The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-08-03

ceding night IalIa was more Responsive than
before, but when urged her to 20 with me tc
France or marry me at once in Cairo she
would not listen. Finally she said: after you
have rescued my uncle will go with you any
where but not until then will think Of mar
rage"
Nothing could move her from that decision.
I arranged to meet her the next night and the
one following, and several others, which she
accomplished by the popular method of bribing
her attendants, but, though it was joy to her
to be told of my love, there was no way by
which she could be induced to yield to 1t until
her uncle was free
I went to Marseilles and, after looking over
several ships that were for sale, bought
LHirondelle coasting steamer Of 800 tons
At suakin one Of the great surprises Of my
life awaited me- We had scarcely tied up
WIN the man from whom was to receive the
warriors came aboard with letter from Re
gal directing me to turn the ship over to him
and discharge the crew. The agent could not
understand the change OF plan any more than
could, and could not even guess as to the
cause, but he was there to obey orders, and
there was nothing else for me to do. Feeling
sure there would be satisfactory explanation
waiting for me at Cairo, I returned there, after
paying off the crew and sending them back to
Marseilles and London in charge of Leigh and
Wilson.
was still more mysti1ed when on reaching
Cairo, was unable to find Regal, Ialla or any
one else connected with the undertaking, nor
could I get the slightest trace of them.
In the hope of seeing Ialla again, and deter
mined to secure some definite clue as to just
what had happened in my absence waited
around for two weeks or more, until encoun-
tered the old friend who, knew, was RESPONSE
BILE fgg my connection with the conspiracy. I
did not dissemble, as had before, but took him
to my room, told him the riddle and asked him
the answer. did not expect him to admit
anything and was not disappointed. He said,
in substance:
OF course I know nothing about the plot Of
which you have told me. II what you say is
true, should say that you have been making
something OF fool Of yourself over this Ialla
and that you have only yourself to blame for
the abrupt ending which seems to have been
reached. These women are the greatest f1irts
in the world
You thought 1alla was in love with you, but
but she was only having a good time with you,
and she has taken lot Of pride In telling her
friends about your meetings, at their after
noon gatherings for the exchange of gossip.
She had no idea Of marrying you, an unbeliev-
er you can be sure It may be she thought she
was stimulating you to deeds Of heroism, but,
If she considered that at all, it was secondary
matter.
The men you were dealing with have the
contempt of their race for all women They
can not understand how any man can become
SO enamored of woman no matter how beauti-
full, as to let 1t interfere with his business !
They would argue that no man who could
be relied on to- carry out their plan would dis
play such lack Of judgment. 1t is possible that
there may be some other reason for the situa-
ton in which you find yourself, but doubt 1t.
The wfsest course for you is to tell me how
you can be reached, and leave Cairo, for you
can gain nothing by staying here It is known
to many people that 1 know you, and IL any
one should want to get In communication with |
you will be able to tell him how to do it."
Possessing all the pride of fullb1ooded
nan, resented the calm assertion that had |
been ensnared by a firt but In looking back
IT 1t now am willing to admit that probably
NY friend was right about It,
Feeling that for once my destiny had played /
t bit low down On me, crossed the Mediter
anean and took French liner for New York
Eleven years later Arahi was pafzdoned and
eturned to Egypt but his influence among his
'Wn people was gone; the fact that he had ac-
epted pardon implied to their astute minds,
secret agreement with their enemies and
aused him to be regarded as q tool Of the
British. But the fires of freedom are still
turning, and now and again signalsn1Dke ig |
cen rising over India