Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-02-25

THE CHILD STEALER.
BY CHEEKY JAMES.

his friends to be an unlucky dog, sure to
have hand in every scrape. accident or
disaster, and figure among the sufferers, so
that it became to be pretty well under
stood that the safest way to avoid misfor-
tune was not to be found in Duke Cal
vert's society. When, after exhausting
the catalogue of excitements on our own
continent, he wandered off to India, those
who knew him were not slow to prophesy
that If ever he reached his destination
safely, it would only be little time until
they would be called upon to mourn over
his demise throus,1 an attack ofJungle fe,
yer, being devoured by tiger, suffocated
in the embraces of boa constructor, or
impaled on an elephants tusk.
Though it did not turn out quite as bad
" as this for Duke. have heard that wor-
thy himself declare. in most serious vein,
many times since, that his visit to India
was The most fatal of all his life expert
ences in its results. How, you will learn
as you follow my narrative.
He had tasted every species of sport, en-
countered MANY adventures, and expert
enced many dangers, when firing OF In
dia, he turned his face towards part from
whence he might ship homewards. He
was, one day, while thus retracing his
steps. beating the cover along the banks
of the Goonty, one of the many tributaries
Of the muddy Ganges, in search of the cy-
rus, q very rare and beautiful species OF
the crane, when, to his great amazement,
he came upon body Of repulsive Fakeers
dragging couple Of helpless, screaming
women TO one Of their forest retreats. A
single glance revealed to him that the
women were of English nationality, and
in another instant he had dashed boldly
to the rescue. A sharp, short, decisive
struggle, in which the advantage of
weapons was his, and the Fakeers were
vanquished, leaving the women unframed
in his care.
Those whom he had SO opportunity res
cued, were lovely young English lady
and her maid, who had ventured into the
forest to gather native flora, when cap
tured by the cruel Fakeers. The thrilling
words and devoted words of gratitude
showered upon him by this charming
lady, as he CALAMITY escorted her and her
frightened maid TO their residence-a pic
turesque pagoda in the envirors of Agra
near BY, threw him into deep confusion,
and shook his nerves more than the con-
test with the vengeful Fakeers, so that he
shot no more cyrus on that day
Duke Calvert suddenly changed his
mind about seeking homeward passage,
and arranged for months lodging at
Agra. He was induced into this conclu-
sion, if one might believe his own state
ments. partly because Agra was one OF
Her British Majesty's military posts, and
the English officers there were agreeable
fellows and pleasant associates, and part
" from the fact that he had suddenly
taken quite an interest in architectural
studies, combining his observations how
ever, to the Hindoo-British features of the
picturesque pagoda forming the residence
of Mrs Heathcoat, the lovely English
widow, whom he had rescued from the
Fakeers. So enwrapped in the study of
this art did he seem that even when not
guest of it's mistress, which occurred as
often as every day he would be detected
roaming near it. gloatinglv viewing its
cold, stony buttresses, gaudily tagged by
blossoming creepers.
The fact is, attempt as he might to con-
ceal it. Duke was desperately in love with
the young English widow-had been, in
fact, from the first moment that he had
beheld her. The first evening he spent
with the British officers at their barracks,
he learned all about her history, for there
she was a standing subject of gossip,
though in no light or trivial way, and,
Notwithstanding that the information was
not in any way encouraging to his passion
he did not lose heart.
Mrs. Heathcoat it seemed, was the
daughter of poor, but aristocratic Eng
lish family, and when still school girl. to
please her parents, she married a wealthy
al Col hn of
ment Of Agra. Two years previous to
this time and not many months after their
marriage. he died. leaving her immensely
wealthy. She had seemed to prefer a
residence still in the pagoda that had been
their home, declining to return to her ma
tive land. Here her child was born, and
since its birth, she seemed to be possessed
Of but one purpose-a wild, idolatrous
worship OF the little creature, beyond
which she manifested no interest in any
thing, and seemed to have no other object
in living.
"Ah." exclaimed one of the officers, and
the others echoed the truthfulness of his
expressions, "the citadel of her heart is
quite impregnable. There is not an officer
among us who has not used all his powers
Of enchantment and persuasion upon her.
laying MS nedrL at neT Ieel WIN an eldD-
crate statement of all his virtues of per-
son and property; all, alas ! to no avail,
because she has no thought to spare from
that child of hers. Her charms and her
fortune are enough to tempt duke. but
ah my dear American friend you are not
the duke to win her; so fly from her
witcheries my boy, you would save your
self much useless agony"
Duke did not fly from her. but to her.
He was devoted attendant upon her,
every day. To do the poor fellow justice,
neither her family, position, nor her vast
wealth. had anything to do with his pas.
sion for her, tor he would have been as
devoted, had she been the rich widows
dressing maid. instead of the rich widow
herself. But there certainly was lowell
ness. an enchantment, in the looks of the
charming widow, that he had beheld in
English girls on their native isle-a sweet
pallidity of beauty, more like the produc-
ton Of his own country than the rugged,
ruddy charms of British bellies.
The Indian costume for Europeans ad-
mits neither colors nor massive dress dis