THE EMPRESS EUGENIE.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2643, 28 August 1906, Page 2

THE EMPRESS EUGENIE.

The Empress Eugenie had sad uicmorics revived on her last visit to Egypt. When she visited Cairo j>roviously in 18<}9, she v :,s in the enjoyment of all the world can giv.?--beauty of a rare type, admired of all a happy wife, a proud mother, a throne which she gracefully occupied At Cairo .she heard of a celebrated Dervish and determined to consult him. So, thickly veiled and disguised she went, accompanied by one of her ladies in attendance. The Dervish rose, made a low obeisance and f addressed her : "Welcome, O Empress, you arc thrice welcome to my humble dwelling ! Eugenie, VeXcd and astonished, replied : "ITow do you know that I am an Empress, and who told you that I was coming here?" The Dervish replied:,

"The stars and Mohammed know all. I knew since your arrival in Egypt that you would ccnio to me, and I have patiently waited every night. for afterwards I am commanded byAllah to name my last journey Co Mecca, and die." The Empress, very frightened,, was getting up to leave ; but, summoning courage, she said, in a haughty tone : "It is true that ] am the 10mpress though only my atteiulan; knows it ; tell me what you can < I' my future, and tell me truly," at the same time offering him her hand and showing him the palm to examine ; hut the old Seer never touched her jewelled lingers. Raising himself to his full height, and dropping his stalT, he held his hand aloft as in invocation. Looking down pitoously on the dark figure of the Empress, he murmured, slowly.: "Thcris no God but God, and Mohammed is His Frophet. At your birth tlv stars foretold for you great power and greater sorrow, for your happiness will be only temporary, but the sorrow will last for ever. You are doomed to lose your throne, your husband, and your son, and wander alone through the world like a lost star. To you as an Empress it will not be permitted to enter the land of your husband or son, except by permission of those you despise. You will seek a homo with strangers, and the dress of woe will never leave your form ; your jewels will be but tear-drops. I have said." He had scarcely stopped speaking when the Empress, terrified and angry, rushed hurriedly out, and ran swiftly away. How literally this strange and nn.happy prediction had been fulfilled, events have proved.