Evening journal., 1899-07-22
HER BIT OF WISDOM.
ssVXT OAIEN-foolsg" said this turbaned
wv degenerate between the philosoph-
~ ruNs f,or, lie b,oLoh sfNo |


sir; she more wise than two serpents, and
when the love more gentle than Moham-
med's own dove. Bissmillah listen lie
should have said wait" During the next
few minutes he was silently engaged in at
tending to his pipe; meantime the ful
clear moon shone on patches OF desert, water
and greenery. We were anchored for the
night just within the northern end Of the
Bitter lakes, and our passenger-in the em-
ploy of a ships agent at Port Said-was
jouneying back from Suez.
There is not much Of interest about the
Bitter lakes, else we would hardly have con-
sented to listen to the tale our passenger
seemed anxious to tell us. But in such
place, and especially for those whom trav-
cling by ship in this part Of the world is
not new, anything that would tend to break
the monotony and silence of the tropical
night was acceptable, and we rather urged
him to spin the yarn. 1t was some few sec
onds before he spoke again, and we had
about concluded our efforts were to be in
vain, when he began again.
Listen. Ten-l2 years ago one
English steamer struck one Frenchman
there" With the stem of his pipe he indi-
Gated the entrance to the canal just ahead
Of us 'Ze French boat was going to sink,
and re captain run it on shore by re signal
house. Well" he continued, drop
ping some of his Frenchman' S style of speak
ing English, which came of his better
knowledge Of the cross-channel language, de
men were sent home; but de officers, en-
gineers and de carpentair was keep by de
damaged chip, and some came from Port
Said to mend de broken place. OF course,
de steamer was here weeks. Well re French
signalman in de house zair' (again point
ing) chad one servant girl-very fne-what
you call good for re eyes. All, beautiful
Eyes like re moon, face same as hour, tall,
and soft to de fingers. Her mother was
Circassian-slave, | think; but the master
give his child freedom cause her mother
ask it. Well, she had lover, Mus.
sulman, in lsmailia; but she soon love ze
carpentair-he live in tent on shore there
with his shipmen. Ze signalman had one
fine cow-plenty milk, and Alphonse-de
carpentair-go many times to buy milk. He
was young, kind, and pleasing to see.
Il was what you call taxman here, and /
learn ALL
"Well, Alphonse and Joyce Joyce not
her name, but he call her so, and she called
that to-day, they meet many times after ze
sun 60 down-so many that Ben Ali come
two, three times catch them. OF course, he
make trouble. Love makes ze coward brave
Think she care? Not She speak some
French, and she tell Alphonse that she,
what you call, afiianced to Ben Ali AL
phonse not care. He love her, he say; she
love him, she say; so what for careg &.
All, Ben Ali come soon to claim her:
then she must 60 Ze signalman and French
people about take sides with Alphonse, and
oil fnIr 60 DE
wisdom is FOOLS knowledge They better
know their own business best.
"The ship was nearly ready, then she go
to India and come back to Marseilles One
night Joyce creep out of re signal house
First she run by the lake to where it deep;
there she leave her-her what YOU call
dress and shawl, then she 20 quiet back to
re ships small boat-where Alphonse lie
wait for her Her mothers sister hive other
side the lake there, and he was to take her
there till his ship come back then she
would 60 with him in it to France OF
course, de people on zs side de lake was to
think she had drown herself, cause Ben Ali
making trouble. So was her plan, and ze
lover always say his hour's plans are good
1t would take Alphonse most ze night but
what care hel She would be out of Ben
Ais way, and was he not re slave of his
Joyce?
$50 re boat put off-Joyce lying down,
her great moon-eyes peeping over re stern
edge at de ship and signal house. Soon She
lift her head and look hard Then she sit
up and say hot Words Alphonse stop pull,
and ask what re mattair. She make to him
to pull hard, and say: Ben Ali, Ben Alp
Then she tell Alphonse that she make mis-
take of ze night. She sometimes have to sec
Ben Ali for keep peace this was re night
she should see him, and run away on de
next night. Never mind, if re Alussulman
not see them. But-Joyce said quick words
Ben Ali had turned from ze shore, and was
making speed after ze ships boat He come
out of re canal from lsmaiiia, and was GO
ing to ze signaman's landing place, when he
see ze uncommon sight of boat going cross
ze lake at night lie miss ze ships boat
and what YOU call jealousy sometimes make
men wise He give chase. His boat was one
old small thing, made Of cane and camel skim
and he sent it through water like steamer.
"Joyce begin to feel 'fraid, talk to her
self, fand turn about Ben Ali must catch
them, and Alphonse say he go back and
hght him. No, say Joyce. Then She creep
to her lover, take his knife, kiss him TO say
nothing, and tell him to stop pulling two
minutes after she leave him, then 60 round
back towards ze ship. lie know how well
She can swim ike fish, and he say no word
In one minute Joyce slip into ze water, like
ze night come down, and swim straight for
Ben Ais boat. Aiphouse go ON by and by
him turn, go on again, then sit still. soon
Ben All come on. like mad man: him see
the other boat tum, wonder what ze mat
tair, and stop to use his paddle Eat minute
his boat havS its life took Joyce stab it at
ze bow. under water, as il run over her
Then she swim fast to her lover, and Ben
All begin to sink. lie shout for help; but
Alphonse stop as Joyce tell him. Soon he
see her head in ze moonlight; pull TO her, and
take her in. Now, Ben Ahs boat gone and
he nowhere. Ze lovers say IL not right for
him to die; they go to look, and find him
sinking last time. He no senses they nut
him in their boat, see that he soon an right
and talk what best to DO. In two minutes
they do what Joyce say Lie him face down.
tie his hands and feet, and make an haste
70 ze few houses on ze other side Of lake
Presently him speak and try to look al
them; then she point Alphonse finish ze
plan, and wind Ben Ais turban round him
eyes and mouth. Soon they come TO ze
shore; there they leave ze Mussulman, and
60 back Next morning Joyce ard ze car