul: and she also
loved him, but the Caliph had sworn
never to give his daughter to the young
prince; but now. should he go and bring
the magic flower. when the beautiful
Leila rose from her corch she would he
long TO him, for the Caliph had promised
Ter hand to her saviour and Caliph
ever breaks his word once given to his
iubjects. lie crossed the desert OF Me-
sopotam'a and reached the seashore. He
engaged passage In a Greek trading-ves-
sci bound for Gallla and Hispania, but
tempest threw him on the coast of
Africa. Nothing daunted Abide Ria
man continued his way on foot He suf-
fered hunger and thirst: he was taken
prisoner. but he esca ped. and at last leav-
ing behind the burning sands and bar
rem rocks OF the African soil. he crossed
the narrow sea between the African Con.
tinent and Hlspania. That night the
moon shone full In the midnight sky for
the second time. He stood on the rock
N Gibraltar and gave thanks to Allah.