Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-05-01
THE RAJAH'S PRIDE.
An Indian Legend of Love and It's At.
tendant Difficulties.


tendant Difficulties.
Once upon time there was beauti-
full Indian girl who had four lovers.
They were all of equal rank, only one
was much richer than the others. She
could not make up her mind which Of
the four lovers to choose for husband.
While she hesitated she caught fever
and died. You will think the story ends
here, but it does not The girl was car
ried to her grave, followed by her four
lovers. When the grave was opened
one of them killed himself on the
grave and was buried with the girl.
Another got up into tree and spent
the night saying "Boh and Ball." to
keep the jackals from eating the
| bodies. The rich lover went back to his
fine house and spent the night in weep
ing and lamenting The fourth lover
put on the dress of a holy pilgrim and
started out for distent shrine
Soon after he had left his native vii
lage he came to a wood. In the wood
he saw house. He went and looked
in at the window, and saw an old woman
baking bread, and child playing nois-
lily about. The old WON an told the child
to be quiet or she would kill her. The
child took no notice. and went on MAX
ing as much noise as before. Then the
old woman took hold of her and stran-
gled her, and threw her body in the
corner. When the pilgrim saw this he
| cl. t,, -I IL
what she meant. "What's the matter?"
said she "There's nothing to make a
fuss about. have only quieted her"
Then she went to cupboard and took
out bottle containing some white pow
der, with which she sprinkled the child,
who at once jumped and began playing
about as noisily as before.
When the pilgrim saw this he said tc
the old W oman, 81 am very holy man
on my way to shrine, and you must
give me shelter for the night" The ole
woman said she would, and so he
staid. In the night he got up quietly
and went to the cupboard and took the
powder and went back to the village al
quickly as he could. When he got there
he collected the villagers and told then
to open the grave AS soon as it was
ope he'd he saw the bodies of the girl ant
of the lover who had killed himself JUS
as they had left them, and the othel
lover was still crying "Boh and bah" il
the tree. The pilgrim then sprinklet
the girl with the powder, and, some o
1t falling on the body of the lover, they
both jumped up and seemed in perfec
health.
Then the lovers all began to claim th'
lady again. Then the first said: :"
ought to have you, for died for you.
She one in the tree said: "If it had no
been for me you could not have come t,
life again, for the jackals would have
eaten you" The third said: "Did no
go home and weep all night?" and tn
fourth said, "You must be mine for
brought you to life again" Then, a
the girl could not still decide which o
the four to marry, it was resolved tina
the matter should be brought before tn
rajah, and that he should decide it. S.
the rajah assembled his court with grea
pomp and called the lady and all tn
lovers before him. He listened wit
, great attention to each as he set fort
his claim. When he had heard all, h
said: GAS find myself quite unable t
! decide between so many rivals, Sc
, the only way out of the difficulty is tina
l should marry the lady myself. Con
stantinOple Herald