The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-04-06
THE SUTT,EE.


his bungalow in tho English camp at tho
foot of Il spur of the Western Ghauts
When an old sergeant came to announce
that Pun1o, native spy, wished to
speak with him Oh urgent business.
A moment later a lank, half naked
!Hindoo with Il crafty look entered noise
iessly and Frustrated himself
Rise, Punjo, said the major in Hin
doostanec, land tell me briefly what
news you bring"
Sahlb, replied the spy, "Punjo is
the bearer of serious tidings for the Eng
llsh. Tho young widow of the old Prince
Rahadoor of Ellora is to be burned on
the pyrc of her husband tomorrow about
sunrise on the plain of Ellora''
What" exclaimed the major, clinch-
ing his fist, i'll spite Of tho treaty tho
English have made with the Indian
princes for tho abolition Of tho suttee?
And how far is the plain of Ellora from
here?''
BY the mountain paths IL quick foot
could reach there between the rising of
tonight's moon and the morrow's
dawn"
"a rabblc, said the English officer,
with snccr, 'who will be frightened
to death at the mere sight of Il few hun
dred English bayoncts and rctlcouts! 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 z"
'Thcy have told the people that de-
spite the treaty YOU dare not interfere;
that YOU dare not thus bid defiance to
their godsr'
1--WE shall sect muttcrcd the English
officer.
With the rising Of the moon the Eng
hsh moved out of their camp. their
heavy tread rumbling i'll the still air.
Punjo, the SPY, led the way as guide.
Toward daybrcali they came in sight
of the plain of Eliora.
Hating his troops, the major, accom-
panied by the spy and Il few of his men,
advanced to rcconnoitcr
The waning moon cast Il faint light
over the plain. TO the south a dark
mass rose against the sky This, Punio
said, was the funeral pile, guarded by
few fanatics, lest the beasts of prey
should attack old Rahadoors body,
which was to have been placed there ut
nightfall of the previous day.
To the left, about hundred wards
from the pile, upon IL knoll, doomed up
heap of ruins the remains of the once
magnificent pagoda of Ellora
There, " said the major, pointing to
the crulnbling structure, lis 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
eel 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 bloodshcd Go cautiously
forward, Punjo with my men and Sc
cure them.
The order was easily executed, for
the fanatics were asleep, as the major
had surmiscd, and We're disarmed and
ing any resistance.
The next step W;;:' to sccrctc Tie rcgi-
ment i'll tho immense ruins
Dawn was beginning to show itself
along the horizon when there came to
the ears of the eager watchers IL sound
as of faroif clamor
cit is they, said the spy.
Led by Il hundred Brahman priests in
their robes of ceremony, their shavcn
heads uncovered, some carrying flaming
torches, TIM natives slowly advanced,
the air echoing with their vaccinations.
In their midst, surrounded by crowd
nf hnNVlintr funofinV ,,1A11o1
ly caparisoned elephant, upon whose
back sat young woman clad in white
and covered with sparkling gems.
This was the hapless suffice, old RAJ
Indoors widow. And not only was she
very young-apparcntly not over 10
but she WAS very beautiful, il truly raw
ishing creature. The severe fast which
the Brlhmm priests imposed upon the
suffice had not perceptibly married her
beauty Her black eyes, though dimmcd
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 pyrc was reach
ed, hush came over the multitude, and
a handsome young priest, stepping from
the ranks Of his colleagues, walked back
ward to where the elephant had stopped
and spoke TO the young woman.
She started at the sound of his voice,
Us ii from IL dream, rose, looked about
her moment i'll confusion, then de-
scended 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
jewels and outer garments and loosened