Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-12-05


servant boy, who was devo.cdly at
tached TO him.
"lIe followed along the course of
the Gangcs, and bis thoughts were
with the lovely maiden, who had re-
covered from the scmblancc of death
TO meet a worse fate than the funeral
pyre.
"Suddenly his horse shicd and
dashed madly ahead, regardless of all
efforts which Hal male to control
him.
"Baba uttered a cry of dsmay, and
dashing along as fast as possible, tried
to keep him in sight.
son rushed the frightened horse,
while Hal tried in vain to check him
up sloaping, sandy ridge. then along
the rise, until-IIal gave low cry Of
incredulous surprise-the horse snort
ed, and turned TO flee, the sand gave
way under his feet, and Hal knew no
more after the fall.
"When he recovered consciousness
enough to feel an interest in his sur
roundings, he saw a wretched village
surrounded by a natural barrier of
sand on three sides, and by lhe river
i'll front.
"a number of half-naked peoH.
crowded curiOusly around him,
among them was the maiden of In
funeral pyre. lie was in the city of
the dead!
1.-The day passed slowly enough, and
night came.
GAS Hal was meditating upon the
chances of escape, soft voice near
him said, in broken English and Him
doc, of which he knew enough to un-
dcrsiand the meaning:
"'Do you wish to escape? 1t is
useless. This is the city flon which
none ever return
i" There is-therc must he some
way of escaped cried Hal, inpatient
ly.
"'Thc sand barrier prevents all es-
cape by land; and see, the maiden
continued, leading him to the river
bank.
"Thc river was filed with number
less crocodilcs-grcat, wicked-looking
waiting viciously for any
attempt at escape; and, besides these
ll4iT-4 sc.tiaels, -beat fillca With
native soldiers was anchored near by.
".You understand said Tie
maiden, Significantly, as Hal sank
back with a groan.
"Two days passed. Hal made des-
perate attempts to scale the sandy
wall, but i'll vain, as the maiden
watched him with sympathy, and the
rest of the miserable creatures viewed
his struggle, with the calm Indifference
born of the despair resulting from
similar trials.
"Ihe third night came, AMI as Hal
paced the circuit of the inclosure, he
heard low whistle.
'Looking up, he saw Baba's eager
face pecring over the sandy bank,
while coil of rope fell at his feet.
"A soft sigh near by told him that
lis companion in despair had seen his
chance of escape, also.
"Gently with swift, eager fingers
Hal fastened the rope around her
waist, whispered few directions,
and gave Bd5j5a' 5j5'' tfG gr'n'rs = fs.r- rrr
".
"She reached the top safely, again
the rope fell, and Hal took his own
turn, not moment too soon, for from
all points of the miserable village,
eager, bowling wretches came hurry
inC to take the chance of escape from
him.
Hurry. masterr said Baba, ex-
eltedly. 'Tomorrow's sun must see
you far from Benares, for dead peo-
pie must never return TO mingle with
the living, and you have seen the
mysterious city
"Faiehful Babal lie had DISC
beyed the laws to save his master, and
no wonder that he wished TO leave the
place.
"There is little more TO tell. lie
reached-they reached the frontier in
safety, for the maiden accompanied
him. If she had remained, she would
have been returned to the dreaded
Crater City, or else doomed to a living
death upon the funeral pyre."
"What more?" | demanded, as he
stopped, with significant glance at
his wife.
"Nothing-except this" he an
swered, emphatically, "N1y name is
Henry Andrew Johns. Sometimes l
have passed under the name of lIal
Andrews, and my wife was Hindoo
maiden, before an English education
changed her views of life. rSatur-
day Night.
Which Grow Faster, Boys or Girls |!
Onntnlet has aYnrcsSnd the nninion