The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-25
3estIcsly along. their howdaLs filed with

] two strangers rs they forced their way
/ through the moving throng and anon III,
! sparkle Of diamonds flashed ont. Us III,
silkcn curtains of the hOwdahs were dis
/ placed by the swaying motion of the Gle
I plants tread
Passing outside the city gates, the
travellers quickened their pace. and were
soon in tho open country. where there was
nothing to obstruct their progress
At nightfali' 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 oil the dust of travel, and eat OF
their salt They said 1.-The house and all
we have is yours Come in and partake
Of your own. while we bring water for
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
staya week with these good friends, when
they would start again on their journey
toward Baroda
Three or four days after this a messen-
ger came in great haste from llyderabad,
saying that Ramji had died suddenly. and
LimbaU must return at once 10 perform
tho funeral ceremonies
Then arose the question, "What should
be done with Tara MEANWHILE Limbaji
could not take her back as he must make
all possible speed He would DO obliged
10 feed the crows for certain number Of
DAYS. until he could be sure whether his
fathers spirit had entered a crow, and he
must make several feasts for the Brah-
Minis and distribute aims among the poor
Of the village All this would require 50
much time, il would be fully three weeks
before hc could continue the journey with
Tara
Finally il was decided that he leave
Tara with his friends, and return as soon
IA the customs Of his caste would permit.
So he sped away on the messenger s
swift horse satisfied that he had made
the best arrangement for the little wife
The following week Jniram, who was
I'm the employ of one of the hattiawar
chiefs. was ordered TO distant part of
the province Then very serious ques-
lion presented itself, for Jaram must
take his family with him-"What could
they do with Tara" 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 Jaram 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 be was called back 10 Hy
derabad by the death Of his father We
promised 10 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 llyderabad now, and your best
plan will be to put her in onr 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
q very good solution to the problem. and
at once gave the girl into their keeping,
with the silkcn garments. jewelry and
money
The women led her along quietly until
they came to wild, desolate part of the
country, when they tore of her garments,
seized her bridal robes, iewelry 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 caItman was passing on
tho other side of ,he hedge, who rushed
10 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
recovered and the women were sent to
prison.
Then Tara was left on the magistrates
hands. and ne placed her under the care of
his buffers wife. expecting that her friends
would claim her as soon as be could com
munsatc with them But just at this
time the magistrate was transferred 10
the AhmedpoTe district, which lies 100
miles nearer Hyderabad.
4 district magistrate lives in his tents
and moves through the district with much
tent furniture and large relinue of ser
wants and camp followers 50 with the
buffers family went little Tara As soon
as thcy reached the city the magistrate
inquired for O place Of refuge where the
girl could remain until her friends should
claim her He was told that a NINE
Sahib" had q school where girls Of Tara's
age were cared for, and 10 the ''Sahib's'
bungalow the magistrate hurried at once.
The NINE. Sahib" was very willing to
receive Tara into her school, but thought
il would not be well for her to enter the
boarding department. rs that would de
stroy the child's caste and make much
trouble FOR her after her return to her
friends
So Telugu woman of Taras own caste
was found, who promised 10 feed and
otherwise care for her. and she entered
the school as a day scholar.
And now began new life for Tara
Until she was brought before the magis-
trate. few days before. she had never
even seen white person. Now she was
wakcned each morning by the bugle call,
and she saw troops of Highlanders and
other uniformed soldiers marching in and
around the grand old fort, with colors fly
ing and bagpipes playing.
She was now in large. busting city.
and there was nothing TO remind her Of
her old home except the tinliling Of tho
bells as the herds were driven outside tho
gates in the morning and brought back at
night
She had never thought of learning to
read None of her family or neighbors