The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-02-05
THE VALLEY OF DEATH.
CHAPTER IAN As1ATIo BEAUTY.
ATnle OF the Last Afghan War.

OCUOUcG doy LII Ao1A SS4sJ "a
lying outspread in all the beauty of it's
countless gardens and many colored
towers beneath the sunset glory, the
massive tomb of Baber, the Mogul,
standing out like giant sentinel against
the crimson sky the red light fading
slowly over the wide green plain around,
dotted with white villages, and framed
in a ring OF purple hills; the little river
dancing and sparkling amid its cluster
ing trees, and here and there along the
endless ranks of wooden houses few
turbaned figures gliding forth to enjoy
the refreshing coolness OF the coming
night. 49,.
But the peaceful scene harmonizes i'll
with the stalwart figures in white
frocks that come tramping along the
main street-showing the light hair and
clear blue eyes OF the Englishman be-
side the lank, wiry frame and dark, lean
visage of the Sepoy-heeding as little
the fierce looks darted at taem from
either side as the gleam cast On their
bayonets by the setting sun.
- Afghanistan has been invaded and
overrun. The great Ameer, Dost Mo-
hammed himself, is on his way to Pesh-
.awur as prisoner, and sixteen Thousand
troops hold Cabul in the name of Shah
Soojah. the new king, whom British
bayonets have forced upon the "men OF
the mountain"
But the invaders, flushed with their
easy victory, and ill-restrained by their
commander, are already beginning to
lose their discipline.
An experienced leader would augur
mischief from the sounds of boisterous
merriment echoing on every side, and
to and fro, as unlike as possible to wary
soldiers in the heart of an enemys coun.
try.
At the corner of the principal streets
three or four of the loudest brawlers had
halted and spread themselves out as if
TO stop some one who wished to pass.
"Holloa, Bill |" cried rough voice;
"'ere's prize. Who'll bid for share3"
"Share and share alike, as good COM
rades onght!" shouted second, with a
coarse laugh. "Let's have a look at
the little baggage"
And, 80 speaking, he tore away the
vail of the slight figure which his COM
rade had seized, revealing the face OF
young native girl of sixteen.
Then next moment the aggressor started
back with howl of pain, as the small
knife, which is every Afghan woman's
inseparable companion, gashed his e1-
tended hand from side to siGe. But the
frail weapon was instantly wrested from
her, while half a dozen strong hands
seized the struggling form in their brutal
grasp.
Just at that critical moment blow,
which the late Senator Morrissey him
self might have applsuded, sent the
foremost assailant sprawling on his
back, while the others recoiled right
and left before the shock of tall figure
that came bursting in among them, scat
tering them in all directions.
"Now, then | who the deuce are you,
shown in where you amt wanted p
grow1ed one of the soldiers, pugna-
ciously.
The new. conner deigned no rerly, but
silently threw back his cloak, display
ing to the startled group the uniform Ct
q line officer, and the badge of their
own regiment.
"By Jingol" muttered the challenger,
with look OF dismay, "here's a pretty
job" .
"You call yourselves Englishmen p
cried the officer, in voice almost inar.
ticulate with passion. +" Is this how you
keep up the honor OF the old flag
You shall hear of this tomorrow morn
ing, be assured of that Be off with
your
The crestfallen brawlers skunk away
without word.
Then the rescued girl took her pro-
tector's hand in both her own, and
pressed it lightly to her forehead, with
an almost royal dignity, which. in one
scarcely beyond the years of childhood,
astonished even the unimaginative Eng
lishman.
Though voted model officer by bis
superiors, and an insensible brute by
the ladies of the Peshawur garrison,
Captain ST.. Clair was not yet 80 thor
oughly "pipe-clay" as to have lost bis
appreciation of feminine charms; an
he could not but own that this young
beauty OF the wilderness, with the fire
OF her Afghan blood in her deep. l..s'
trous eyes, and the supple grace Of tho
Oriental in every line OF her perfec'
figure, made such picture as he hat
seldom seen.
In spite OF himself, his voice softened
as he asked, in her own language:
"Have they hurt you, my poor
ohild?"
81 would have hurt them, had they
not snatched away my knife" answered
the Afghsnne, proudly. as she pointed
to the blood drops that had fallen from
her assailant's wound. "The daughter
of Akbar Khan knows how to defend
herself!"
"Akbar Khan J." echoed st. Clair,
recalling with sense of vague uneasi-
ness for which he could not himself &C.
count, the name of the terrible chief
whose influence among the hill tribes
was only second to that of the Ameer
himself. "But how came you here,
then, when your father is far away in
the south?
Il came-to Vlslt-a TREND OF my
fathers" said the girlwith momentary
hesitation which did not escape hel
questioner.
"She's lying, the little fox thought
he "but it's no business OF NINE"
81 was going back" she continued,
s'to the friends who are waiting for me
in yonder village, but 7 found the city
gates shut"
eff that is your only difficulty" said
the captain, cit is soon mended. Come
with me-"
: A few minutes brought them to the
eastern gate, and two words to the sen
try suficed to open it.
As the girl passed through the deep
shadowy archway, she looked wistfully
back to her preserver, and paused for {
moment as if about to speak.
But the words, whatever, they were
died on her lips, and ST. Chair strollet
back to his quarters, with al half-snail,
upon bis face at the Thoughts OF o 70
mance which the sentimental spbsltern