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

we're we'll he were made acquainted with
his own viIeness by the instrumentality
of hundred lashes. And go tomorrow
and bring Laia to me, aud take care that
this Copt shall never again set eyes on
her T.
"WelI, efFendi, at the words, three
strong Arabs seized me-fierce sons of the
desert-and bound me hand and foot, and
beat me with hundred lashes of the
kurbash till my soul was sick and faint
within me. | swooned with the disgrace
and with the severity Of the blows. And
[ was young in those days, And | was
very angry.
"That night | went home to my own
mud hut, with black blood in my heart,
and took counsel with my brother Sirgeh
how | should avenge this insult. But
first | sent word with my brother to
LaiIa's hut that Lailas father should
bring her to meet us in the dusk, in very
great secrecy, by the bank of the river
la the gray twilight she came down. A
dahabiab was passing, and in it foreign
er, very great prince, an American
prince of great wealth aud wisdom. | re-
member his name even now. Perhaps
the effendi knows him. He was Cyrus
P. Quackenboss, and he came from Gin
cinuali."
81 have not the honor" | answered,
smiling at this very unexpected Western
intrusion.
"WelI, anyhow" my Copt continued,
unheediug my smile, "we hailed the da-
habiab, aud made the American prince
understand how the matter stood. lie
was very kind. We were brother Chris
taus. He took Laila on board, aud
promised to deliver her safe TO her aunt
at Karuak, so that the Sheikh might not
know where the girl was gone, nor send to
fetch her. And the counsel | took next
day with my brother was this In the
dead of night | rose up from my hut, and
put white linen over the whole Of my
face, to conceal my features, and stole out
alone, with Il thick stick in my hands,
and went to the Sheikhs house down by
the bank Of the river.
81 broke into the Sheikh's room by the
fiat rooted Clubhouse that led to his win
dow, and | locked the door, and there,
before the Sheikh could rouse his house
hold, | beat him, blow for blow, within
an inch of his life, in revenge for my own
beating, and because Of his injustice in
trying TO take my Laila from me. The
Sheikh was a powerful man, with muscles
like iron, and he grappIed me hard and
tried 10 wrench the stick from me, and
bruised me about the body by Hinging me
on the ground and | was weak with my
beating aud very sore all over. But still,
being by nature a strong young man,
very fierce with anger, | fought him
hard and got him under in the end, and
thwacked him until he was as black and
blue as | myself was, one mass Of bruise;
from head to foot with my cudgeling.-
Then, Just as his people succeeded in fore
ing the door, | jumped out Of the window
upon the fat.roofed Clubhouse and leaped
lightly to the ground, and daried like a
iackal across the open cotton fields anc
between the plots Of doura to my own 1T
tie hut on the outskirts of the village.
reached there painting, and knew The
Sheikh would kill me for my daring.
Next morning, early, the Sheikh sen
to arrest me. lie was blind with rag
and with the effect Of the blows: his fac'
was lived and his cheeks purple. BY tb'
beard Of the Prophet, Athanasio, be saiC
to me, hitting me hard on the cheek-ml
name is Athanasio, effeudi, after our grea
partriarch-'your blood shall flow fol
this, you dog Of Christian.
81 cast myself down, like a slave, OF
the ground before him, though hatec
him like sin for it is well to abuse one
self in due time before the face of author
ity. Besides, by that time Lalla wa
safe. and that was all | cared about
Suffer for what, o my Sheikb !? cried
as though knew not what he meint.-
what have | done to Your Excellency
Who has told you evil words concernin:
your poor servant?
Take him away roared the ohelkt
to the three strong Arabs. Garry hin
off TO be tried before the Cadi at Assiout,
For even in IsmaiI's days, you see, ei
fendi. before the English came, tn
Shelkh himself would not have dared t
nut me to death uulried. The power 0
life aud death lay with the Cadi at ASS
out.
$50 they took the to the Assiout, int
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