The Washington times., 1910-11-13

IdlllnS- was sui wrestling with
L the strange problem proposed by
the emir for my solution.
Not that 1 had the faintest idea of
marrying the Princess Feridah, who,
Tor aughS l knew-in spite of Hope S
light words-might care absolutely moth
Ing for me. In fact, with all my natural
vanity, / think l could never number
among my faults the easy belief that a
woman cared for me. Perhaps this was
because my knowledge Of women was
limited.
No. l was not in the least minded TO
wed this BedOuin beauty, nor TO remain
Tor the rest OF my life member-or
even ruler-Of this hospitable desert
tribe. Had things been otherwise, I
might lave found the life pleasant
enough, and have hailed with joy the
IDEA OF having for wife 50 beautiful a
woman. But I loved Hope Reyes. And
l meant 10 make her love me, L she did
not already do so
What puzzled me was. how to avoid
the euir'S uuwelcOme hOnOrS without
causing objectionable OffeuSe 20 cOur-
teOus host, and without further COM
promising, not only nv own position
but that Of my friends. For a BedOuiu,
anrOatcd, is not pleasant to deal with.
They were many We few and helpless
IN their hands.
How was l 10 go before the emir in
the tull audience chamber next morning
and publicly reject his daughters hand?
couch my brutal reply without seeming
10 insult the whole trIDeg I wondered
II Feridah herself would be present At
that thought cold chuls Of emba IRA S.
ment ran down my spine Oh, what a
situation,
Tho more 1 puzzled. the less I could
come TO a conclusion / had had a
thought to see Hope out before this,
and urge my Interrupted suit But
must now clear decks of one pro-
posal before embarlling on another
rose from the divan whereOn 1 had
thrown myself, and made my way
through the darkness toward the main
enCampmenJ- / would see the emir at
once privately. tell him the marriage
was out of the question, and-let him do
his worst. It seemed q good resolve
At the least it was better than waiting
TWO men We're advancing toward me
carrying between them curjOuslv
wrought ornate basket One Of them
helda torch. by whose rays I recog-
nized the bearer as Hafizs orderly
HaliL The other man. / all at once
knew too He was the tall Bedouin
who. in Cairo. months earlier, had .
covered my stolen watch from the
donkey boy. And now, in view os later
events, I understood his then incom-
prehensible action. AS long as he had
thought me a mere FerinCee II was no
concern of his whether / was robbed o.
not. But seeing IN my face the aspect
OF an uDper-claSS BedOuin. he had has
a
tTyman
I had reached the beginning Of the
tent street close TO the princess own
tent, when the two men with the basket
met me-
Somewhat to my surprise. they halted.
The orderly, turning over the joint bur
den 20 his companion, s2laamed low
before me.
20 ExceIency," he said. may your
enemies be as the barley Chah before
the simeon. I bring the respect and
greeting Of my master, the Sheik HafiZ,
on whom with another bowie the
years OF the desert, He bids me. his
dog, TO bear TO you this Offering Of cool
ing fruits which but an hour ago came
TO him from beyond the White Nile.
They are as delicious as the apples of
Paradise And he has sworn great
oath TO touch none Of them until you.
his honOred guest and cousin, shall have
shared them with him..
Present my gratitude to the Sheik
Hafiz,' I replied, wondering at so gen
erOus a peaCe-offering, for fresh fruit in
that place and season was a rarity
worth its weight in gold-'and say that
his bounty and the kindly thought that
prompted IL are most dear to me. Peace
be on both Of you, and on him and upon
his house, :"
and refusing their offer TO carry il on
myself. I marveled at HahZ's courtesy.
but was none the less pleased at the
gift
You 10 whom fruit IS a matter Of daily
fare, can have no conception Of how So
journers in the desert long for it. and
with what difficulty, at most seasons. II
IS to be procured there. In mind I had