The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-04-11

was what seemed TO them III the terror
and confusion of the moment whole
army Of redcoats
SO swift was the movement Of the
troops that the major had seized the
trembling widow and was brandishing
his heavy sword, laundering, "Avaunt,
wretches, avauntp' before the dismayed
and recoiling priests had thought of pro-
tecting their suttee.
Then he commanded his men to form
in square about the pile.
While the order was being executed
an aged priest stepped forward, drew
up his bent form, and pointing a long,
bony finger at the English commandant
said in an austere voice:
Wherefore this sacrilege, audacious
Englishman? Wherefore CONTEST thou
with thy soldiers to disturb this right
eous ceremony? Deliver up to us the
woman to whose person thou hast no
right, that the glorious sacrifice may be
delayed no longer and that bloodshed
may be avoidedf'
Dog of priestl You dare to threat
en?" cried the major violently 81 tell
you Rahadoor's widow is in my lawful
possession, and there she shall remain
till the English authorities decide what
is to be done with her And, as for you
and your people, in the name of the
queen of England command you to let
us depart i'll peaceP
"And we, - said the Brahman in his
deepest voice, half turning toward the
thousands behind him, ''in the name of
Brahma, the prophet, we command thee
to restore to our hands the young wom-
an of whom thou hast robbed up by a
vile tricllP'
Upon this invocation of their prophet
the Hindoos set up fierce cries and be-
gan topush toward the pyre. The priests
in front, irresistibly driven on by those
behind, We're pressed against the formi-
dable row of bayonets, but no sooner did
they feel their sting than they turned
about frantically and endeavored to
check the excited people. The latter,
seeing some of their priests bleeding
hesitated and recoiled
Taking advantage of this, the COM
mandant quickly wheeled his men into
line and gave the order to charge. With
deafening hu1rah the British sprang
forward The wavering Hindoos, panic
struck at the onrushing array of bris-
Ting bayonets, turned on their heels with
dreadful yells and We're soon flying over
the plain in all directions.
When the last terrified native had
disappeared in the jungle, the major
stopped the pursuit which had been
conducted without much loss of blood,
and returned with his men to the ruins,
where he found the widow in one of the
halls being cared for by the surgeon at
tached to the regiment. She had recov-
cred from her sWoon, and wrapped in
blanket sat propped up on an improvised
couch.
The surgeon withdrew upon the en-
trance of the major, who, approaching
the couch, took the soft hand of the
widow in his own, as though she were
child, saying in Hindoostanee:
''Tell me, poor creature, what is your
name?'
Natalie" replied the suffice shyly.
'Wel, Natalie, you need fear no
longer-your enemies are routed"
MY enemies?" repeated Rahadoor'
widow, looking up curiously.
Eyes, the miserable Brahmans, who
would have cruelty burned you on old
Rahadoor's funeral pile but for the time
ly interference of the English. "
ooh, but they are not my enemies
they are my friends, who were only do
ing their duty-and was ready to die"
she added slowly.
"But do you not know that the Eng
fish have treaty with your princes
abolishing the suttee?" pursued the Off
Ger.
Natalie shook her head.
"Yet it is true So your own people
were deceiving you You have the right
to live.
"Ah, " said the young woman sweet
ly, bright light coming into her dark
eyes, Il really have the right to live?'
Undoubtedly. Are you not glad!'
IL don't know" stammered Ma
talie, something like a shadow of fear
darkening her lovely face. MY people
will curse me, and when | return to
them, if they have deceived me, as you
say, will they not carry out the cere-
mony when you are gone and they need
no longer fear your intervention"
'"They can never carry out the cere-
mony, little Natalie, returned the ma
jor. 81 have taken my precautions.
Look" And he pointed toward large
opening in the crumbling walls, through
which one could see dense volume of
smoke rising in great clouds far into the
sky
You see," he continued, you have
nothing more to fear there. By my or
ders old Rahadoor is having funeral all
by himself And as for you, little Ma
talie, no harm shall come to you. You
shall be protected You shall not go
back to your people Put your trust in
me-.
Natalie fixed her beautiful eyes on the
animated face above; then she said sim
ply:
81 trust you-indeed do, for you are
the only man have ever dared to speak
to without trembling for fear. And yet
have always been taught to hate your
people. +"
81 4