The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-12-04

! III the nanuS OF his own son Aurung-
zebe, who deposed him. 1t was on hi.
daughter, therefore, that he lavished al
the tenderness that was in his heart
The Padshah Begun was now in hel
twenty-second year, and in the full
| flower of her beauty and womanhood
Who could have dreamed that so fair q
lily could be blighted in single night
1t was an evening in July; Shah Je
nan lay doing under the gentle tanning
of the punkah, when he was reused by
piercing shrek, followed in quick sue
cession by a series of shrieks, each more
heartrending and blood curdling than
the last. He raised himself to listen. II
was apparently from the women's apart
ments that these appalling cries pro-
ceeded. While he listened, the shrieks
grew fainter, and were succeeded by a
wailing sound, as of many voices moan
ing. Suddenly the curtains were pushed
aside, and a servant, pale, trembling
and breathless, entered, and FRUSTRATED
himself before the Emperor. He
was impatiently asked what his
tidings were. Groaning and beating his
breast with his hands, he stammered out
his news-news that made Shah Jehan
leap to his feet-while his swarthy cheek
grew livid with pallor, and he stood
rooted to the ground with horror and
amazement. For the news was that the
Padshah Begun had been burned to
death! 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
Prlncess's apartments to learn for HIM
self whether the dreadful tidings We're
true OF not. H was like 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-
" 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 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 lust
arrived at Surat from England, when
the imperial express dashed into the set
Element. The ships chief surgeon, Ga
briel Broughton, had gone ashore, and
was at the residence of the Company's |
factor when the Mogul's messenger was
Without moments hest
alton, Broughton offered to return at
once with the express. The factor pri-
7ately warned him that, should his skill |
all, things might be made very unpleas-
INT for him at the Mogul's court. But
he young surgeon had plenty of pluck
md self-reliance, and, besides, the
bought of having such a patient as the
avorite daughter of the Grand Mogul
'Xelted his professional ambition. 1t
would be sheer madness to throw away
uch n splendid chance of winning
wealth and distinction simply because
here was some risk attaching to it.
Ind so, without further parley, Gabriel
}roughton prepared to start for Delhi.
In less than two hours from the ar
lval of the messenger, the English sur
con was riding at headlong speed on
he mission which was to make or mar
is fortunes. Weary, anxious, and al
nost exhausted, Gabriel Boughton
cached the Mogul's palace, and was re-
bleed to learn that he was not too late.
lie was led at once to the apartments of
ne Padshah Begun, and there he found
hah Jehan, who had never left his
aughter's side. Haggard and worn
nd wan from constant watching, Sleep
'ss anxiety, and poignant grief, the
reat Mogul looked almost as fit a SUBJ
'ct for the Doctors skill as his unhap-
y daughter. The moment he saw the
zee of the English surgeon, he rushed {
him, clutched him by the arm, and in
nploring accents besought him to cure
is daughter, declaring on his sacred I
nth that whatever reward the surgeon t
light ask should be granted him, were t
e but successful. To have the richest {
nd most magnificent monarch in the l
orld thus a suppliant almost at his ,
ct, might well have shaken the strong {
t nerves. But Gabriel Boughton was
Tim and collected, and set about the i
,licate and critical task before him in S