The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-02-05
beware of offending him, for your own

| beware OF Onendlng MIN, 1Or your own
saks-and mine !"
An hour later, the curtain that hid his
door was lifted, and deep voice said:
"Follow US, Ingleez. The khan calls
for you."
Led by his guards, ST. Clair traversed
seemingly endless passage, and enter
ed wide hall, around which stood O
line of armed Afghans, motionless as
statues.
In the center sat the principal chiefs
of the tribe, and midmost of all the
stately figure of Akbar himself, in all
the splendor of barbaric adornment,
with the folds of his jeweled turban
overshadowing the fierce black eyes that
had never known fear or mercy.
As the prisoner entered Guleyaz
(who was seated beside her father) shot
one rapid glance at him, as if to bid him
remember her warning, and then cast
her eyes down as before.
There was momentary pause, and
then Akbar spoke:
"Feringhee, you are brave warrior;
and as chief speaks with chief, so will I
speak with you. We have slain many
of the Ingleez, and their brethren are
angry. War is at our gates, and we
neeu every good sword that will fight
for us: Hear me; we have fought with
you as an enemy-we now embrace you
as friend. You have been valiant and
we respect your valor; you have been
kind, and we are grateful for your kind.
ness. Dwell among us, fight in our
ranks, call yourself an Afghan instead
of Feringhee-and my wealth shall be
your wealth, and I will be your father,
and my daughter shall be your bride. I"
For one moment the brave mans
pulse throbbed wildly, as the large deep
eyes that had so often looked love into
his own rested on him imploringly.
Few men could have met that glance
unmoved; while, on the other hand, he
knew that to refuse such an offer from
such man would be rushing upon cer-
tain death, in the cruelest form that
Afghan vengeance could devise. But
in the face of the terrible temptation,
the English heart within him beat true
as ever. He looked fearlessly into the
merciless eyes that watched him, and
his voice never wavered as he replied:
"Prince, you have spoken plainly,
and T thank you. Your offers are great;
but we're you to offer me the Afghan
crown itself, you could never tempt an
English soldier to break his faith and
take the hand of traitor and MUIR
derer. Do your worst-I defy you !"
Even the iron men around him shud-
dered to hear such words addressed to
their terrible leader, and the daring
speech was followed bya dead and awful
silence.
A momentary spasm of rage shook the
princes granite-hewn face, succeeded by
a look OF stern and reluctant admiration
the savages instructive admiration of
courage, even in a mortal enemy. He
spoke at length, with calmness more
deadly than the loudest anger
cit is enodgh-take him away |"
The guards led forth the captive and
mingling with their heavy tramp came
the doomed mans last words
"God save old England |"
The silence of midnight brooded over
the ancient palace, when the gloom OF
the dungeon into which st. Clair had
been cast was broken by sudden light.
Before. him, white and rigid as
corpse in the spectral glare of her lamp,
stood Guleyaz, with her finger pressed
warningly to her lips. In silence she
held out to him the tunic and gaudy
turban of an Afghan warrior, signifying
to him to put them on.
He obeyed mechanically, like one in
dream, and the moment the disguise was
complete she led him hastily to the
door.
Outstretched on the floor outside lay
the sentinel, evidently stupefed by some
powerful narcotic, by whom administer
ed Herbert could easily guess.
Pausing a moment to assure herself
that all was still in the castle, Guleyaz
went straight to the end OF the passage
and opened small iron door, locking it
behind her as soon as they had entered.
What followed Herbert could never
clearly recall. He had only vague re-
collection of tracking the gloomy wind
! ings of a dismal cavern, from whose
damp, cozy sides the water fell drop by
drop, with a sullen plash, which was the
only sound that broke the eternal
silence.
One of these drops extinguished the
lamp, but Guleyaz's burning hand
seized his own in the darkness, and led
him onward he knew r.,t whittier.
At length, after a seemingly endless
interval, another door few open before
them, and st. Clair, with delight
which no words can convey, felt the
cool night air on his cheek, and saw the
stars shining overhead.
"There lies your road," said his
guide, pointing down the valley. "Tbe
armies of your people cannot be far of
now: May Allah keep you safe till you
reach them"
"And you?" asked Herbert, with
sudden impulse of tenderness, as the
tremor OF her voice told him she was
weeping. :sThey will know that it is
you who have saved me, and then -
"Who cares what happens to me ?"
answered the girl, passionately. "When
the dew that refreshed it is gone, what
matter how soop the flower withers? I
have saved your life-I care not how
soon lose my own"
"Never, by heaven |" cried st. Clair,
throwing his strong arm around her,
as if his whole soul were poured into
the caress. 81 am not such cur as to
sneak off in safety, and leave my little
ewe-lamb to these mountain.wolves.
Come with me, darling; and may I be
called coward before the whole regi-
rnent, if anything but death ever parts
us two again"
Years later, the story Of that flight
sorely tried the faith of the guests at
Clairmount park; but still harder did
they find it to recognize the savage anna
zon of Cabul in the beautiful and high
bred lady to whom Sir Herbert st.
Clair was wont to say playfully:
my dear, I've been telling these
gentlemen about our Afghan adven-
lures in 1912. ."-David Ker.
! The Original "Greenback."
Mr.. Mason, Philadelphia dealer in
old and rare coins, has piece of paper
money which he values very highly, as