The Florida agriculturist., 1908-01-01

GlasshOuse street eating boiled mutton
and vegetables and drinking "bitter"
out of pewter tankard. From time
to time he turned to copy of the
Gazette which lay folded beside his
plate; but for the most part he was
content to enjoy his meal and his
thoughts particularly the one blissful
thought that his Lucy was to meet him
that evening, have little dinner with
him and then join in a visit to the
theater. Rapturous prospect! Celestial
anticipation
Presently dark man entered and
sat down opposite him. He was dressed
in the fashion, but his long black hair,
lustrous brown eyes and massive fea-
lures suggested Oriental origin. He
summoned the waiter, and in a deep
rumble ordered his meal. Dick looked
up and the man looked at him and
smiled.
ct see you are reading an article on
Morocco" he said. "I have just re-
turned from that land could tell you
many curious things about it.''
'Tndeed!" said Dick, with no desire
at all to be drawn into conversation
with stranger.
eyes; I am Denzil of Morocco. My
mother was a Spaniard, my father an
American. [ have been in the Shereef's
court for twenty three years."
'FYou don't say SOL" said Dick, feeling
horribly bored.
"Fire away, but cut it short, if you
don't mind, as [ am due back at the
office in 10 minutes" said Dick.
GA year ago this very day." began
the stranger, slipping his wine, ga man
came to the sultan's place, desirous of
an audience of his majesty. He was
admitted into the Presence, and there,
falling before the sovereign, said: L
am old and gray, and of the august line
of Be1isarius. My death is at hand,
but ere I die I would fain present a
gift to the Son of Heaven He there
upon drew from under his robe an ap-
ple-quite an ordinary looking one-and
handed it to the king, saying, very
slowly and solemnly, Eat of that apple,
and your majesty will remain on earth
in your present youth and strength till
the Day of Doom, perennially beautiful
and perennially happy"
eco on!' said Dick.
"The sultan" continued the stranger,
solemnly, ''took the apple and bade the
old man go in peace"
"And did he eat it ?" asked Dick, with
a smile, thinking the man the loveliest
liar he had yet encountered.
seHe turned the matter over in his
royal mind for many days. and finally
concluded that after a hundred or two
hundred years of earth the sleep of the
ho cu00f q
called the creature whom of all the
world he most tenderly loved-his fa-
vorite wife-and said to her: Delight
of my eyes! Here is gift from heaven.
Eat of this apple and you will remain
on earth forever, as beautiful as you
are at this moment And the sultana
fell at his feet and said, Lord and
Master, I am thy servant and took
the apple and retired to her apartment.
"Of course she ate it," said Dick.
'FNo, she also shrank from accepting
so far-reaching gift But there was
one in the palace whom she loved more
dearly than she loved the sultan, and
she came to him and told him the
strange story. Placing the apple in his
hand, while the tears poured from her
eyes, she said: Take it and eat it,
and be happy here on earth forever;
for who knoweth what fate awaiteth us
beyond the grave?' That man sits be-
fore you"
"Great Scott!" gasped Dick now be-
ginning to believe.
''But the sultan came and slew her
with his own sword and drove me from
the land Heaven knows [ only wanted
to die with her, but he dared not red