Milford chronicle., 1889-06-14
THE JEWELS OF JueGeRNAur.

Saving the Necklace of the Idol from the
Clutch Of a Desperate Gambler.
! Many years ago ! was quartered at Fuzara-
bad, an important military station about a
/ hundred and fifty miles from the Madras
coast Unfortunately, at the tin@ was
there, gambling and betting were much in
vogue, and many men plunged and came to
grief over their debts of honor Of all that
gay company, nobody was more popular and
better liked by both men and women than
young Fitzroy; but, unfortunately, he lost
money at the races, tried to recover himself
at the whist table, but failed, got into the
hands Of the Marwarrees, and got deeper and
deeper into the mire of debt. " length he
told the narrator he intended to go to Eng
land to raise money "lVill you come away
with meF he asked "Give out that we have
taken ten days leave for some shooting, and
see me down to the coast If go off alone,
l shall be stopped by those cursed Marwar-
rees." After some hesitation agreed. He
sent in his application for leave to Europe on
private affairs and gave out that was 60
ing on ten days shooting expedition.
A week later, with a couple of tongas, we
had started on our long and wearying Journey
to the coast, where my poor young friend
hoped to pick up a steamer to take him to
Europe. On the second day we met crowds
of people tramping along. In reply 10 our
inquiries we were told they were all return
ing from the great festiyah-of Juggernaut,
held at Puri, nav only some three days
journey from where we were Tho tonga
walla!n Kept US interested with graphic de-
scription of the festival and Of the great god
which was especially remarkable for the
wonderful jewels it possessed-two emerald
of %
the finest rubies in the world and necklace
Of priceless pearls.
The sun was sinking as at last we neared
the town of Puri, and we could see the pin
nacles Of the temples rise above the trees
which surrounded the place. Half a mile
the other side of the town stood the Travel
ers' Bungalow, where we intended putting up
for the night. A more uncomfortable meal
/ never ate than the dinner which was served
up to us that evening, and | was quite thank
full when the poor lad said be was dead beat
and would go off to bed Ny own room was
on the other side of the bungalow, and took
my pipe and sat smoking in the veranda
The moon was just rising when | thought l
saw the figure Of a European stealing along
the wall of the compound. Strange, thought,
and wondered what other European there
could be here at the same time An idea
struck me, and Invent across to my cOmpan-
ions room. There was nobody in it, the bed
was undisturbed l threw down my pipe,
and rushed out into the moonlight A few
seconds later was out in the road, and turn
ed instinctively in the direction Of the temple
could not see the young officer, but ran
on until / reached the wall of the temple
cOmpound-an enormous courtyard of paved
stone, on which we're lying a number Of
priests, their white garments wrapped round
their heads and bodies In the background
was placed temple after temple, but in the
very center stood one solitary shrine raised
on three separate flights of steps, and inside
could see the great black god raised on
three other smaller flights of colored marble
steps.
The moonbeams shone directly on the god
and lit up the emerald eye and ruby lips,
while the pearl necklace glowed on his huge
black bosom To my unutterable horror
saw my companion walking right across the
courtyard. Ny tongue Glove to the roof Of
my mouth. dared not shout even if could
have raised my voice A CHASTITY horror
took hold Of me as the idea struck me that
in his madness my poor friend intended
to save his honor by the greater dis
honor of robbing the idol Specifies saw
UNI MOUNT sep aLUeF STEP ana tne next mo
ment / saw him enter the sacred shrine,
across the threshold Of which no other foot
but that of the Brahmin has ever passed.
Nine steps led up to the god He paused
tried to shout, but no sound would come
He raised his hand as if to tear OFF the pearl
necklace. 1t was still above his reach. His
foot then touched the seventh. Oh, Godl
can l ever forget the sightl In the moonlight
flashed ont two arms covered with n bundrad
nay, two hnndred-daggers, and clasped
the daring youth to the black gods breast |
At the same moment the sound Of a gong
broke the stiffness of the night, and in one
moment the priests had cast OF their cover
ings and were rushing to the shrine. Two |
minutes later saw the amazed and Mortified |
priests carrying out the lifeless body of the |
dishonored Englishman, and | turned and |
ned.-Times of India