The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-04-04

| surely you would not nave me handed
over 10 the tender mercies Of wretches
such as those"
And with her little cutting whip she
indicated the two native grooms.
Her kiss was burning on my lips, but
l was not the man to desert my colors
in the hour of danger under the excuse
Of an intrigue, said TO her
Its bad business, Rosa; it seems to
me he ought to put you in safety, some
how or another"
Jack, she said Mith savage deter
mination, "Tll give him chance. He
can save me tonight, IL he will. 1t is
only four hours ride, after all. But
promise me one thing, Jack: if he should
refuse you will save me. You can be
back before dawn, to be butchered here
with him, since you prefer it."
l shook my head. ..
"Do you refuse me still r. she cried.
"Then. by heavens" she screamed, as
she shook her little fist at the blue sky,
"Pll go by myself, for you are both of
you paladins y
did not answer her, but womanlike
she pestered me into making her a
promise. agreed that her horse and
the colonel's should be brought round as
for a moonlight ride, after dinner.
Their, and not till then, did her tears, her
pIteous tears cease to flow.
"Forgive me, dear oil Jack" she said I;
II knew you would save me after all.
Ah. me, did saYe her, but at what
price
Dinner was over, and we stood in the
compound outside the mess room, the
ma i1r, his wife and l. Some sort of at
tempt at floral ornament had been made
in the so.oalled garden by few rows Of
stramonium plants, whose large white
flowers, which open only at night, gave
their heavy perfume to the tepid air.
We smoked our "Trichys," better ones
than they give US here (said Fowler with
sigh. Then there was horrid scene
between the pair. She implored him on
her knees, in the dust, as woman
might plead with an executioner for her
wretched life; but she did not move the
major.
my DEAR" he said grimly, "you did
not marry me for my good looks; you
married me, Rosa, for my position. My
position, my dear, has its duties; and
death in this hole. My wife has thrown
Ill Il6I lOJ Wltu NdhO ~ thdb hldh Q
so, Fowler p saId the major, turning to
me.
81 could run across with her, if you
liked, you know, as far as Murghab; it's
only twenty five miles, and the roads
are good"
Now, at Murghab was large canton.
ment-English families, ladies and chill
dren; and what was more important, an
English regiment and some guns.
"Fowler," said the major. 81 can
trust you, my boy, but can't trust her
she'll have to stay and take her chance
with the old man, after ALL"
saw there was no use arguing with
him. There was only one chance; to
try and shame him into it. l left the
pair, she pleading and entreating, but
the man was not to be moved.
From the regimental lines came the
sounds Of music and song, bus the men
were less noisy than usual, and, to my
mind, that boded mischief.
had made her a promise, l suppose
il was her only chance Of escape. II the
major chose to take her out again, and
it could do him no harm; for at the pass
we were, scandal, even the scandal OF an
Indian station, was dead. or course he
couldn't leave. but he might easily have
sent her off with sergeants guard; he
could do il this very night even, il he
chose. But he didn't. To my mind he
knew that things had come to a crisis.
and felt that he had treated me badly
in not taking me into his confidence.
But why should he have done so ? Pr
haps he looked on me as his wife's lover;
so 1 was in one sense. Perhaps he
thought he was revenging himself on us
both in booming US to certain and hor-
rid death; 80 pondered as Ientered the
mess tent. Not servant in the place |!
Perhaps was too late, after all. ran
out of the mess tent, as did 80, l came
upon my own syee--a little old man.
who had been with me since my griffin
days. He had nothing to do with the
regiment, and could trust him, for he
been my confident in many stable se-
cret, my trainer for many an up country
race; the man had never yet sold me,
and he would not, l felt, betray me
now.
"Montazza." said /, Saddle my horse
and the Mem Sahlb's, aud bring them
them round to the front of the mess
tent at once. Run y said, as the man
hesitated.
He disappeared without word.
AS retired through the mess tent i
felt that mischief was brewing. The
songs in the lines had ceased, and !
heard a portentous hum OF confused
voices. There was no doubt about the
matter. But my rage against the men,
whom felt in few minutes would be
in open munity, was as nothing to my
Indignation against the maj"r for delib.
erately sacrificing his wife apd not tax
ing me into his confidence.
"Major,n / cried as ! Joined the pair
''theres something serious on foot
there's not soul in the mess tent"
He calmly looked at his watch, and
smiled. As he did so the sound Of can
tering hoofs fell upon our ears, and Nor
taxa, riding my horse and leading Mrs.
Cross's Gulf Arab, suddenly appeared.
Light as bird, Rosa sprang into the
saddle. AT that moment the report Of
single musket rang in our ears, and
shouts and cries, with the noise OF Q
struggle, were heard from the lines.
Take my horse, major y ] crio3. as
urged him to mount.
We we're both armed. / drew my
revolver, and forced IL into Rosa's hand.
"Ride," / said; Il will take their at
tention off. Get her away, Cross.
But the major never mounted,
my place 10 here,n he said, as he
loosened his sword in its scabbard, His
hand never left her bride rein.
A confused mass OF armed men made
their appearance, shrieking and shout
ing, in the lighted circle on the further
side Of the mess tent.
Save me, Jack |" cried the majors
wife, as she gave her horse the spur.
The animal plunged frantically, but the
major held him fast.
Mount, you fool y / cried in my
rage and excitement.
With bis disengaged hand the major |
struck me in the mouth,
AS received the blow heard the re-
port of a weapon and ! saw the major
fall saw that the bullet had strnck |
him in the forehead Isaw him fall like |
Q stone. hingIng up his arms as he did
90, and / saw that he wac dead.
To snatch the revolver from the ma
ior's belt, and to mount and follow
Rosa's horse, which was still wildly |
plunging, but edging of from the infuri-
ated mob, which had now reached the
mess tent, was the work OF an instant.
keep on ~ l shouted tn my COM
panion, as we gat beyond the immediate
circle OF lights, We went straight for
the road, and Rosa uttered not sound.
There was hope for US yet; we might
get clear of in the darkness. My duty
was plsin-to save the helpless woman
at my side. A few yards brought US to
the road. On we went at headlong
speed, but the Mussulman devils had
fred the mess tent In an instant the
great dry tent was one sheet of flame; II
lighted up the white road, on which we
were galloping Cor dear life. The sound
Of musket shots rang out; the bruteS
we're evidently pointing at Us. "stOop ["