The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-12-11

n4SneQ nro. But sne would not give MIN the
advantage over her of acknowledging that he
could put her in a passion. Had she cared
for him, she would have stabbed him to
death. Yet the coarse fool didn't know IN.
On the occasion of that desperate sally by
the beleaguered army, Pdsha Hicks battal-
ion captured little band OF Russians that
had been cut off from their comrades. The
captiyes were marched up the hill into the
fortihcstions-t0 s'arve. Pssha Hicks ser
vitor, Lulu, had remained in the tent indis-
posed, and as she stood at the door the
Russian prisoners marched past she uttered
a woman's cry of pain and sprang toward.
Then she suddenly recollected herself, and
shrank trembling back. She had recognized
her preserver and lover, Benito, among the
prisoners. She had now but one object left
for which to live. All her former love for
the handsome sailor had surged up in her
heart with an irresistible tide. She resolved
to see Benito once more, to be folded In his
arms asain-aye, though the whole Turkish
army stood with raised cimeters between
them. Yes, Benito should be saved even IL
she persisted in his place.
The desperate sally was repulsed. The
beleagured army was again driven back.
The heroic attempt to cut through the Rus
sian lines had been defeated. The Turkish
hosts returned within their ramparts weary
and displrited. AFFECT despair and the
pressure of starvation were mingled In
frightful contrast On the slopes below
thousands OF dead bodies lay unburled and
uncsred for. TIE stencil within the FORTH
cation was terrible.
When Pasha Hicks entered his tent he was
surprised at the kindness of Lulu's recep-
ton. BY some means she had obtained a
bottle of Cyprus wine.
"Oh, am weary OF this terrible drudgery-
this semi -starvaton-this diet of horse
flesh" he cried
Here is some wine got for you," she
said, drink it"
He glared into her eyes, They met his
own with a steady gaze.
cit is not-not sweetenedP'
She gave little gasp, as though something
had touched her TO the quick.
"What do you meanP' she asked.
ooh, see il rs all right"
He emptied the cup and jerk, I'd it away.
In ten minutes he was plunged in death
like sleep.
drug Lulu had brought with her FROM Con-
stantinople, and had been intended for her
self in certain foresesn contingencies.
When night set in she stripped the Pasha,
and assuming his clothes, passed among the
sentinels to the guard house, where the Rus
| sian prisoners were moaning for water. In
| a few seconds she was in the darkness and
in presence of the prisoners she did not
| know a word of their language; but she pos
sessed one talismanic trisyllable, and in q
musical voice she uttered it:
| "Benito!'
Damn my eyes!" exclaimed the prisoner
rising; 81 should know that voice; I've
| heard it afoTeV"
The prisoners begged for water. She had
no com passion, no pity for them. She led
| her prisoner forth and took him to the
| tent. The sentinels believed that Pasha
| Hicks was about to possess himself or some
! valuable secret respecting the Russian lines
| Within the tent the head covering was laid
aside, the bosom heaved, the eyes-not
dimmed by the corse or Pashs Hicks-looked
as Benito had seen them look. Even in hel
male attire she looked more beautiful than
| any woman he had ever seen. But at tos'
moment he would have sacr feed all the
glory and loveliness in Turkey for ont
draught of cool spring wafer. He wen
| through the pantomime of drinking. Lulu
understood Motioning him to be patient
| a while, she went out BeDito looked
around the tent. at the further end, be
meath rubber blanket, red haired man
seemed to sleep. Near him was a bottle bal
empty. He drew the cork, smelled it anC
put il to his lips
"Egad, it's wlner' he said, and he emp
tied it TO the dregs
When Lulu returned to the tent BenitC
was past praying for. She comprehendeC
the situation in an instant. The bottle lay
beside him.
The eyes OF the lost, maddened, desperat,
woman filed with tears of as deep and I'm
selfish affection as could have been shed b.
| any Christian woman in her pure and stain
less youth as she knelt and kissed the warn
unconsoience lips OF the lover she had so fer
vently remembered, whom she had so mirac
uously recovered and so cruelty lost.
She took poniard from her beltand droy'
its thirsty point deep into her heart; and
with her arms around the neck OF her lover
her misguided spirit was freed from It's bur
den of flesh.
The dawning OF day brought misery t,
every Turkish soldier. The Russian attacl
was renewed with irrestibe fury, and III,
three peaceful inmates of the Pasha's ten
had been seen by only a few. Amid tn
carnage that accompanied the capture o
evna, the rem irabe incident of thereSsxon
complexioned dead bodies being found 10
gether-one arrayed in Russisn uniform, dit
not attract any particular attention. Thei
corpses were, thrown, among others, into tb
huge trenches prepared for them, and m
one who visits the scene of the terrible cal
mage will ever suspect that beneath the way
ing grass, mingled with torn and shattere
men and hcrses, sleeps the Sultan's BRIDE.
|