The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-12-04

deathl 1t was but for a moment that
Shah Jehan stood there petrified and
horror-stricken. In another instant he
had darted off in the direction of the
Princess's apartments to learn for him
self whether the dreadful tidings were
true or not. II was like a maniac as he
burst into the chamber where his daugh-
ter lay, surrounded by her women,
wailing and wringing their hands. AL
ready two of the court physicians were
there, and were stripping the charred
remains of her robes from the scOrched
and blistered limbs, She was not in
deed actually dead, as the messenger
had reported, but she had tainted from
the terrible agony of her wounds and
lay there quite unconscious. The ghast-
ly sight almost deprived the Great
Mogul of his senses; distracted and over
whelmed with grief, he flung himself be
side his beloved daughter, and passion
ately called upon her to speak to him.
Then he turned to the physicians and
implored them to restore his daughter
to life, promising them the most extrav-
agant rewards if they succeeded. But
the physicians, however skilled they may
have been at curing internal diseases,
were bunglers at healing wounds. They
shook their heads gravely, and seemed
to think the case hopeless.
1t was then that the Grand Vizier, As
sud Khan, bethought him of the English
traders at Surat. He remembered that
the surgeons who came over in the East
Indiamen had wrought some wonderful
cures, and had acquired a high reputa-
ton for surgical skill. He therefore
suggested to his master that an express
should be sent Immediately to Surat,
with orders to travel day and night, and
bring back with the utmost speed an
English surgeon. 1t was - far cry -
from Delhi to Surat, but the express had
extraordinary powers to take what
horses or supplies he needed from
whomsoever he pleased on his journey;
and by dint of travelling day and night
as fast as horse could carry him, it was
Just possible that the English surgeon
might be brought to Delhi before it was
too late.
The Hopewell East Indiamen had just
arrived at Surat from England, when
the imperial express dashed into the set
tlement. The ships chief surgeon, Ga
briel Broughton, had gone ashore, and
was at the residence of the COmpary's
factor when the Mogul's messenger was
announced. Without moments hesi-
tatiOn, BroughtOn offered to return at
once with the express. The factor pri-
ely'warned him that, should his skill
fail, things might be made very unpleas-
ant for him at the Mogul's court. But
the young surgeon had plenty of pluck
and self-reGance, and, besides, the
thought of having such patient as the
favorite daughter of the Grand MOgul
excited his professional ambition. 1t
would be sheer madness to throw away
such splendid chance of winning
wealth and distinction simply because
there was some risk attaching to it.
And so, without further parley, Gabriel
BrOughtOn prepared to start for Delhi.
In less than two hours from the ar
rival of the messenger, the English sur
geon was riding at headlong speed on
the mission which was to make or mar
his fortunes. Weary, anxious, and al
most exhausted, Gabriel BOughtOn
reached the Mogul'S palace, and was re-
joiced to learn that he was not TOO late.
He was led at once to the apartments of
the Padshah Begun, and there he found
Shah Jehan, who had never left his
daughters side. Haggard and worn
and wan from constant watching, sleep
less anxiety, and poignant grief, the
Great Mogul looked almost as fit Il sub
iect for the doctors skill as his unhap-
py daughter. The moment he saw the
face of the English surgeon, he rushed
to him, clutched him by the arm, and in
imploring accents besOught him to cure
his daughter, declaring on his sacred
oath that whatever reward the surgeon
might ask should be granted him, were
he but successful. To have the richest
and most magnificent monarch in the
world thus suppliant almost ut his
feet, might well have shaken the strong
! est nerves. But Gabriel BOughtOn was
calm and collected, and set about the
delicate and critical task before him IL
| that cool and businesS-like manner which
was even then marked characteristic o.
! English surgeons, and which served
more than any thing else to inspire the
natives of India with confidence in theil
skill.
BY his unwearying attention, his pa
| tient care, and skillful treatment, Ga
briel Boughton succeeded in effecting
complete cure. Not only was the Pad
shah Begun restored to health, but he
beauty was little, if any ut all, impaired
by the terrible injuries she had suffered
The gratitude and JOY of Shah Jehal
knew no bounds. The Grand Vizier
Assud Khan, to whom Gabriel Boughtol
owed his introduction to the imperia
court, was commissioned to inform th
fortunate surgeon that on a certain da,
the Great Mogul would grant him ;
special audience in state, that he Nigh
then claim his reward, and that what
ever he might demand the Empero
pledged himself to grant. The Crane
Vizier was ObSequious in his manner
knowing how polite it was to secure tn
good graces of a rising favorite, ant
even ventured TO hint at a future so bril-
liant and dazzling that Gabriel's brai
went dizzy at the prospect. Lett to IN
own meditations the surgeon pOndere
: deeply over his position. He was young
) he was good-looking, he was ambitious
Here was a father whose heart was fu
of the most eXtravagant and reverentif
thankfulness toward him; here was
daughter equally grateful, and eve
more favorably disposed toward hiI
than her father. What was to preveT
? him from asking her hand, and becOn
, inc the most powerful and infiuenti;
parsonage ut the court of the Great Nd
= oul? To Western ideas such an inspir;
5 ton might seem too audaciOus and X
l mantle to be entertained for a moment
but in the East there We're plenty {
+ precedents for such a reward granite
| for services of great value. Why shoul
D.. he not make this bold bid for positio
a and fOrtunep
3. The day appointed for the State aud
= ence with the Great Mogul arrives
9 Seated on his splendid throne, the hig
y heron plumes clasped with diamond
> adding majesty to his face, his dress OF
e blaze of brilliants, by his side, unveile,
n the beautiful Padshah Begun, aroun
{ him his magnificent retinue of nobl,
+ scarcely less gorgeously clad than hin
, self, Shah Jehan prepared to receive ii
5 man who had done him service whicI
a as he gazed lovingly at the sweet fat
- 1 IL Il.