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

Il
| long and desperate. The Rajah watched
| the contest with a ferocious, passionate
ioy. He trembled with excitement,
uttered bowls of satisfaction and cried
increasingly: ''Strike; keep striking!'
One of them at length fell uncon-
| scious: he had to be carried from the
arena, and the Rajah heaved a deep
sigh of regret, or grief that it was so
soon over.
Then he turned to me and asked me
what thought of it. I was disguised.
but pretended to be greatly pleased.
Then he ordered me to be conducted
at once to the Couch Mahal (the pleas
ure paiace), where was to reside.
Crossing magnificent gardens, I
reached my residence. This palace
was situated at the extremity OF the
park, upon the border of the sacred
lake of Vihara. The chambers were
lighted by arched windows looking
upon the gardens and the lake. The
marble floors were inlaid with onyx,
lapis, lazuli and agate.
had hardly finished my toilet, when
a dignitary of the court, Haribadada,
specially charged with communications
between the Rajah and myself, an
nounced the visit of his Sovereign.
The Rajah appeared and again shook
my hand warmly, and began to tell me
a thousand things, constantly asking
my opinion, which l found great diff
Guilty in giving him. Then he wished
to show me the ruins of an old palace
at the other end of the gardens.
1t was veritable mass of rocks, peo-
pied only by great monkeys. At our
approach they began to scamper over
the stones, making horrible grimaces.
The Rajah laughed madly, and pinched
my shoulder in testimony of his pleas
ure. When he had had enough of this
spectacle, he dragged me through the
gardens back to my palace, and left
me, recalling to me the fact that
grand tiger hunt would take place the
next day in my honor.
/ attended this hunt, then 4 second, a
third, ten, twenty in rapid succession.
We chased in turn all the animals that
the country produced: the panther, the
bear, the elephant, the antelope, the
hippopotamus. the crocodile and half
the beasts in all creation. / was tired
to death of the sport.
At last the ardor Of the Raiah abated,
and at my earnest entreaty he left ME a
little opportunity to work. He con-
tented himself with overwhelming me
with presents. He sent me jewels. cost
ly garments and rare curiosities. which
Haribadada presented to me with a re-
spect apparently as profound as if had
been the Great Mogul himself, although
in his heart he thoroughly despised me.
And every day a procession of SER
wants brought me on golden PLACES /,
portion of the royal repast: each day it
was necessary for me to appear and
take an extreme pleasure in some diver
sion especially gotten up for me.
When l was left to myself l worked
or went to see the monkeys, whose So
ciety pleased me infinitely more than
that of the Rajah.
One evening, as l returned from a
walk. found before the door of my pal
ace Haribadada. solemn as an owl. who
announced to me in mysterious tones
that a gift from his Sovereign awaited
me in my chamber; and he offered his
masters excuses for not having sent it
before.
After these somewhat obscure re-
marks the ambassador bowed and dis
appeared.
entered my room and saw, ranged
along the wall, six little girls standing
side by side. The Oldest might have
been eight and the youngest six. At
first could not understand why these
youngsters had been installed in my
house; then OWNED the delicate atten-
ton of the Prince. it was a harem that
he had presented me.
l felt inclined to burst into laughter
at the sight of these midgets, who
gazed at me with their large gray eyes.
l did not know what to say to them. l
wanted to send them back. but one can
not return Il Sovereign's gift. must
keep them and find place in my
home for this troop of children. Final
ly l said to the oldest:
''What is your name, my child?''
She replied: "Chali"
She had the air of Il little mouse. I
raised her in my arms and kissed her.
Then. seating myself in Indian fashion,
motioned to the others to range them
selves around me, and began telling
them fairy stories.
They listened attentively, and trem-
bled with excitement at the marvellous
details. When l had finished. called
my servant, and had him bring fruits
and candies, of which they eat enough
to make themselves sick. Then l en-
them to his care. directing him
to see that they were made comforta-
BILE.
For eight days 1 found real pleas
ure in playing the papa to these little
puppets. We played hide and seek,
puss in the corner and blindman's buff.
which threw them into transports of
My palace was turned into
a sort of nursery.
Chali was my favorite. We wandered
together among the ruins of the old
palace; we rowed together upon the
lake. and when l was at work she
would sit for hours gazing at me with
her great dreamy eyes. She was a gen.
tie, timid little thing. and l grew to
love her as if she had been my own
child.
The Rajah still continued to lavish |
gifts uDOn me-