Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-09-20
THE RUINED GRAVE.
A story of the Afgha an Frontier.


From the little town of Attock, on
the river Indus, the grand trunk road
runs in westerly direction till il
reaches Peshawur, the entire distance
being about forty miles. Midway be-
tween these two is the small military
cantonment of Nowshera, where the
principal scene of this story was en-.
acted.
Approaching Nowshera from the
eastward, it was to be observed that
the station was built for the most part
on the south or left side of the road
fronting which were the bungalows OF
the officers and the various mess-houses.
Beyond these, and still on the left, were
the lines of two native regiments-one
infantry, the other cavalry-and the
barracks of q British battalion of foot.
Beyond these again, stretched the par
backgrounds of the different corps
while in the far distance rose the Cherat
Hills, which had lately been pressed
into service as sanatorium for the
Peshawur Valley.
1t was bright December morning
at Nowshera; the air was crisp and ex-
hilarating; for the sun had net yet risen
far above the horizon, and his level
beams fell with pleasant and pictur.
esque effect on the manufacturing,
white washed bungalows, and upon
the tall trees that stood beside them.
On the right of the main road the
houses are comparatively few; for the
ground OH this side was o good deal
lower than on the other. 1t was, how
ever, much more thickly sprinkled with
clusters of well-grown trees, probably
because the Caubul River flowed not
many hundred yards away, looking
like broad dull stream of quicksilver,
save occasionally when the sunbeams
caught its eddying ripples, when il
seemed us if myriad of glittering fire.
flies had suddenly been born on its lus.
terless bosom.
Over the lower ground just described,
three officers were passing. They were
young and belonged to the native cav
airy regiment which had but lately ar
rived at Nowshera on relief At the
present moment they were in search of
site for bungalow which they in.
tended building; for, as has already
been stated, the station was small one,
y.
AS with this object they sauntered on
ward, casting their glances hither and
thither, tall ascetic-looking Afghan
crossed obliquely, but little behind
them, the path they were traversing,
and in the act Of passing, his long, lean
shadow fell darkly and ominously over
each of the three in succession. But
they needed not, and strolled on con.
versing gaily.
1--WE must have our house up before
the hot weather commences" said
Robert Strong, the squadron subaltern.
''Imagine passing a June in tents in
the Peshawur Valley, where the heat OF
the sun is enough to broil every living
thingp'
"All the more reason" replied Cap.
tain Henderson, "that you should be
grateful to q bencficent Government fol-
supplying the wherowithal TO put roof
over your head"
"But how about the monthly install
ments which the said Government will
carefully deduct frcm my pay till the
loan is coveredp" answered the sub.
"Besides, what with'clippings for mess
bill, funds, ETC., the miserably attenu-
ated balance I shall receive will be pos
itively insulting"
"Since the insult is likely to be SO
very small, I'd overlook it altogether,
and take il calmly, il / were you," said
Henderson, laughing. but, Farmer
be continued, turning to the surgeon OF
the regiment, who was on the other
side of him, 81 understood it was your
opinion that the ground about here was
too low and unhealthy for our pur-
poseP"
$50 it ;s," replied DIR. Farmer; "and
unless we can find hillock or mound
above the ordinary level of its surface,
fear we shall have to choose site on
the south side, which, as you are
aware, will be inconveniently far from
our lines and mess-house. But hello
look there;' pointing with his finger;
'that knoll TO our left front seems the
very thing"
The spot referred to was hillock q
short distance ahead, that rose some
what abruptly out of the ground on
the side from which they were APP
preaching, but which in the opposite
direction sloped away very gradually.
Strong, who had managed to get
somewhat in sdvance Of the other two,