Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-05-12
THE FOUNTAIN IN THE DESERT

over the desert. The sun was burning hot
and the hillocks of golden sand We're lost
in the binding glitter of the distance.
The sky seemed to be enveoped in a
shimmering opal haze. Before them lay
the white line of the winding road-if it
could be called a road, this long, endless
stretch marked by the crumblmg bones of
man and beast The pilgrims left the
last halting place with its wells far be-
hind and carried enough water to last
them two days, at the end of which they
hoped to reach an oasis with its scanty
growth. Only that morning their eyes
had been Toasted by the witching sight
OF shady. green groves. and deep blue
lakes. Now even this mirage had van
ished. Everything mad become deadened
under the stern gaze of the merciless sun.
The travellers sWayed to and fro upon
their over-tired camels and sleepily fol
lowed their guide.
Some one began to sing, but in the
desert even song fills the soul with sad
ness, and the singer soon grew silent.
Quiet-only the monotonous crunchiny of
the sand made by the tread of the slender
feet of the camels and the silken cur.
tains under which the tawny skinned Be
douin beauties We're hidden from the
parching rays of the sun. Everything
was deadened even the human heart! At
least so it seemed.
A dying Arab lay close to the road by
which the caravan was passing: near him
lay his faithful horse. which had been
ridden TO death, a white spot on the
golden sand; the horseman wrapped his
head i'll his white burnoose and laid it
upon the dead body of his friend. The
camels passed by alphabetically. Not one
OF the travellers even looked to the place
where the black eyes of the man who was
perishing in the desert followed them
keenly and longingly from under the
white silk cover. The whole caravan had
already passed when an old man who was
riding i'll the rear of it suddenly stopped
and dismounting bent over the dying
Arab
What ails thee?''
Drink" was all the sufferer could
ut ter.
The old man gazed after the caravan.
1t wendell its way slowly into the gleam-
ing distance None of the travellers looked
back. The old man lifted his head. and
waited to him from on high and pene-
trated to his very soul. He took down
his skins of water. First he washed the
face and mouth of the sufferer, then he
let him swallow once, twice-and the face
OF the dying man became animated with
life
Thou art of the tribe of the ON
miades?"
Yes" replied the old man.
Il saw it by the mark on thy arm.
am of the tribe of Elkomiades: we are
deadly foes"
In the desert. before the face of Allah,
we are brothers. Drink I am old, thou
art young. Drink and live"
The sufferer drank greedily. The old
man lifted him up and seated him upon
his camel
Go home" he said "and tell your
tribesmen of the way we of the tribe of
Ommiades revenge ourselves upon our en-
cmies"
And thou?"
Il am old and my days are numbered.
| would not be long for this world, any
way"
Let us 90 together"
"Impossible! The camel is too small.
1t will not be able to carry the two of
us"
The Arab hesitated. But he was young
lite had not lost its sweetness. fame and
love were awaiting him. He silently pre-.
pared to depart. Suddenly he stopped
Thou hast kindred. children?" he
asked.
NO one!7 replied the old man.
FAREWELL"
The one left behind looked after the
departing one until he was lost in the
glittcring, binding distance. lie had
spoken falsely to his foe. He had chill
dren-but they were all grown and
famous warriors They needed him no
longer.
The caravan and the Arab were no
longer to be seen. The sun burned-the
sky was yelled in a ghttering opal haze.
The old man wrapped his head in his
white burnoose and lay down with his
face to the ground
Several months passed.
The same desert The same golden
hillocks Of sand The same caravan re-
turning. As on their previous Journey
the pilgrims had, at their last hating
place at an oasis. taken enough water to
last them two days, and were swaving
sleepily on the backs Of their tired out
camels when suddenly their guide halted.
What witcheraft Is that"
He pointed into the distance. The pill
@rims who had meanwhile gathered about
him also stopped and We're looking with
great wonder at the place he had pointed
out. There. among the endless sand heaps
lay a green oasis. Tall palms proudly
lifted their green. luxurious heads and a
cool fount ain bnbbed up among a thicket
OF green bushes and shrubs. The joyful
murmur of the cool streams filled the
languid, sinister quiet of the surrounding
desert. Brightly colored, beautiful flow
ers reioiced the eyes Of the weary tray
eler. and their sweet odoF met him as if
with n friendly oTeptino