Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1895-11-21

! Off than Aycsha's father. whose lands
/ being low and near tie river. were
stu under water. IL an evil moment
he confded his difficulties to his new
made friend, Nassau.
"Eut what am 10 do?" said the old
man. How shall get fresh seed when
all my savings OF the past year are
| gone? They went to till and plant
those fields that are now under water
We'll, replied Nassar.I see no other
way for YOU but to borrow the money
you require. Luckily my master is COM
ing down here III few days and ! will
put your case Iefore him and get him
to lend you what you require 1t is true
| That he is hard man, but | will feel
sure he will make favorable terms for
you when I request him to do so out of
consideration for me-
He then left. A couple of days later
he returned to say that after a long and
stormy discussion with his master dur
Ing which he had threatened to leave
| him and take service elsewhere, the lat
ter had consented to lend the money re-
quired without any interest, only stip-
ulatinS that ii the loan We're not repaid
by certain date, he should have the
right to sell Ais property in order to
repay himself.
| MS condition was gladly accepted,
as by the date named the new crops
would have been gathered and sold. An
agreement was drawn up and signed
by both parties. Nassau signing for his
master, who he said had returned TO
Cairo
Taking advantage of his intended
victims inability to read. Nassau con-
| triyed to change the date at which re-
payment would have to be made; in
stead of it's being six months hence. as
he had told Ali. the loan would have
to be repaid in as many weeks.
Five weeks had already gone by
when one day Nassau, holding an open
letter, came to Ali to say that his mas
ter had written to him that he wanted
all the ready money he could send him.
and that he had to collect every loan
made to the peasantry as soon as it
became due.
~But mine does not fall due for some
time TO come said Ali. Il have no
shall be quite able to repay it,"
How is it," asked Nassau, that my
master speaks of your loan as shortly
due? Is 1t possible that he is mistaken
as to the date? He writes that your
loan has to be repaid by Friday next;
you had better let me see the copy you
hold of the agreement between you"
This was brought and sure enough it
stated that the loan had to be repaid in
to be sold.
To be sold at time like this, after
the disastrous floods of the spring! Why
it would barely fetch one-third of its
value, and that third would be swa-
lowed in repaying the sum that had
been borrowed.
All their neighbors when they came
to hear of it, were loud in their expres
sions Of sympathy with the old people.
but were too poor to help them out Of
their difficulties.
Nassau, who was daily visitor, be-
walled his inability to help them. He
| had. he said. begged his master to con-
tent himself with part payment only,
but this had been refused. Had it been
accepted he could have advanced the
amount himself.
| 1t wanted but two days till the time
when Ali had to repay the loan. when
one evening, Nassau, who now was al
ways with him. as if struck by sudden
thought exclaimed:
Il can only SEQ one way for you out
of your difficulty. You have daughter:
give her to me for a wife. will ti.cn
claim your property as her dowry. and
not even my master will be able to
touch it,
| II must consult my daughter first"
replied Ali. land il she be willing to
have you for her husband, see no OBJ
lection to your plan: but, bark you.
love my daughter as the apple of my
eye. and would sooner die of hunger
than attempt to force her inclination"
That evening Ayesha was told Of
Nassar's proposal and that she could
save her parents from beggary in their
old age by consenting to marry him.
The girl burst into tears: checking
them by an effort. she replied that she
would do all that her duty and love TO-.
her parents commanded her to do.
On the following morning she was
nowhere to be found. Nassau. furious
at being foiled. threw off the mask tie
had worn all along, and after claiming
! the money due to his master and receiv-
ing reply that it could not be paid.
turned Ayesha's parents out Of their
home and babe the public crier give no
tice that the property would be sold
week hence to the highest bidder.