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


foot of spur of the Western Ghauts
when an old sergeant came to announce
that Punjo, a native spy, wished to
speak with him ON urgent business
A moment later a lank, half naked
H1ndoo with crafty look entered noise
lessly and Frustrated himself.
= Rise, Punjo," said the major in Hin
doostanee, land tell me briefly what
news you bring"
"Sahib, " replied the spy, "Punjo is
the bearer of serious tidings for the Eng
lish. The young widow of the old Prince
Rahadoor of Ellora is to be burned on
the pyre of her husband tomorrow about
sunrise on the plain of Ellora, :"
What" exclaimed the major, clinch-
ing his fist, Gin spite of the treaty the
English have made with the Indian
princes for the abolition of the suffice?
And how far is the plain of Ellora from
here?"
by the mountain paths quick foot
could reach there between the rising of
tonights moon and the morrow's
dawn. -
"a rabble," said the English officer
with a sneer, "who will be frightened
to death at the mere sight of few hun
bred English bayonets and redcoatsl But
how do the priests dare to undertake
this ceremony almost under our very
noses? 1t must be they have not yet
learned of our presence here"
"They have told the people that de-
spite the treaty you dare not interfere;
that you dare not thus bid defiance to
their gods!'
eve shall seer' muttered the English
officer.
With the rising of the moon the Eng
hsh moved out of their camp, their
heavy tread rumbling in the still air
Punjo, the spy, led the way as guide.
Toward daybreak they came in sight
Of the plain of Ellora.
Hating his troops, the major, accom-
panied by the spy and few of his men,
advanced to reconnoiter
The waning moon cast faint light
over the plain. To the south dark
mass rose against the sky This Punjo
said, was the funeral pile, guarded by
few fanatics, lest the beasts of prey
should attack old Rahadoor's body,
which was to have been placed there at
nightfall of the previous day
To the left about hundred yards
from the pile upon a knoll, loomed up
heap of ruins the remains of the once
magnificent pagoda of Ellora.
There" said the major pointing to
the crumbling structure "is an excel
lent place for me to conceal my men till
the moment for action comes. Mean
while we must surprise these fanatics,
who would doubtless be highly delight
ed to be able to inform the people of Ell
lora of our presence and so thwart our
purpose. The rascals overcome by their
religious frenzy and vigil, are probably
fast asleep, and so will fall into our
hands without bloodshed. Go cautiously
forward, Punjo, with my men and Sc
cure them.
The order was easily executed, for
the fanatics We're asleep, as the major
had surmised, and were disarmed and
seized before they could think of offer
Ing any resistance.
The next step was to secrete the regi-
ment in the immense ruins.
Dawn was beginning to show itself
along the horizon when there came to
the ears of the eager watchers a sound
as Of faroff clamor
1T is they" said the spy
Led by hundred Brahman priests in
their robes of ceremony their shaven
heads uncovered, some carrying flaming
torches, the natives slowly advanced,
the air echoing with their acclamations.
In their midst, surrounded by crowd
of bowling fanatics, plodded gorgeous
ly caparisoned elephant, upon whose
back sat young woman clad in white
and covered with sparkling gems.
This was the hapless suttee old RAJ
Indoors widow And not only was she
very young-apparently not over 10
but she was very beautiful truly raw
ishing creature. The severe fast which
the Brahman priests imposed upon the
suffice had not perceptibly marred her
beauty. Her black eyes, though dimmed
by suffering, had not lost all their lus-
ter. and her pale face wore an indescrib-
ably sad and sweet expression.
When the foot of the pyre was reach
ed, hush came over the multitude, and
a handsome young priest, stepping from
ohO ituhS vi illS COllCdS utS, WAIKIKI
ward to where the elephant had stopped
and spoke to the young woman.
She started at the sound of his voice.
as if from a dream, rose looked about
her moment in confusion, then de-
pcended the short ladder placed against
the animals side
When she reached the ground, the
young priest took her gently by the arm
and delivered her into the hands of some
women, who began to strip her of her
newels and outer garments and loosened
her luxuriant black hair, which fell in
glossy waves to her feet, leaving her
finally standing there, abashed and be-
wildered, with nothing to cover her ma
lkedness but a thin silken undergarment
Then the young priest once more APP
preached her and conducted her to the
pile amid the shouts Of the people and
bowls of the fanatics. who in their re-
igious exaltation began to slash their
naked bodies with knives.
At the foot of the pyre hoary Brah-