Smyrna times., 1868-09-30
MISceIIun eOMS.
A ROMANCE OF CASHMERE.

A European mot an Englishman) residing
in the valley, during dangerous illness was
carefully and tenderly nursed by young slave
girl, whom We will designate, for the sake of con-
venience, Leila JAN With this young person,
who was possessed of very great personal attrac
tons, he fell deeply in love, and, finding that his
passion was returned, determined to make her
his wife. But owing to her not being free
woman he was unable to do this without pur
chasing her, and to this her owner would not
give her consent In vain were the good offices
of the Maharaah solicited, in vain was the
slave proprietor appealed to- no entreaties
could move, no sum of money lin reasOn) in
duce her to relent. On the other hand, Leila
Jan, upon the approaching departure of her
lover, attempted fortunately Intellectually to
commit suicide. 1t was narrowing thought
for this latter, as the approaching chils of win
ter warned him that he must depart, to remem-
Der the fate which awaited his betrothed-
death or Rfdnsy; and yet, deferred by the DIFF
cultleS an English clergyman, who happened
to be staying in the valley, hesitated to pro-
nOunce the nuptial benediction, which itself
indeed would hardly have been effectual. In
this dimlemma, and as a last resource, STRAIT
agem was resorted to, which was fortunately
successful. One fine morning Leila Jan habi
ted in the usual costume of her people Ia long
! Turkey-red cloth frock, or gown confined about
! the waist by shawl, and small skullcap of
gold embroidery upon the head), sauntered
carelessly into the thick ounce orchard which
surrounded the house in which she was living.
Such proceeding, of course, occasioned no
remark. 1t was naturally supposed that she
had merely gone, according to custom, to while
away some Of the hot portion of the day be-
meath the cool shade afforded by the trees, or
in the summer-hOus2s lnterspersed among
them, and it was not until hour after hour had
gone by, and the shades of evening were be-
ginning to fall, that, alarmed by her non-ap-
pearance, her servants (some of whom were
employees of her prOprletor) thought it lncum
bent on them to 90 in quest of her. To theil
surprise, the pleasure. grounds were searched
in vain-she was nowhere to be found
Terrified and astoniShed (the more SO as the
European had also been missing all day., they
hurried off to the authorities with the news
Great was the Indignation at the palace of tht
Sherghur when it was received, but they were
told to calm themselves; the lady must b.
only hiding somewhere; all the passes are strict
, ly guarded, and no native female can possib
evade the scrutiny OF the sentinels." Neverthe
less, all their efforts to recover her proved inef
, fectual, and she was never seen again in Cash
; mere. Her mode of escape was subsequent
ascertaned to be this:
! A large and swift boat manned by sixtee
? picked oarsmen had been for some time pre-
viously moored day and night by the Europe
ans orders in the Jhelum at the bottom of tn
;; ounce orchard relays of ponies had also bee
e provided and picketed at intervals upon tn
Murree road, leading into British territory
/ When all was prepared the lovers had met b
q appointment in secluded part of the orchard
t where the "faire ladie" quickly donned til
d contents of bundle which had been brougl
gP by her companion and, being of very fa
: complexion and rather tall, made up into a
r excellent imitation of an English boy or you'll
"a "a whose costume she had assumed. No natiy
,e who saw her emerge with her companion fro
SSf out the trees would have qussed her identi
Of from her appearance. Her own dress she,
IS course, carried of with her, as if found,
T. T. would have told tale. Once safely on boar
g the boat shot off at its utmost speed tOwa1
n, Baramoolla, where pair Of excellent pOni
IS, is awaited them. They had seventy miles, ho1
% ever, to do before they could reach the Engli
ir in frontier, and the road was steep and dificu
C Luckily the telegraph was not invented. III
~ picket Of soldiers at the last pass merely stOC
ST. ST. aghasta two mad nglishmen (as they thoug
@E them) gaIlopped past After long and
tyy tiguing ride the fugitives safely crossed t
10 N, boundary line-the Jhlum River-the lady
'of free woman. 1t is pleasant to know, final
sy se that she really became the wife of her deliver
'ss and the happy mother of a numerous family