Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-02-07

BY ~judicious inquiries George ascer-
tained that the trip to Bagdad, barr
Ing accidents, would take fully thirty
five days. The daily journeys pro-
ceeded uneventfully. Mahomed main,
tained a taoiturn grimness. II he
aimed at Ryanne at all. II was in
trifing annoyances. such as forget
ting to give him his rations unless he
asked for them, or walking over the
cards spread out upon the sand.
Ryanne carried himself very well. Had
he been alone, he would have broken
loose against Mahomed; but he
thought Of the others, and restrained
himself-some consideration was due
them.
But into the blood Of the two men
there crept q petty ir~ritability. They
answered n another sharply, and
often did not speak. Fortune alone
seemed mild and gentle. Mahomed,
since that night she had braved him,
let her go and come as she pleased,
nor once disturbed her. Had she
shown weakness when most she need
ed courage, Mahomed might not have
altered his plans. Admiration Of cour.
age Is inherent In all people. So,
without approaching It, that moment
had been a precious one, saving them
all much unpleasantness.
BY the twentieth day, the caravan
was far into the Arabian desert, and
early In the afternoon, they came up
on a beautiful oasis, nesting like an
emerald In a plaque Of gold. So many
days had passed since the beloved
green Of growing things had soothed
their infamed eyes, that the sight OF
this haven cheered them all nightly
Once under the shade Of the palms,
the trio picked up heart. Fortune sang
a little, George told a funny story, and
Ryanne wanted to know II they
wouldn't take a hand at euchre. In.
deed, that oasis was the turning-point
OF the crisis. Another week upon the
dreary, proitless sands, and their spir.
Its would have gone under completely
This oasis was close to the regular
camel-way, there being a larger oasis
some tw~enty-odd miles to the north.
But Mahomed felt safe at this distance,
and decided to freshen up the caravan
by a two-days' rest. \
George Immediately began to show
Fortune little attentions. He fixed her
s~addle-bags, spread out her blanket,
brought her some ripe dates of his
own picking. insisted upon going to
the well and drawing the water she
was to drink. And oh! how sweet and
cool that water was, after the gritty
fiat liquid they had been drinking!
Just before shutdown, he and Fortune
set out upon a voyage Of discovery;
and Ryanne paused in his game of pa.
thence to watch them. There was
more self-abnegation than bitterness
In his eyes. Why not? II Fortune re-
turned to her mother, sooner or later
the thunderbolt would fall. Far better
that she should fall in love with Jones
than to go back to the overhanging
shadow. A smile lifted the corners of
his lips, a sad smile. Percival didn't
look the part Of a hero. His coat was
v%ariously split under the arms and
across the shoulders; his trousers
were ragged, and he walked in his
cloth pads like a man who had govt
in both feet. A beard covered his
face, and the bare spots were blistered
and peeling. But there was youth In
Percival's eyes and youth In his heart,
and surely the youth in hers must
some day respond. She would know
this young man; she would know that
adversely could not crush him; that
the promise OF safety could not make
a coward Of him; that he was loyal
and brave and honest. She would
know in twenty days what It takes the
average woman twenty years to learn
the manner Of la who protested tC
love her. Ryanne left the game unfn
ished, stretched himself upon the
ground. Oh. the bitter cup, the bitter
cup!
Round the fire that night, the camel
boys got out their tom-toms and reeds
and the eerie music affected the white
people hauntingly and my~steriously
For thousands of years, the high ant
low notes Of the drums (hollow earth
en-jars or large gourds covered will
goat.skin at one end) and the thin, me
tallic wall of the reeds had echoed
across the deserts. unchanged.
Fortune always remembered tina
night. Wrapped in her blanket, sh,
had lain down just outside the circle
and had fallen into a doze. When tn,
music stopped and the boys left tn,
prisoners to themselves. George an,
Ryanns talked.
:" never forget faces" begal
George.
mo? That's a gift"
And l have never forgotten yours
I was in doubt at first, but not now"
81 never met you till that night a
the hotel"
That's true, But you are Horac
Wadsworth. all the same. the son Q
the millionaire-banker, the man l use
to admire in the field"
"You still think I'm that chapi"
II am sure Of It. The first mornin
you gave yourself away"
What did l say?" a~nxiously.
you mumbled football phrases"