Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-12-28
The Palace
of Darkened
Windows

30 hour after hour the boat went
on. On the left now the long noun
tain of Gebel-el- Tayr stretched gold
en- and tawny like a lion of stone
oasking In the sun. They passed
Benz -Hassan. where Nile steamer
lay staked to the shore. the passen-
gers streaming gaily out and start
ing Off on donkeys for an excursion
to the tombs. II only 1t had been a
little nearer, close enough to risk a
desperate hail. But the very sight
OF 1t was comforting.
Toward dusk the engine failed
That night the boat LAY by the bank,
tied to long stakes which the boys
had driven In. The big Nubian sat
at one end, cross-legged, rife on
his knees. At the stern sat a brown
boy. And SO Arlee sank into the tired
sleep that claimed her. and did not
wake until the warm sunshine in her
tiny window and the ripple OF water
against the sides told her that an
other morning was at hand and that
they were on the move again.
Stepping out on deck for breakfast,
she found the boat was sailing. Two
lanteen sails were foisted; a great
one In the bow. A small one Ia the
stern, and the boat was running
swiftly before the north wind that
blew fresher than ever. But the
course was variable now as the river
curved and as nd-banks threat
ened. and Arlee watched the waters
eagerly for near-passing boat But
when they did draw close to a
dahabiyeh upon whose' deck she saw
some white-clad loungers, the Nu-
bian gave a low order to the old
woman who rose and gripped Arlee
on the wrist and led her to the state
room. sitting In silence opposite her
like squat garsoylc, till the Nu-
bans voice permitted them to
emerge.
| And now they came to city upon
the right bank and the domes and
nlinarets. the crowded building and
high fat roofs pierced Arlee with a
terrible sense OF loneliness. And when
/ her eyes caught the sleam Of flags
| over building and she saw her own
= 10 and stripes blowing against this
t-ss;;'s tian sky. the tears could not be
fought back. With wet eyes and
j wor'iing mouth she stood there and
| looked and looked. She thought she
could endure no more and that her
heart was breaking.
| Leaden disbursement was upon
/ her as the boat made in toward the
| shore. It did not approach the city
landings; 1t came In south near a
shallow bank, and one Of the brown
boys jumped overheard and splashed
to the shore while the boat went on
But by and by it turned in its
course and came beating back
against the wind till opposite it was
the city; then it tackled in to that
same place near the bank, and there
the boy was waving at them. Skill
fully the dahabiyeh was brought
about close to the high bank: and
! ropes thrown from bow and stern
were quickly staled and made fast
! A plank was put over the side and
! with the eunuch ahead and the old
woman behind Arlee was taken ashore
and mounted on one Of the camels
the boys had brought, with the old
woman behind, gripping her about
/! the waist The eunuch, on another
carael, held the bride rope, and led
them at a terrific pace along the
river road and then across the fields,
| thudding down the narrow, beaten
! paths. till the lush green was past
and the dry desert hands began.
| Ahead of them q low. tawny mass
of mountain seemed to simmer and
wavcr in the hot sun, and as they
drew. nearer and nearer the mass
was resolved into many masses
broken into small foothills at the
base, thru which the Nubian thread
ed a rapid, circuitous way that led
out on a rolling ground. A wide de-
| tour, still at tho same urgent speed
| which jolted tho breath from the girl
and made her cling to the carpeted
rurrmef OF the saddle with both
/ hands, led them at last within sight
Of palm trees and mud walls
| Ariee had no means of guessing
1 whether these houses were the out
skirts of that city she had glimpsed
or whether they were q separate viii
lage. She only saw that they were
| being taken to the largest house of
the place, which stood q little apart
| from the others and was half-sur-
! rounded by mud walls. Into this
walled-in court her camel was led
and halted and jerkingly it accom-
| pnshed its collapsing descent, and
Arlee found herself on her feet
again, quite GREATNESS, but very
/ alert.
| Her fleet glance saw number Of
| black robed figures about a stair;
tho next instant a mantle was flung
over her head and that compelling
hand upon her wrist urged her swift
/ ly forward, and up flight of steps.
/ Within were more steps and then a
door. Thrustng back the mantle she
| found herself in sudden twilight OF
small, low ceiled chamber. There
was no other door to it but the one
she heard bolted behind her; there
! was one window completely covered
with brown mashrubiyeh. She flew
| to it; it looked out over mide sands,
with glimpse. toward the right, Of
a mud wall and pigeon houses. The
] room was musty and dusty and
dirty; but the rugs in it were beauti-
| full, and divan was filled with pill
lows and hung with embroidered cot
ton hangings. Other pillows were on
the floor about the walls. A green
silk banner embroidered in gold huns
| upon one of those walls and la
quered table stood by the divan.
And as Arlee Beecher stood there
in that strange, sitting room, the