Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-08-19

1t shows the wonderful ways of Allah" ="
These Coplic Christians, indeed, speak
ing Arabic as they do, aud living so con-
stantly among Mussulman population,
have imbibed many Mobammedan traits
of thought besides the mere accident of
language, such as speaking of the Chris
tian God as Allah. Fatalism has taken
as strong a hold Of their minds as of Is
lam itself. "Say or" | answered lightly,
drawing a cigar from my case.
"Then this adventure of mine" he
said, happened near Assiot, in lsmail S
days, and | was bold young man then
too bold for Egypt. Ny father had a
piece of ground by the riverside that was
afterward taken from us by Ismail for
the Daira.
"In our village lived Sheikb, very
hard man a Mussulmau, an Arab, de-
sceudant of the Prophet. He was the
greatest Sheikh for miles around. When
he went forth to town he rode on great
white mule. And he had harem, too
three wives Of his own, who were beauti-
ful as the day-so girls who bad seen
them said, for as for us, we saw them not
plump women every one Of them, as
the Khedive's at Cairo, with eyes like a
gazelles marked round with kohl, and
their nails stained red every day with
heuna. All the world said the Sheikh
was happy man, for he had the finest
dates of the country to eat, and servants
and camels in plenty to 10 his bidding
"Now, there was a girl in our village
Nusrau like me, beautiful young girl
and her name was Laila. Her ewes were
like those of that child there-Zanobi-
who carries the effendi's water gourd on
her head, and her cheeks were round and
soft as a grape after the inundation.
meant to wed her, and she liked me well
In the evening we sat and talked together
under the whispering palm trees. But
when the time drew near for me TO mar
ry her, and | had arranged with her pa
rents. there came message from the
Sheikh. lie had seen the girl by the
river as she went down TO draw water
with her face unveiled, and, though she
was Nusrani, she fred his soul and be
wished to take her away from me to put
into his own harem.
when | heard that word | tore my
clothes in my rage, and, all Christian thai
was, and of no account with the Mos
lens, went up to the Sheikh's house il
a very white anger, and fell on my face
and asked leove to see him.
The Sheikb sat in bis courtyard, insid,
his house, and gave audience to all men
after the fashion Of Islam. | entered
and spoke to him. oh, Sheikh, l said
boldly, Allah and the Khedive have
prospered you with exceeding great pros
perity. You drink Frank wine every
day of your life, aud eat the fat of tht
laud, and your harem is full Of beautiful
women. Now in the village where live
is a Nusrani girl, whose name is Laila.-
Her eyes are bright toward mine, and
love her as the thirsty land loves water
Yet, hear, o Sheikh, word is brought nj
now that you wish 10 take this girl, wh'
is mine, and | come TO plead with yol
to-day as Nathan the Prophet PLEADED
with David, the King of the Benz Israel
If you take away from me my Laila. m.
one eve lamb -
"But at the word the Sheikh rose ul
and cenched his fist, and was very angry
who is this dog he asked, that b
should dare TO dictate TO me Take thi
fellow, he cried in his anger, and lie hlr
hand and foot, and aog him as l b.d %
his naked back, that be ma u5w, beiD