The morning call., 1890-06-24

power which you or | could exert, away up here
In these mountains, could have the least effect to
save traitors life. Will try. as the Khan said
l would but Colonel Nichols is not pleasant
man. He is very angry, too, over the loss OF MS
prisoner: and even II he were not, what reason
could give why lie should not order traitor
shot?"
"Saheb, he has ordered it already" she said.
" He Is In haste. He must be very angry" /
replied. at only makes more sure the GER
tainty that shall fall. linda, why do you not
go to him Yourself? You, SO beautiful He
might hear YOU"
ssneb. have been to him." she said with a
deep sigh.
Startled. 1 exclaimed: You have been to
him? You have spoken, ana after that you come
10 me?" 1 shook my head.
g have seen him, but have not spoken" she
replied. 81 entered his tent as entered yours.
| looked Into his face as looked into yours |
said: No, linda, there is no heart beneath that
face. You must not speak to him. Then L
turned away and came 10 you. know that you
will fail, but in justice TO the one VINO has con
demned my soul 10 die, l long that you should
speak. When, you have failed, Saheb, then l
once Saheb. but he will hear me, and The sun OF
my heaven shall not cease to shine"
BY my faith!" mutIered. involuntarily; IL
she should speak l believe that she would save
him Then; with struggle, breaking the
fascination, asked indherenlly, What shall
You say that Will be so powerlul?'
- IL can lie said but once Saheb, and the time
is not now" she replied. II il must be. and my
Salad is ltd to execution, Stand near tue demon
Nichols, Bartah-SaheD, and you shall hear me
tie ground before me, and you shall see If linda
has spoken we'll"
Enough ~ | said, smiling at the curious com
mingling. 81 Will be there ana | viii tell you
what l think of IT, But give me a hint. too,
Umda since you are so shrewd. What can | say
10 Colonel Nichols? Is there any plea that YOU
have thought OF why a traitor should not die?''
ITO you, Saheb. there may be none. To him
there will be none. To me- For moment
tie beautiful face bent low over the embroidered
sarl and only rose aud fell as the breast heayed
beneath il. / heard no sob, but l saw the tears
as they fell, and with all the roughened, hardened
heart that was III me was sorry for her. TheB
she looked w again. and, with Ihat peculiar lus-
Ter fn her dark eyes, she continued Tell him
that Salad did only what every child of Islam
must do for kin>man. ] ell blm that Salad did
not seek The place upon the guard, but IIied 10
be lid OF IL by reporting 10 the officer that he was
4 nephew OF AIS He had 10 love for The Khan,
Saheb, nor have l, but should have done the
same and so would any enc for by all The laws
Of the prophet we must. Tell him, Then, tnat
Salad did not STAY The only English Ollcer in
charge us lie might easily have done and
caucd with the Ali, but that lie went as he was
hidden TO bear The punishment OF his crime. And
II he nave nc mercy, saheD. Then speak to nm OF
Justice 1ell nm II Is written In the Koran,
i hat which a man planlelh in the Held is that
which he shall garner That which lie would
lose let him lake from his neIEhhor That which
lie would sacrifice let him demand OF another'"
While she was speaking 1 recalled the Bible
lenderngs OF those same sentiments; but there
was SAVIOR OF vengeance In lie flashing eyes,
The proud pOise OF the head, ana the haughy
curve OF the swelling throat. The woman of
Cashmere repeated her much-abused Koran,
that reused my Christian indignation, and max
Ing struggle, at least, 10 appear offended. re-
piled;
III that is your game, linda, you had better
play 1t alone. | can 20 10 Colonel Nichols and
plead tJr The lie OF Salad, but do you fancy that
threat would turn a British soldiers heart?
IL might turn II, linda, in a way you would not
relish. But Stop minute! Here Is au Idea that
may work better. You saw The Khan depart.
You may know where could find him. Now, If
! should go TO Colonel Nichols and say To him,
| VIII bring Won hack Khan 4 II If Will
don this maU Salad l think lie would agtee;
and truly, linda, think that that is the only
possible chance OF saving your husbands life"
Without a moments hesitation she replied:
"Saheb, can | tell you where the eagle is be-
cause saw him fly from yonder crag an honr
ago? Nay, Saheb; but could L lay my hand
upon khau-A Ali this very minute, and say TO you,
Take him aud keep your OATH by the beard of
the propheI, Sahe6, / would not do it! You
would not do ii III my place"
Mechanically ! repeated, No, you would not
do it," But was thinking of her.
Then. suddenly, every aspect changed The
heart that ND upheld her faltered. The cour-
age that had dared for the man she loved for
SOCK her with low but piercing wall she fell
upon her knees, sobbimg. Tell ne something
Saheb! Oh. tell ME anything to turn his heart
for / do not want TO SPEAK. / am only poor,
weak woman of Cashmere. l shall speak If
must but save me from Ii # you can"
Very earnestly | replied, lynda, | shall do all
that can. can say no more"
She turned to leave The tent and ] threw my
self back upon the pillow and closed my eyes.
Sleep would not come TO them, but was de-
Termined and kept them shut in, after some
time, they opened inyolunIarlly linda sim
stood In the tent door, and seeing me looking.
she pointed the faiIest arm and hand that ever
graced woman toward the reddeuing horizon,
saying:
ray of the rising sun crosses yOn mountain pass"
The curtain fell and she was gone.
1 sprang from my couch ana dressed a. never
before for buglecall oil battle.cry. AS emerged
from The tent, the regiments were already form
ing in the compound 10 receive at sunrise the full
TF ~ 1ngC
! hurried 10 headquarters, and without Il thought
arranged stood before Colonel Nichols | had
never seen him before, but had often heard OF
HIM as one OF the most severe cruel and unpopu-
lar men In the army. He was in full parade uni
form, slipping cup OF coffee, and smiling with
himself al thought OF The coming execution. lie
greeted me with curious ejaculation. more like
The grunt OF Il wild beast than a human voice.
aud Win many an oath repeated The story of
hahn-Alfs escape. closing with the Information
that lie had departed fiom The historic custom of
drawing lots for the executiOners, 10 command
that brother OF sal I'd be ordered to fire the
fatal shot. II will teach the yellow devils" he
lie sad. THAT they shall not know an enemy
even If he be their own father" And with an-
other grunt lie lit cigar aud led the way TO the
execution
Valuly | pleaded for The unfortunate Salad
Each word only made the commander more fierce,
and had been an officer under him firmly be.
lieye that lie would have ordered me, too to
stand as target. | only had the selfish salts
faction that, for all his ugiIOesss he knelt suffi-
clently 10 the pen TO give RE nosilion upon the
GERS stood about the base. The five regiments OF
Sepoys and two OF home soldiers holding the
pass were all III array at our feet. Five rods
away Salad stood upon little platform where
every one could see him, bound hand and foot
AT an order from Colonel Nichols the prisoners
brother left the ranks and came reluctantly for
ward His feet moved uGsteadiy; his bowed
head was bound Will heavy white turban, and
the wnlte jacket OF mourning covered his uui-
the last orders. Colonel Nichols himself would
count three then lift his hand. When his hand
was raised the Sepoy was 10 nTe ii lie missed he
was to fire again and keep 1t up until the traitor
was dead.
looked about for linda. She knew the hour,
and she knew That must fail; but she was not
there. A moment more the shot would be fired
and II would be too late FOR her 10 speak.
"One!" said Colonel Nichols. | shuddered
and again looked right and leIt for the beautiful
"Two!" What had I to do with that bound
Sepoy that the Precipitation should stand out on
my forehead?
life?
Colonel Nichols hand was lifted saw the
diamond flash in his ring The shot was fired. |
saw, not the prisoner, but The commander OF
Kyber Pass fall upon his face al my feet with a
bulet-hOle between his eyes.
1t seemed TO me that | heard those words
again: You sh all hear me speak. You shall see
him bow his forehead 10 The ground before me- -
One moment all was still. The next The Sepoy
WHO had fired the shot tore of the heavy turban
and the black hair OF the woman OF Cashmere
fell over he White jacket Of mourning.
AL Khan Bhaee Salaam," rang the clear
voice OF linda.
In an Instant the cry was repeated from the
throat OF every Sepoy in the native regiments.
There was rattle OF muSketIy, cloud OF smoke,
a wild confusion. and when The sun had fully
risen Kahn All stood In the center OF that camp
ground undsputed commander of the second
station of kyber Pass.
linda had spoken but once, but she bad spoken
well-Ex.
PRICE OF SCHUOL-BO0kS.