The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-27

BY GEORGE SAND.


that my tasks might not grow again. He
thought me sufficiently disguised, and again
we went on.
Little f%reauented as was that mountain
road, it was yet a miracle that We escaped
the dangers of our enterprise. Neither one
Of US could have done it alone. but from the
intimate reunion of human intelligence
! with great animal strength. an exceptional
power arises. If men had known how to
identify themselves with animals com
pletely enough to lead them into this union,
they would not have found in them mere
slaves, at times rebellious and dangerous,
and often falling short of requirements.
They would have had the best of friends,
and could have solved the problem of self
! directing power, without having recourse
to the blind force OF machinery, a more ~
rocions and terrible animal than the Wild
beasts OF the desert.
although tormented by bandits, whom
we did not greatly fear, with prudence and
perseverance, we reached the River Ienas-
serim. Besides the recollections which We
both had OF our former journey. We guided
ourselves bv the geological outline Of the
country, which in 1ndo-China 1s very
simple. Tie mountain chains have but
few ramitioations and led us almost III a
straight line toward the sea, down into our
W peninsula.
I'VE approached our old haunts with
great circumspsction. We needed to ! No
alone and at perfect liberty. and were q lie
to aarry out our wish. III tribe, enricned
by the sale of my person to the former king
| of Burmah, had deserted its nuts Of reeds,
and the forests, cleared of wild animals by
q terrible drought, had been abandoned
BY the hunters. We found a freer and
safer home than We had yet enjoyed.
Aor regretted nothing Of our vanished
splendor. He knew and loved no one
but me on earth. Our long intimacy az q
broken down the barriers set up betweef'
US by nature. We exchanged our Thoughts
| like two creatures Of the same species. NY
pantomime had become 50 thoughtful, ~
sober and expressive that he read NJ
thoughts as I read his. He did not nee d
words with me. I.felt him sad or gay &C
cording to the mood and infections Of his
flute.
"We spent long years in the enjoyment Of
| orr deliyerance. Aor had become a fe--
vent buddhist and lived wholly on veRets-
Bile food. We had abundance about NJ.
| and knew neither suffering nor sickness. N
But Aor had become old. | had seen his
hair whiten and his strength depart. He
made known to me the effects Of age, and
told me that he was soon to die. I length
ened his life byfsparing him every fatigue
and care. I brought him his food and con
| structed his shelter. He lost his vital
warmth and no longer felt contact with my
body. At length he begged me to dig him
a grave for he felt himself about to die. I
obeyed. He lay in it in bed of leaves, and
embraced my trunk in farewell. Then his
arm fell. and he lay motionless.
IT covered his grave as he had hidden me,
and lay down on it. I think I had under
stood his death. But ! did not question
whether the longevity Of my race CON
demned me to survive him for q long
period. nor did I determine to die. But !
forgot to eat. When night was gone I had
no thought of arising to battle. I lay abso-
lutely overwhelmed and Indifferent. When
the sun rose again he found me dead.
IT have since learned that after my dis
appearance the Burman empire suffered
great reverses. The royal city Of Pagham
was abandoned by the priests Of Gautama.
Bouddha was irritated at the want of solicit
tude which the people had shown for me,
and my flight testified his displeasure. The
rich carried away their treasures and built
them new palaces in the territory of Ava.
The poor carried their huts of rattan away
ON the backs of their camels, to follow their
masters away from the accursed city. Pag-
ham had been the abode and the pride of
fotty-ive kings in succession. I had con-
demned her by my flight. and to-day she is
nothing but a heap of magnificent ruins"