The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-31

|
| would see that l had necessary escort He
J gave orders to two tall negroes to mid mo
| With my toilet, ana those two giant Wallets
! proceeded to dress mo in n fino garment Of
| white wool. in which must have looked
| like II priest of the middle ages.
lei Tahar ben Moussa showed mo his
village of tents and I'LL of his riches from
his working camcls to his racing cnlncls,
w!s'tef IMAM snow and swifter than tho
wind; ms horses, his provision tents filed
with wheat, barley, oats, hashcd meat
| mixed with cracked wheat, which Tho
Arabs make into balls, and pots filed with
oates that look like prcScrvcs-in fact all
that constitutes the fortune of an Arab.
master OF large tent Ho seemed much
Pleased by my admiration for his thor.
ou9hbrcds and my compliments on tho
beauty of his son, n boy of 10 years. But
no TOOK particular pains not to go near ~
certain tent, Kept Theoretically closed hut
from winch wo could hear laughter and
cjaculutions
Il was we'll enough acquainted with
Arabian customs TO know that must not
inquire about tho women nor speak of my
lar npparition. l was, however, quito
hopeful of seeing her again, for counted
on feminine curiosity.
At tho dawn of tho next ,lav FL Tahar
camo to excuse hiniscif for leaving mo
alone part % tho day, as some expedition
called him five or six leagues to tho south
Ny aches and pains not having entirely
subsidized, and my great weakness still pre-
venting mo from accompanying the aga
could only witness his departure, follow
cd by all of his horscmcn, but with moro
JOY than sorrow, l must own.
Tho houri was continually in nv mind
and wished To sec her. / prowlcd about
the ncighborhood of tho mysterious tent
made an effort ut least, for twice ono of
those giant Wallets, with mcnaciny gcs-
lures, invited me to direct my promenade
i'll another direction. Was l seen from the
tent? Was my disappointment noticed?
Annoyed and lcvcrish, | lay down to take
nap, rs is the custom in the village
when the beautiful Arab girl entered.
she brought me pitcher filled with n
refreshing liquid that claimed nv fever
and quoted my nerves. We could scarcely
understand each other, as 1 knew So lttlo
Arabic, but there are looks and gestures
more eloquent than words.
Our conversation was scarcely com
mcnccd. She had told me her name and
that she was the third wife of tho aga
when great stamping of horses feet was
heard, and tho barking of dogs filled us
with terror. FL Tahar had rcturncdl How
could sho leave my tent without being
seen! The wife of tho aga in tho tent of
man, Christian, and with her face I'M
yelled! She wrung her hands in despair
The cursed curtain, which served as n door
moved, liftcd-shc had Just time to throw
herself behind II wooden box, thinking
herself concealcd; but, alas! one of her lit
tie bare feet protruded from behind the
box.
Tho aga entered, sat down, incurred
about my health, spoke OF the hunt. |
seemed to be listening to his recital, bus I
could understand nothing. | replied nj
hazard. / YVES suffering tormcnts. could
sec nothing but the lit;lo white foot, al
though did not look at it.
"Whilc speaking FL Tahar turned
slightly He could SEQ it | sat breath
less. 1t seemed to mo that tho black ewes
of the hga-thc only features OF his face
that / could see for he had kept the black
veil over his face rs do all tho Tuacgs
when away from homc-glittcrcd mo-
ment as they fixed themselves upon tho
white spot, but | was mistaken, as he con-
tinucd his recital quietly.
- Az he arose to go he said somewhat
solcmnly, You are II guest whom God has
sent mel 10 not forget it,
Il stood at the entrance of my tent as
he moved away with slow and measured
gait. The girl was Obliged To wait until
liSHt DtIoTo sllc coulu lp;lNc without Dclng
seen
An hour after this scene there was n
great connection in the village A troop
of cavalry had arrived. 1t was you, com
radcS, in search of my body, the sergeant
major and my men having carried TO You
tho news ~ my certain death. You re-
member my reluctance to leave my tent
and the manifest embarrassment in seeing
you enter"
"Oh, yes! You didn't seem To he very
happy over the effort we had made in
searching You out, and the aga himself
was obliged tC place You in the saddle after
the feast lie offered us"
Lieutenant Cursol's orderly entered the
room just thcr. Lieutenant, - he COM
mcnccd
What do YOU wish?" asked Henri.
'ThcrC is IL man outside who insists I'M
on speaking, To you, sir. a Tuarcg He
wears his veil.
"a Tuarcg! Tell him to come in"
" He will not dismount from his camel"
Then let him 60 TO the devil"
" lie says he comes from yondcr." And
| the soldier pointed in IL direction over his
| shoulder 10 signify that ii was some quito
distant, uncertain place.
VIII you excuse me, gcntlcmcn?"
" message from his hourir' And the
| young officers rushed to the windows.
Before the steps was Il camel, and sit
| ting straight in his high scat was 1. Sa-
harnn, wrapped in II long burnoosc q black
| veil fastened under his eyes, and waiting
| motonlcSs.
= come from the Oulcd Yakolld, and I
bring Ia you present from the aga
y present for me-"
Yes. here it is" and the Tuacg I'M
fastened from his saddle bag made from
- h,,i,.