Arizona silver belt., 1894-07-07

I
 was what seemed to them in the terro
 and confusion of the moment whol,
 army of redcoats
 So swift was the movement of thu
 troops that the major had seized tn,
 trembling widow and was brandishins
 his heavy sword, laundering, "Avaant,
 wretches, avauntp' before the tiismayed
 and reooiling 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 mp his bent form, and pointing long, bony finger at the English commandant said in an austere voice.
 Wherefore this sacrilege, audacious Englishman? Wherefore comest 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 ayoidedl"
 Dog of a priest You dare to threat. emp cried the major violently. 'I 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 in 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 vile trickp'
 Upon this invocation of their prophet the Hindoos set up fierce cries and be- gan to push toward the pyre The priests in front, iIresistibly 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 a deafening hurrah the British sprallg forward The wavering Hindoos, panic struck at the onrushing array of bris- ting 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, md 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 recoy. cred from her swoon and wrapped in q 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 i'll his own, as though she were child, saying in Hindoostanee:
 Tell me, poor creature, what is your name?'
 Natalie, replied the suttee shyly
 Well, Natalie, you need fear no longer--your enemies are routed.
 My enemies?' repeated Rahadoo-'s widow, looking up curiously
 Yes, the miserable 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 was ready to die, " she added slowly
 But do you not know that the Eng fish have treaty with your princes the sustee?" pursued the off. cer
 Natalie shook her head.
 Yet it is true, So your own people wero decciying you You have the right to live
 An, " said the young woman sweet ly, a bright light coming into her dark eyes, I really have the right to live?'
 Undoubtedly. Are you not glad?"
 'l-l don't know, staInmered Ma. talie, something like shadow of fear her lovely face My people will curse me, and when l 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. II have taken my precautions Look" And he pointed toward a largs opening in the crmnbling walls through | which one could see dense volume of smoke rising in great clouds far into tho sky
 You see, he continued, you have nothing more to fear there By my or. lers old Rahadoor is having funeral all by himself And as for you, little Ma allie, no harm shall come to you You shall be protected You shall not go pack to your people Put your trust ih ne !"
 Natalie fixed her beautiful eyes on the minated face above; then she said sim ply;
 ''I trust you--indeed do, for you are he only man 1 have ever dared to speak o without trembling for fear. And yet have always been taught to hate your ,eople" !"
 Here the tete-a-tete was interrupted y the appearance of Punjo, who brought with him the garments that Natalie had 'een stripped of at the pyre
 Twelve days have come and gone since he return to the camp at the foot of the Western Ghauts. A courier had been dispatched to the English authorities in jalcutta with the majors report of the escuo of the young widow, who had dapted herself to her new life in the