The Red Cloud chief., 1885-12-18
POOR CHALL.
A Story of India and tho Admit
rails Only Love.

The old Admiral leaned back in his
chair. and i'm shrill. piping voice. said:
Il once had a little love adventure, a
very singular one; would you like me
TO tell il to you?"
He spoke. without moving. from the
depths of his great armchair. still
keeping upon his lips that derisive
smile which never left them, the smile
a Ia Vol.aire. which made him pass for
a frightful sceptic.
was thirty-three and n Lieutenant
in the navy when / vas charged with
an astronomical mission to Central In
\ dia. The English Government fur
: nished me with all the means ncces-
sary for carrying out the enterprise,
and | presently found myself, with q
corps of assistants, in that strange, sur
prising and wonderful country.
l finally reached the objective point
of nv voyage. the city Ganhara, for
mcrly one of the most prosperous in
Central India, and at that time gov
erncd by the Rajah Madam. a rich
Prince, who was tyrannica! and violent
in the extreme. a true oriental sover-
eign. generous and cruel, affable and
a pitiless ferocity.
The city is situated in n deep valley
on the border of \ small lake. From 4
distance it resembles a white spot, in
creasingin size rs one approaches. and,
little BY little. domes. spires and min
arets greet the travellers eye.
At about an hours journey from the
gates 1 found m ELEPHANT superbly ca
parisoned, surrounded by an escort of
honor which the sovereign had sent to
meet me, and ! was conducted in great
pomp 10 the palace.
l should have liked to have had time
20 dress myself properly. but the royal
Impotence would not allow 1t. l was
introduced into a great hall surrounded
by galleries which were filled with men
clothed in the mos. magnificent gar
ments.
Upon a bench. like one Of our garden
benches. but covered with rich velvet. !
pecewed a glitterink mass. n sort of
sting. dazzling sunlight: it was the
Riah who awaited me. He had upon
h person ten or fifteen million dia-
ln,nds. and upon his forehead shone
the famous star of Delhi. which has al
WAYS belonged To the illustrous dynasty
OF the Pariharas of Mmdorc, from which
nv host was descended.
He was q young man of about ;wen-
tv-iive years, who seemed 10 have negro
blood in his veins. although he belonged
to the purest Hindoo race. He had
large. expressionless eyes. high cheeks.
thick lips and q coarse beard; his fore.
head was low and his teeth were sharp
and white.
He arose and came toward me, G
tending his hand. Then he made me
sit beside him upon . seat which was SO
high that my feet scarcely touched the
ground.
He ut once proposed . tiger hunt for
the next day. He Sas evidently per
suaded that l had come q long distance
simply to amuse myself and join in his
sports.
AS he could be of de greatest assist.
ance to me l thought il best to conform
to his desires. He was so pleased with
nv ready assent 70 his plans that he
wished TO show me ut once a combat os
gladiators. and dragged me to \ sort Of
arena situated in the interior Of the
palace
Upon his order two men appeared.
armed with steel spears. who at once
STACKED each other. The struggle was
. long and desperate. The Rajah watched
the contest with a ferocious, passionate
Joy. He trembled with excitement
uttered bowls of satisfaction and cried
increasingly: ..Strike: keep stEiking!'
One Of them At length fell uncon.
scious; he had to be carried froM the
arena. and the Rsjah heaved . deer
sigh of regret, on grief that it wns %
500 over.
Then - turned TO me end asked ms
what l tAoaght Of It. ! was disgusted.
aeut I pretended - be greatly P1eaesd.
Then be ordered mo 20 b condnoted
At once b the Copch A6Aal {the plsae
ars palaee), uhsEe kuas - c1A