The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-15
CHAPTER XII.
VISITORS At TEHBALI.

At : O'Clock on an October morning
Norbert was. according to his usual
habit. sitting on camp stool before his
desk. when suddenly Virgil appeared.
Visitors, Visitors. sirl' he exclaimed
in an agitated manner.
Visitors" absently replied his mas
ter. What will you say neXt?'
Indeed. sir. it is quite true There
are ladies and gentlemen on horseback.
and quite a caravan with them was
in the woodward. half way UP the hill.
when l caught sight OF them. and I
thought YOU would like 10 know it be
times. / could make ont Mile heTsain,
with her little maid. and her father and
the doctor"
You are dreaming" replied Norbert.
who got I'd. however. with aIacrity, and
put his glass 10 his eye
where are your visitors now
Look. sir. there they are. at the FOO;
OF the fifteenth zigzag.
One glance through his spyglass con-
WINGED Norbert that t. was indeed the
fact that Mile Kersa.n. with her father
and DIT Briet. was approaching.
What good wind blows you here -
cried the young astronomer. when they
met. Il can hardly believe my eyes that
| really see Nile. Gertrude herself"
1t is true. however" sale she lightly
Jumping of her horse. nth Norbert s
assistance DO you think that l would
have allowed my father TO go 70 Khar-
toum alone"
To Khartoum, Arc you going there
we are" answered VI. Kersaiu. az
he dismounted. Il have been appointed
consul general in the Soudan. and natu-
rally I take my daughter with me"
Well" added Bret you seem toll
erabIy backward here as regards news
Hicks Pasha has succeeded in ooncen-
/ trat!ng his army at KhGrtoum. After
} eight months hard drill. it is thorough
/ " we'll disciplined. and the Mahdi has
beaten a retreat toward The Great
( Lakes. We shall hear no more Of the
Mahdi. He has evaporated into thin air
and the magic Of his name and fame are
over forever. You know how firmly
once believed in the Mahdi Well. l be-
( Iieve in him no more"
Neither do you. consul" said Nor
+ bert since you are taking Mile. Ker-
/ saiu 20 your new post"
Il scarcely believe in him row" re-
piled Kersain. Il am certain that the
Modification Of the Soudan is only a
+ question OF time. and ! expressed my
+ self TO that effect in my official reports
/ as there is a grand field for French
commerce here. The minister saw the
matter in the same light, and l was or
dcred 10 KhartOum. where Gertrude in
. sists on accompanying me"
/ .Ot course." replied his daughter. Am
not also an official parsonage You
must know that papa prides himself on
these reports l help him with them, !
own it is partly with a view Of seeing
/ Khartoum. and perhaps also 10 get a
peep at the Peak OF TeEbali. But [ had
no idea il was like this. 1t is simply
( splendid"
Gertrude was. in truth. quite delight
ed 10 find herself at Tehbali. and she
did not try TO hide her feelings. She
could hardly contain her delight wheu
they crossed the threshold Of the OBJ
servatory and entered the large vaulted
hall that TyrreI Smith had transformed
for the nonce into beautiful drawing
! room.
I'VE are explained Norbert, in the
/ Hau or Motors. as We term Il, becaus,
all Of the conducting wires meet here
and are under the control OF those two
ivory knobs yonder. But We will show