Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-04-04
lrny OF reocoars.

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, avauntl" 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 aygsrero voice:
"Wherefo.a this sacrilege, audacious
Englishman? Wherefore comest thou
with thy soldiers to disturb this right
eous ceremo-y? Deliver up to US the
woman to whose person thou hast no
right, that IL , glorious sacrifice may be
delayed TO i1nger and t'lat bloodshed
may be avoidod''
DOG of q priesti You dare to threat
en?" cried the major violently. 81 tell
you Rahadoor's 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 in peaceP'
"And we, said the BTahman in his
deepest voice, half turning toward the
thousands behind him, Gin 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
vile trickP'
Upon this invocation Of their prophet
the Hindoos set up fierce cries and be-
gan to push toward the pyrc. The priests
in front, irresistibly driven ON by those
behind, were 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 hurrah the British sprang
forward The wavering Hindoos, panic
struck at the onrushing array of bris-
tling bayonets, turned on their heels with
dreadful yells and were 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 re .5iment. She had recov--
cred from her syYoon, and wrapped in
blanket sat propped up on all 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 III Hindoostanee:
''Tell me, poor creature, what is your
name?'
Natalie, replied the suttee shyly.
"Well, Natalie, you need fear no
longer-your enomios are routed -
my enemies?' repeated Rahadoor
widow, looking up curiously.
eyes, the mi3erable Brahmans, who
would have cruelty burned you on old
Rahadoor's funeral pile but for the time
ly interference OF the English -
''Oh, but they are not my enemies
they are my friends who were only do
ing their duty-and I was ready to die, %
she added slowly
'But do you hot know that the Eng
lish 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, II really have the right to live?''
Undoubtedly Are you not glad?"
IL don't know, stammered Ma
talie, something like shadow of fear
darkening her lovely face. my people
will curse me, and when I 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
ior II have taken my precautions.
LooK!' And ne 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 i'll
me.
Natalie fixed her beautiful eyes on the
animated face above; then she said sim
ply:
ST trust you-indeed do, for you arc
the only man have ever dared to speak
to without trembling for fear. And yet
1 have always been taught to hate your
people
Here the tete-a-tete was interrupted
by the appearance of Punjo, who brought
with him the garments that Natalie had
been stripped of at the pyre.
Twelve days have come and gone since
the return to the camp at the foot Of the
Western Ghauts. A courier had been
dispatched to the English authorities in
Calcutta with the majors report of the
rescue of the yong widow, who had
adapted herself to her new life in the
camp with evide 1t joy, which Major
Ralph Cleveland seemed to share won
derfully.
1t was little after midnight The
stars shone in a clear sky; the camp
was wrapped in silence, broken at in
tervals by the cries of the sentries. Along
it's western limit ran a jungle, from
which rose here and there q gigantic ca
talpa tree.
Behind one of these trees, within 25
yards of the first tents and but a few
steps from where u sentry passed to and
fro from time to time crouclaed a naked
Hindoo listening to the sentry S sretreat-
ing footsteps. When all was silent, the
slkulker dropped upon his hands and
knees and crept with great caution to
the verge of the jungle, where he put
l.. IL I