The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-01-12

that her female slave had noticed her
Iescape and would come to her aid.
Waiting with an anxious heart till tue
noise caused by the robbers had ceased,
she slowly CROPPED her way through the
woods, thinking perchance che might
find her slave and her way back to the
city, and tnwardly wishing she had
taken her aunps advice. A lew rods
lurther on there stood in her path man
4 whose form seemed giant-like In the sur.
rounding darkness. Thinking hlm one
of the bandits, she sank on aer knees
and with raised hands hnplored mercy !
| tearfully beseeching that he would safe
ly conduct her home, when she would
literally reward him.
| Rise, sweei-yoiced lady" he said, as
he lIlGed her from the ground; II want
no reward. Though know not who you
are, since You claim prOtec ion, you shall
nave IL even with my life. So du L swear
know OF cave near here, Wnere the
disciples of Buddha, long ago, secretly
met to perform their deVotiO 8. 1t is sa-
cred ground, and there we shall tnd an
old priest, VINO will care TOR us till
dawn" COntidingiy she leaned on him
Tor support and guidance over the rough
stones, telling MIN OF the mission she
had undertaken, when he, in turn, tod
her that. lie had followed the pilgrims,
hoping TO obtain u few glances OF beau
tliui young lady OF tue city whom he had
seen join The pilgrims. He Was deeply
enamured of her, but felt that his love
was hopeless. She asked him the name
OF the fair one, but he, sighingly, said
That VAS mis- secret. Picking their way
| through the darkness, which had now
grown 80 intense that neither could see
the other, q faint, glimmering light near
| n fha IA noW hat M
entrance.
Theodore, clinging to her guides arm,
! trembled a. sne entered, but they had
not progressed far when an extraordi-
| nary scene broke upon their sight, and
both gazed upon IL In surprise. The
| cave WAS brilliantly Illuminated; tables,
| roaming beneath Iuxurles of all sorts,
We're ranged its entire length, and The
pilgrims were about sitting down to a
grand banquet. While her eyes were
| riyeted upon the scene she beheld the
chief physician OF Hastinapur emerge
from recess In the rocks and advance
to the head of the table.
And now, for the first time, Theodore
turned to her guide to thank him for his
kindness, when her lovely cheeks were
| crimsoned with bushes at fading her.
self face to lace with the youth she had
so long and silently admired. Fer the
moment he, too. mad been absorbed in
studying the strange scene, and wonder
ing what it all meant, and he started in
surprise when her sweet voice broke his
reyerie. Their quick, bright glance at
each other spoke more than wvrds, and,
as he led her to a couch, she SAID: II
know your secret now." Calling the |
company to order, the good old doctor
thus spoke to them
tI hnnn N faIlOyy pitivopa Mil vi ~
this innocent frolic which has been con
triYed entirely for their own advant-
age. Ny presence here doubtless ex-
cites astonishment, but your astonisn.
ment will De turned into amazement |
when tell you that l am the person |
who, disguised as a Brahmln, led you
astray in these mountains, and organ
lied troop OF my own servants to act
as bandits and bring you here by force
You can see, good citizens, that l have
not neglected TO prepare tor your re-
ception. A few words more. During
my practice in Hastinapur have more
than thousand OF times been consulted
upon diseases which had no existence
but in the fancy OF the patient, arising
rom nothing more than eDnuf and
vacuity of mind. TO such patients |
have frankly confessed that medicine
would give them no relief, and that they
could only cure themselves by better oc-
cupylpg their thoughts. But the indo.
lent are ever willing to be battered with
hopes OF relief from other means than
their own eXertions, and 1t has panied
me greatly to see 80 many OF my worthy
feiloW-tOwnsmen leave my house and
accept with such apparent delight one
promise after another made them by O
set OF impostors, whom We designate As
Quaoks."
AS the doctor emphatioally pro-
nounced the last words, there was heard
terrible quaoking and Cabling Of
ducks in a farther part OF the cave, which |
threw the entire company into almost
uncomfortable laughter for several min
ules. Then the doctor resumed his
speech, saying, 81 have now led you
ramble which will render deception less
easy for the future, and from your mer-
riment am convinced has banished for
the present, at least, all remembrance
OF imaginary ills. Now let us spend the
remainder OF the night in gayety, and to-
morrow, by daylight, your palanquln
will take you back to the city in tri-
umphal procession, thoroughly cured
from having pattaken OF the waters OF
the Branmln'G WELL"
The goodly company loudly applauded
the DOCTORS speech, and at once betOok
themselves to the feast. They declared
TO their chief, who went from one to an
other, that their spirits were lightened,
and the fright and novelty had greatly
benefited them.
"Ah my pretty patient" said the
good physician, as he approached Theo-
uora, VINO was seated ON leopard skin,
beside her lover, listening to his sweet /
words; "so-so-you, too, came to
seek the Brahmin's well, and | see"
(glancing at the handsome youth by her
side) "you have found panacea Tor
that aching heart OF yours, tnat you SO
often consulted me about"
They both kindly thanked the doctor
for the means that had brought them to.
geher, but the doctor, notlolng slight {
uneasiness on her pa t, asked the cause,
She grasped his hand and exclaimed:
go, doctor, my auntl my aunti Icame
from home without her know uge, and
she Will lock me up when she knows all,
and l shall nevar aglin be permitted to i
see my beloved"
II can speak her forgiveness before the d
asklng," replied the doctor; 'listen! your b