Connecticut western news., 1882-11-22
AN OLD SOLDIERS STORY.

~AAi OAb DO44D11I1b U DlOlb We were quartered in India, with sharp fighting ahead of us, and not far ahead either, as we knew very well. Meanwhile we did our best to pass the time, and seized upon every opportunity for "fun," as school-boys do.
 We all have our favorites in this world, and there were two men in the regiment who seemed worth more to me than all the rest put together. One of them was cur chaplain, handsome man of forty, with loud, ringing laugh, 8 face that told of conscience as clear as mans may be, and friendly manner that won the hardest heart.
 He had fashion of speaking of the wife and children at home that showed how well he loved them, and he wore her miniature about his neck and had showed 1t to me in fond, proud way soon after we became friends. Home was always in his thought and often on his tongue, and liked him better for it. My other friend was a young, rich lieutenant dreamy, sensitive young fellow, who had engaged himself on the eve of his departure from England to a beautiful girl whom I knew very well and believed to be firt of the first water. He had given me his confidence entirely; and I, who had never had a sweetheart, and believed that I should never care enough for any woman to ask her to be my wife, somehow took a great interest in his heart affairs, and, fond as I was of him, could not have smiled at his raptures over shallow, hearted Phoebe Dutton for my life
 We three-the chaplain, young Her. bert and I-weres breakfasting to. gether one morning, when my ser want entered, and, with an odd expres- sion on his face, explained that there was queer-looking Indian chap outside who asked admittance "I know something about him." he said, "and he's in league with the devil if ever man was. That lad of his knows
  had peep at the show last night and frightened ourselves finely. Still it's curious"
 "It is probably an Indian magician, ' said the chaplain.
 "Yes, sir, said the man. "That's the name for him, believe Shall he come in?"
 ''Let him in, ," said I. "We'n see him, at all events.
 The servant retired and in a moment more re-appeared, ushering in very singular individual
 It was an old man, with a bronzed skin long, hooked nose, flashing black eyes and @ long white beard. He stopped a. he walked, and leaned on long, thicl staff with one hand, and with the othe. upon the shoulder of beautiful boy O perhaps ten years old. As he approached he made us 8 low reverence and addresse, us in some words that were incompre hensible to me. The chaplain, however interpreted them.
 "The man declares himself to be magician" he said, "and desires t know whether we have any wish to kno' what has happened in our own countr since we left it. Of course it is all rut bish, but these exhibitions are said to t curious Shall we let him do what | can, gentlemen 9
 "By all means" said I. "We are to old to be frightened, fancy"
 Herbert merely nodded, but lovers al always little superstitious for the tin being, and I saw hope of hearing som thing about Phoebe Dutton in his bi blue eyes.
 Turning from us, the chaplain sign fled to the magician that he might pr ceed, and he in turn addressed the Do, who at once proceeded to business | spreading rug, which he carried und his arm, upon the ground and placir the old magician carefully upon Having done this, he prostrated himse at his feet and lay there, face downwa and perfectly motionless.
 Meanwhile the magician drew fro his bosom a small flask, and having | tered some words over 1t, touched boy upon his shoulder. On the insta the little fellow started up and knelt I fore him with one hand extended, palm upwards and hollowed into so of cup, and into this the magician slow poured from the flask black liquid I unlike ink, and then grasping the bo wrist, addressed the chaplain
 He says that the boy will look anyone any person present desires see, he said, "and he begs us to ms haste, for the condition into which f child is thrown is very exhausti What says Nesbit-do you desire pt at anyone P