Wichita eagle., 1888-06-21

soon In the open country, where there was
nothing to obstruct their progress.
At nightfau On the tenth day Of their
journey they entered little village in
Kattiawar, where lived Jairam, friend
Of Limbaji's. They halted at the door OF
this friends house, and asked If they
might enter and rest their wearied limbs.
Jairam and his wife greeted them with
true eastern hospitality. begging them to
shake off the dust of travel. and eat of
their salt They said: 1.-The house and all
we have is yours. Come in and partake
your feet, and tarry with us, we pray you.
until you are quite rested from your long
journey
So the brother and sister consented to
stay week with these good friends. when
they would start again on their journey
toward Baroda
Three or four days after this messen-
ger came in great haste from Hyderabad,
saying that Ramji had died suddenly. and
Linbaji must return at once to perform
the funeral ceremonies.
Then arose the question. "What should
be done with. Tara MEANWHILE" Embaji
could not take her back, as he must make
all possible speed He would be obliged
to feed the crows for certain number Of
DAYS. until be could be sure whether his
fathers spirit had entered crow: and he
must make several feasts for the Brah-
minis and distribute aims among the poor
of the village. AL this would require so
much time. it would be fully three weeks
before he could continue the Journey with
Tara.
Finally 1t was decided that he leave
Tara with his friends, and return as soon
as the customs Of his caste would permit.
So he sped away on the messengers
swift horse satisfied that he had made
the best arrangement for the little wife.
The following week Jairam, who was
In the employ of one of the Kattiawar
chiefs, was ordered to distant part of
ton presented itself, for Jairam must
they do with TaraT' They could not take
her along. and they dared not leave her
behind alone
While they sat in the doorway discuss
ing the matter In very loud tones, two
strange women came along, and. hearing
the loud voices, they stopped and inquired
what was the matter. Jairsm said:
Here we have this girl on our hands, and
we know not what to do with her. Her
brother was taking her to her husband in
Baroda when he was called back to Hy-
derabad by the death Of his father We
promised to keep her safely until his re-
turn, but we are ordered away and there
is no one to look after the child"
The women said: why we are on our
way to Hyderabad now, and your best
plan will be to put her In our charge, and
we will take her back to her brother;
then. after the funeral ceremonies are
over, he can start again with Tara"
The simple minded Jairam thought this
a very good solution to the problem, and
at once gave the girl into their keeping,
with the silken garments, jewelry and
money
The women led her along quietly until
they came to wild, desolate part of the
country, when they tore off her garments,
seized her bridal robes, jewelry and
money, and tying her hands and feet, pre-
pared to kill her Tara had no suspicion
of their honesty until they commenced
tying her, when she screamed Justify.
Fortunately cartman was passing on
the other side of the hedge, who rushed
to her rescue, and reported the women to
the district police. They were arrested
and brought before the English magis-
trate, who was making his annual tour in
that neighborhood; Tara's property was
prison
Then Tara was left on the magistrates
hands, and he placed her under the care of
bis buffers wife. expecting that her friends
would claim her as soon as he could COM
municate with them But just at this
time the magistrate was transferred to
the Ahmedpore district. which lies 100
miles nearer Hyderabad.
a district magistrate lives in his tents,
and moves through the district with much
tent furniture and large retinue of ser
wants and camp followers; so with the
buffers family went little Tara. AS soon
as they reached the city the magistrate
inquired for a place of refuge where the
girl could remain until her friends should
claim her. He was told that mime.
Sahib' had school where girls of Tara's
age were cared for, and to the "Sahib's"
bungalow the magistrate hurried at once
The Mime. Sahib" was very willing to
receive Tara into her school, but thought
It would not be well for her to enter the
boarding department, as that would de-
stroy the child's caste and make much
trouble for her after her return to her
friends.
So Telugu woman of Tara's own caste
was found, who promised to feed and
otherwise care for her, and she entered
the school as day scholar.
AnI
Until she was brought before the magis-
rate. few days before. she had never
even seen white person Now she was
each morning by the bugle call,
and she saw troops of Hghlanders and
other uniformed soldiers marching in and
around the grand old fort. with colors fly
ng and bagpipes playing.
She was now in large, bustling city,
md there was nothing to remind her Of
her old home except the tinkling of the
BELLS as the herds were driven outside the
gates In the morning and brought back at
night.
She had never thought Of learning 10
read. None of her family or neighbors
could read or write. and there had never
been any necessity for such accomplish
nents.
When one of them wished to send .
etter, he called in the village scribe to
write it for him, and also to read the an
swer when it came. why should they
earn to read? Their fathers and grand
fathers before them had never learned,
and the ways of their fathers were good
enough for them"
Now here was Tara learning to read,
md write, and sing. and embroider. 1t
was delightful for her-ininitely better
han the Sassu's house, where she would