The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27

that work which introduces hduH anew 10
each generation. "The Story of the False
Prince is told in THE Desert"
7 ABAKAN was a respectable jour-
neyman tailor, who worked for a
- slfllful master in Alexandria. He
was not a bad workman, but something
was wrong with him. Sometimes he would
sew for hours without stopping, till the
needle grew hot and the thread smoked.
Then he produced garments superior to
those made by any one else But at other
times he would sit inactive. with dream
ing, absent eyes, and his appearance then
was so strange that the master and the
apprentices said: "Labakan has his aris-
tocratic face again"
On Fridays, when other people went
quietly back to their labors after prayer
Labakan stalked out of the Mosque in
handsome garb, that he had acquired by
dint of painful economy, and strobe with
naughty, SLOW footsteps through the town.
If a friend saluted, him with Peace be
with you, friend Labakan," he merely re-
piled with a dignihed nod.
Now and then his master would say in
sport: "A good prince was lost in you,
Labakan." Then Labakan would answer,
with pleased face: Have you noticed
that, too?"
One day selim, the brother of the Sui
tan. sent a splendid garment to the shop
for alteration. and the work was intrusted
to Labakan on account of his art That
evening" after the shop was closed, Laba-
kan was drawn back by an Irresistible de-
sire to look at the beautiful raiment. He
stood before it, reveling in the CLEAN of
the embroidery, the shimmering colors of
the velvet and the richness of the silks.
At last he tried it on. 1t fitted him beau
tifully.
Am I not as good a prince as any?'
he muttered to himself, as he walked up
and down. HAS not the master observed
it?"
With the garments the Journeyman
seemed to have donned a royal soul. A
daring thought came to him. Hastily he
gathered his small store or money and
wandered through the gates of Alexan-
dria under cover of the night determined
to shake off the vulgar trade of tailor
forever.
He aroused admiration Wherever he ap-
peared; but the admiration was mingled
with embarrassing questions, for the
splendid clothes and his solemn, majestic
manner seemed strange in pedestrian
He observed soon that he could not go
on foot without being suspected For
small sum he bought an old horse, which
suited him well, as 1t was OF settled
habits and conservative mind and thus
did not demand that he prove his eques-
TRAN talents.
One day as his steed, Murva, was jog
ging along in its accustomed deliberate
way, a handsome, tall young man came
riding I'D on fine steed and Joined him.
The stranger was a person of frank ana
open nature. 1t was not long before ne
had told Labakan that he was omar
the nephew of the unhappy Elf Bey,
Bassa of Cairo, and that he was then
bound on an errand with which the Bassa
had intrusted him on his deathbed
Labakan was not quite so conhding. he
contented himself with limiting that he
was of high descent and was travelling
for pleasure.
On the second day of their journey
omar became still more communicative
and finally told Labakan his whole his
tory.
Elf Bey. said Omar. had brought him
IN since his infancy. He had never
known his parents. When Ellie Bey'
after three unfortunate battles, lay
wounded to death, he told Omar that
he was not his nephew at ALL put tue
son of a powerful ruler. owing TO the
warning of an astrologer the child nao
been sent away, to remain TIL his zzd
birthday, when the danger would De
ended
Elf Bey had not told him the name OF
his father. He had simply Instructed
him to appear at the great pillar Eli
serujah, four days journey from Alex
andria, on his I'D birthday, which was
due in few days. At the pillar ne
would find men waiting. He was to give
them dagger tnat the Bassa handed to
him and say: Here am I whom We
seek" If they replied, Praised be the
Prophet who preserved you.' he was to
follow them. They would guide him to
his father.
Iabakan looked at his companion with
rising envy. 1t CALLED him TO think that
one who already was of high rank as the
reputed nephew of a Bassa should have
a still higher rank destined for his proud
head, while he himself, gifted with all
the attributes of a prince. was doomed TO
AN ignoble career.
He confessed to himself that Omar, with
his brave, flashing eyes, his martial race
his gentle, well-bred manner, possessed
everything that a noble young man should
ov,. Ant for all that he felt constrained
to believe that a Labakan would please
royal father as well, If not better
These enyious thoughts grew within
Lapakan during the day and through the
next night. When the morning light fell
upon the sleeping prince Labakan had
succumbed to desire and ambition, The
dagger, the proof of his identity, was in
the slumbering mans sash. Gently he
withdrew it. For a fieeting instant the
thought came to him to thrust it into
Omar's breast, but the peaceful tailor S
soul within him was terrified at the idea.
He contented himself with putting the
dagger within the folds of his own rich
apparel. Then he bridled Omars swift
horse and by the time the prince awoke
to find himself robbed Labakan had
gained a start of leagues.
It was the first day of the holy
month Ramadan, and he had ample
time to reach the pillar, since the
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