The Washington times., 1910-11-11

beast" She had left me without love.
without ideals, without country.
Hafiz, the sheik, had turned my mind
/ In that moment of desOlate emptiness 10
new chances, new fatherland, ideals and
ambitions that my wretched fife might
! still hold. My wild words 70 Hope at
parting from her, might perchance have
been repented had / been left to nv
self. Now this cowardly deed Cf Hafiz' s
( had fixed them firm, had crystallized
I them into sudden, stubborn resolutions
] II my promised position in the tribe
were a thing TO covet TO the extent Of
} seeking human life in order 10 attain
such eminence. then l as well as Hafiz
would strive for that position. And 1
would win.
I put away from me. as l thought
! forever. ali memories of America, or my
| former hopes and Of my own people.
/ Henceforth / was a Bedouin-henceforth
and to the end The Arabs were part
Of the army even now massing against
the English. / would cast in my lot
with them. The English were Anglo
SaXOns Of the same blood as the race
that has cast me off. Then l. as an
Arab, would fight them and help drive
them from the land OF my birth.
Strong IN my morbid resolve, eNult-
ing miserably in my self-sacrifce, 1
made my way toward the camps.
Coming toward me, from the emir's
\ tent, was Basraouls chief kavass He
was evidently in search Of me- for he
salaamed as l drew near. and began:
"HOwadjn the
when you address me-" L suarled
| breaking in on his message. never
again use that term. To you and 10 an
others of the El Kanah, save to his
highest sheiksY 1 am henceforth 'effen-
dina "
He looked puzzled
Il am Of your blood and henceforth
OF your tribei" / went on. Foreign
titles are not for me. nor dc 1 wish
them. Remember that, and pass nv or
der on to your fellows. Do you under
stand2"
piled, his tanned face lighting up hap
PLY, II shall obey with joy."
A new idea came TO me. halted again
as 1 was about to go onward.
How long have you been the emir's
kaVassg' l asked.
1T win now soon be twenty-five
years." he said.
You remember my father"
As I remember yesterdays sun, ef-
And myself as n chnd?"
From the day Of your birth, effen-
high, and the"-
How was I named, then?" What
name did my mother and my mother s
people give me at my birth? Do you
chance TO recall it?'
recall II well, as does many an
other here, effendina. Your name, set
Upon the great scroll. was Nassau"
I repeated the high-sounding v.v.a
refiectively. The Arab term for ''vic-
tor Truly, a vile irony OF fate But 1
was minded 10 make it one day true.
IN Allah's name. so be iti'' l eX-
I claimed BE that name hencefOrth, TO
you and 10 all othersl You came bear
ing ME message!''
Yes, effendina," he replied, brought
hack gf1nngnlg "a drFfrr
council has risen The emir-on whom
be eternal peace-bids ME summon you
and say that he will now take up tho
ahatr broken OF by the Sudanese mes
senger. The others have also been sent
for. VIII you hasten2 See, the elders
and the feringee are already assemb-
ling"
Many are moving from various direc-
tons toward the great tent Even as
looked, l saw Hope Keyes reioin her
father, who had wandered out in search
OF her. The two neared the tent ahead
Of us.
Jack Penn met them and spoke gayly
10 Hope, but she made no reply. Far
away as was, I could see that her
face was white and drawn. I could
not feel as glad as I should that she,
too. suffered. Indeed, the sight Of Ter
hagSard features gave me a queer
tWinge of pain But / had turned my
back on the past So, forcing her from
The assembly, when 1 entered the
tent, was disposed much as il had been
earlier on that same fateful morning.
AS 1 came in and salUted the elders,
they rose and returned my bow with
the respect due the emir's heir. This
stirred me unaccountably. I read the
question in the emir'S eyes, and, with
out awaiting his words, I spoke
'Basraoul, my uncle I began. and
you. elders and sheiks of the FL Ka-
nah! Ny resolve IS made. My answer
is for all to hear. With willingness ]
accept the offer whereof I am un-
worthy"
A stir went about the room. Feri-
dah's luminous eyes shone in repressed
delight The emiT's stern face broke
into a smile that sOftened and beauti-
fed it-a smile reflected on two out Of
three of the Bedouin faces about him.
All this I saw from the corner Of my
eye. For my gaze was not bent upon
any Of these. but upon Hahz, who had
hastily entered Just ahead Of me. He
bore the searching ordeal well-no
muscle Of his masklike face stirred.
Yet his eyes were as smoldering fires.
1 continued:
For the priceless offer Of the Prin-
cess Feridahs hand in marriage,
thank my uncle, and accept il with
humble gratitude. For the offer 10
adopt me into the mighty, tribe Of my
mothers people, ] thank him And
accept. hoping that 1 may bring honor
and new glory to my tribe. For his
wish TO make me his heir l am CRATE
full accept and I shall strive TO fol-
low in his wise steps"
/ paused again. Not once had taken
my eyes from HafiZ. I was making
him suffer tortures and I reveled in the
fact.
If any here doubts my rights or de-
sires TO combat them," I went on. my
voice ringing out dehantly, '1et him say
so now and meet me man TO man."
My gaze still searched Haflz's blank
face. He made no sign, though his
muscles were working convulsively and
his cheek grew ashy pale.
Then" I resumed, II take Il none
questions my right, or else that he who
questions Il Is a coward-a scum OF the
desert who cringes before his masters
eye. I hereby put aside my past life,
my own former name. Henceforth know
me for Nassau, Sheik Of the EI Kanahs
promised husband Of your emir's daugh-
ter"
A shout OF applause shook the tent
But 1 did not hear Il. Nor did I now
hold Hafiz in torture with nv gaze.
All my thoughts were on one woman.
For Hope Keyes had quietly tainted
in her fathers arms.
The Continuation of This Story vii.
BE Found In TOmOTTew's
IsEue of The Times.
LOST AND FOUND
WASHINGTON TERMINAL. 70