Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-01

YOU the place the khedive say the Christians stand
Yes. do try to get us the permission else we shall
have to go back answered Mary.
Mohammed dived through the crowd. Soon he
appeared with a tall, rotund Mohammedan for HON
the Arabs made way respectfully. When Mohammed
had steered this stately individual around to the
side of the carriage where Mary sat- he said to her
silt, this the sheik of my village. He rule over
forty thousand Arabs. He admire much the Amer
lean people. and he say he wish to the American
Slit and give her the paper from his own hand.
THE old sheik who could not speak English gave
Mary graceful oriental salutaton, touching his
forehead with the palm of his hand, bowling, and say
ing something in Arabic, all with stately delberation
if to slow music. Mary had asked Mohammed
earlier to teach her the Egyptian sautatlon She had
found IN her wander1ngs IN many countries that 1T
covered multitude of omissions to be able to say,
" How do you do and Thank you in the language
of the people among whom she happened to be. Now
in reply to the sheik's courtier like greeting she
bowed and said with great cordiality, "Nardksaldd.
The sheik smiled and showed his perfect white
teeth. Marys pronunciation of the musical Arab
greeting was barbarous; but her soft Infections her
Southern warmth, and her pleased interest in him
self made inslnuatlng amends for her linguistic sins
The old sheik looked like picture and Mary gazed
at him as frankly as if he really one He
underdress of blue satin; over this soft, creamy
robe was draped artsticaly; silver sword and sill
pistol swung from richly embroidered belt
dark blue mantle of velvet, gold braided, tell over
his shoulders to the ground.
Mary would have been surprised had she known
that the sheik behind the mask of his oriental calm
finding her interesting to look at she
found him; that he had noted her lavender parasol
her white dress, the bunch of vioets fastened
within her gold belt. While she had been thinking
that the sheik made picture delightful to look at
the oriental rejecting that the American woman
ought to veil to hide her beauty He looked
pleased when Mary through Mohammed, expressed
her thanks to him for the pass.
slit, said Mohammed, - the shelk my village say
he be very proud take coffee with him his house
sometime. He live close by Great Pyramid
Say to your sheik for me. Mohammed that he IS
very kind and | hope it will be possible for me to
have that pleasure before leave Egypt answered
Mary thinking that when she returned with her
friends to Cairo it would be interesting to partake OF
a sheik's hospitality. When Marys answer had been
interpreted to him. the sheik made another suave
salutatlon and withdrew
THE driver now, at Mohammed's order. turned the
horses and drove by crcuitous route to the OPP
posite side of the court Here policemen held back
the excitable Arab mob lest it mis- ht approach too
to the Holy Carpet, which stood outside the
court under a pavilion built specially for it. The
sheks paper. however, shown by Mohammed
opened a way for Mary's carriage 1t even admitted
her into the inclose court where later the Holy Car
pet to perform its spectacular parade before
starting for Mecca. Mary found there, in the space
allotted to onlookers, a small assemblage of English
and Americans.
She could See under the pavilion opposite
the of all this stir. 1t was not King, nor a
Pope but merely dark brocade embroidered in
silver and gold, and fitted square frame with
a pyramidal top,-the Holy Carpet, or Mammal.
Yet it was holding royal levee. Rich Damascus
rugs covered the steps leading up TO the HOLY Gar
pets temporary throne. Up and down these steps
moved the gorgeousy robed officials who had the
great privilege of approaching near the carpet 5
majesty long line of sumptuousy caparisoned
camels stood in front of the pavilion twisting their
long necks and tossing their little heads and down.
The space between the court and the pavilion was
dense with pushing, maddened Arabs whom only
vgilant police guards restrained from rushing upon
the Holy Carpet.
A CONNECTION among the multtudes at the op-
posite end of the court the citadel turned
Mary eyes in that direction. She the khedive's
guards clearing the way. The Egyptian ruler de-
scended from his carriage and was instantly sur