Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-02-19

to confer upon her, out Z VAS nOt NJ
hammed's custom 10 be denied any
thing lie asked for, especially anything
feminine. He complacently announced (
that he would come aboard that after
noon and talk it over with Peggy.
Brewster looked the swarthy gentle +
man over with unconcealed disgust in :
his ewes. The mere thought Of this (
ugly brute so much as touching the
hand Of little Peggy Gray filed him
with horror. and yet there was some +
thing laughable in the situation. lie
could not hide The smile that came VIII.
the mind picture of Peggy listening to
the avowal of the sheik. The Arab
1nisinterpreted this exhibition Of mirth.
To him the grin indicated friendship
and encourag cement. lie wanted 10
give Brewster a ring as 4 pledge Of
affection. but the American declined
the Offering and also refused to carry a
bag of Jewels to Peggy.
IN let the old boy come aboard just
to see Peggy look hole through him.
he resolved NO matter how obnoX-
ious it may be, it isn't every girl who
can say an oriental potentate has ask
ed her to marry him. If this camel
herder gets disagreeabIe we may tuIn-
BILE him into the sea for a change"
With the best grace possible he in
vited the sheik to come aboard and
consult Miss Gray in person. Moham-
med was a good bit puzzled over the
intimation that it would be necessary
| for him to plead for anything he had
expressed a desire to possess. Brew
! ster confdad the news to Rip Van
| while and Subway Smith, who had
gone ashore with him, and the trio
agreed that it would be good sport
to let the royal proposal come as sur
| prise to Peggy. Van Wrinkle returned
to the yacht at once, but his compan-
ions stayed ashore to do some shop
ping. When they approached the Fit
ter later on they observed an unusual
connection on deck.
Mohammed had not tarried long aft
err their departure. He gathered his
train together, selected a few costly
presents that had been returned from
the harem and advanced on the boat
without delay. The captain Of the Fit
ter stared long and hard at the gayly
| bedecked launches and then called to
his first officer. Together they watched
the ceremonious approach. a couple Of
brown faced heralds came aboard first
and announced the approach Of the
mighty chief. Captain Perry went for
ward to greet the sheik as he came
over the side of the ship, but he was
brushed aside by the advance guards
Half a hundred swarthy fellows crowd
ed aboard. and then came the sheik, the
personiication of pOmp and pride.
"Nhere is she?' he asked in his ma,
tive tongue The passengers were by
this time aware Of the visitation and
began to struggle on deck, filed with
curiosity.
"What do you mean by coming
aboard in this manner?" demanded the
now irate Captain Perry, showing q
couple Of retainers out of his path and
facing the beaming sutton. An inter
| prefer took hand at this juncture, and
t the doughty captain finally was made
to understand the object of the visit
[ He laughed in the sheiks face and tolG
/ the mate to call up few jackies tt
drive the "dagoes" off. Rip Van Win
e kle interfered, and peace was restored
e The cruise had changed Rip into a hap
pier and far more radiant creature. S,
Y it was only natural that he should hav,
f shared the secret with Mary Valen
: tine. He had told the story of th
It sheik's demand to her as soon as b
r came aboard, and she had divulged i
s to Peggy the instant Rip was out O
d sight.
Brewster found the sheik sitting i
state on the upper deck. inpatient
awaiting the appearance of his charm
y er. He did not know her NAME but b
~ had TRANQUILITY commanded Rip to DIE
duce all of the women on board so ths
he might select Peggy from anon
~ them. Van Wrinkle and Bragdon, VIII
!. :, now was in the secret, We're preparin
to march the ladies past the ruler Whe
Monty came up.
lpanas 'Has he seen Peggy?'' he asked {
~ fan Wrinkle.
In1(l ""Not yet. She is dressing for the o
81 asion."
T.
~ when she gets over the fir
i. +in,a lck, laughed Monty.
!, 80 lust then the sheik discovered Pc
e,oo+en. who, pretty as a picture, Dire
+ro hi the strange group. To her amaz
: rT-oo,.o,,t, two slaves rushed forward al
: - Quoted her passage long enough
80 A. their heads on the deck fe
I'd II n after which they arose and te
,a,. torrorl two magnificent necklaces. 81
,iIjion mig repaired for. the proposal, but til
,s+ DAVIS an disconnected her. She gasp,
if one cougked about in perplexity. II
n unbiased We're smiling broadly, and t
,o,.v uembelad placed his hands over b
for the daEhS hedrI.
be well intofIo mas "a pam, Whisper
e worst over W NIKE ssInpatneucaiIy, al
lad letters to dugneu. Feggy dld not he
tho few en- instant after hearing t
Tho -aIlyo6 i<b+