Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-24

hunts and new gladiatorial combats:
but after two weeks of these amuse-
ments l declared that could remain
no longer, and he let me depart.
The adieus of Chali were heartrend-
ing. She threw herself into my arms
and sobbed bitterly. could do moth
ing to console her. Suddenly an idea
came to me, and, rising, 1 went and
got the shell box and placed it in her
hands. THAT is for you. 1t belongs
to YOU"
Then 1 saw her smile. Her face
lighted up with Joy. She kissed me
furiously, but she burst into tears again
at the final parting.
bestowed a fatherly kiss and some
trinkets upon the rest Of the little ones
and departed.
Two years rolled by, when the
chances of the service brought me
again to Bombay. Unexpected circum-
stances had caused a new mission to be
assigned to me on account of my knowl-
edge of the country and the language.
l finished my work as quickly as pos
sible, and as l had three months before
me / thought 1 would 90 and make
little visit to my friend the Rajah Mad
dan and my dear little Chali.
The Rajah received me with wild
demonstrations of joy. and did notl
me a moment to myself on the first day
of my return.
In the evening, however, finding my
self free, sent for Haribadada, and
after many diverse questions asked
him: "Do you know what has become
of the little Chali that the Rajah gave
me?'
The mans face assumed troubled
expression. and he replied, uneasily:
''YOu had better not speak of her."
''Why? She was a nice little girl"
''She turned out badly"
"What. Chali? What has become of
her? Where is she?'
81 tell YOU she ended badly"
ENDED badly? Is she dead?"
Eyes. She committed villainoEs
act.''
was greatly moved. 1 felt my heart
beating rapidly and sharp agony tore
my breast.
I continued: "a villainous action?
What did she do? What happened to
her?''
The man became more and more en-
barrassed. ''You had better not ask"
he said.
''But wish to know
''She stole"
'.What. Chali? What did she steal?
Whom did she rob?''
'.You. my lord
''Me? How was that?'
''She stole from You on the day of
your departure the BOX which the Raiah
had given you. 1t was found in her
hands,
What box?"
1.-The shell box"
.'But gave it to he.."
Haribadada raised his eyes and gazed
at me in stupefaction. Eyes. she swOre
by all the sacred oaths that you had
given it to her. But no one believed
that you could have offered to slave
the gift of a sovereign, and the Rajah
had her punished"
What, punished? And what did
they do to her?'
They tied her in sack, my lord,
and threw her into the lake from that
window, from the window of the cham
Der where we now are, and where she
committed the theft
l felt myself suffering more acutel,
than l had ever done before, and
made a sign to Haribadada to with
draw in order that he might not see me
weep.
l passed the night at the window
overlooking the lake, where I had so
often stood with the poor child, and l
thought that her pretty form was there
beneath me in sack tied with a cord
ut the bottom of the dark water upon
which we had so often gazed.
| departed The next day. in spite of
the entreaties and vehement prote.ta-
tons of the Rajah.
And believe now that have never |
loved any other woman than ChalI.-
GeOrQe REYNOLDS. in Boston Post.