Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-03-29

up his bent form, and pointing long,
bony finger at the English commandment
said in an austere voice:
Wherefore this sacrilcgC, audacious
| Englishman? Wherefore contest thor
with thy soldiers to disturb this right
eous ceremony? Deliver up to Us the
woman to whose person thou hast nc
right, that the glorious sacrifice may be
delayed no longer and that bloodshed
may be avoided"
Dog of a priest! You dare to threat
en-" cried the major violently. Il tell
You Rahadoor's widow is III 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, i'll the name Of the
queen of England l command you to let
US depart in peace
"And we, " said the BriL,man i'll his
deepest voice, half turning toward the
thousands behind him, lin 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 trick"
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
dablc row of bayonets, but no sooner did
they feel their sting than they turned
about frantically and endCavOred tC
check the excited people. The latter,
seeing some Of their priests bleeding,
hcsitated and recoiled
IT, of tl,iS tl,n
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-
thing 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 i'll one of the
halls being cared for by the surgeon at
tached to the regiment. She had recOv-
cred from her swOOn, and wrapped i'll
bl,>lket sat prOppcd 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 We're a
child. saving i'll HindooStancC:
Tell me. poor creature, what is your
Nance
Natalie. " replied the suffice shyly.
We'll, Natalie, You need fear no
longcr-yOur enemies are routed.
My envmicS?' repeated Rahadoor'
widow, looking up curiouSly.
Yes. the miserable Brahmans, who
would have cruelty burned you on old
Rahadoor' : funeral pile but for the time
~ 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
lish have Il treaty with Your princes
abolishing the suttee:" pursued the Off
Ger.
Natalie shook her head.
Yet it is true. So Your own people
Were dccciving you. You have the right
to live"
All, said the Young woman sweet
ly, bright light coming into her dark
eyes, I really have the right to live?"
"Undoubtcdly. Are You not glad?'
IL don't know, stammercd Ma
talie, something like a shadow of fear
darkcning her lovely face. My people
will curse Inc, and when l return to
them, if they have deceived me, as you
say, will they not carry out the ccre-
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, Il have taken my precautions,
Look" And he pointed toward large
opening in the crumbling walls, through
which one could see Il dense volume of
smoke rising i'll 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 a funeral all
by himself And us for you, little Ma
talic, no harm shall come to you. You
shall be protected. You shall not go
back t. your people. Put Your trust i'll
me,
Natalie fixed her beautiful eyes on the
animated face above; then she said sim
ply:
Il trust yOu-indeed do, for you are
the only man l have ever dared to speak
to without trembling for fear. And yet
l have always been taught to hate your
people.
Here The tcte-a-tctc 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 young widow, who had
adapted herself to her new life in the
camp with evident joy, which Major
Ralph Cleveland seemed to share Won
derfully.
1t was n little after midnight. The
stars shone in n clear sky; the camp
was wrapped in a silence, broken at in
tervals by the cries of the sentries. Along
its western limit ran jungle, from
which rose here and there gigantic ca
talpa tree.
Behind one Of these trees, within 25
yards of the first tents and but few
steps from where a sentry passed to and
fro from time to time, crOuched a naked
HindOo, listening to the sentry S retreat
ing footsteps. When all was silent, the
skulker dropped upon his hands and
knees and crept with great caution to
the verge Of the jungle, where he put
his ear to the ground Then he crept on,
swiftly and noiselessly, toward the cen
ter of the camp, stopping ever and anon
to listen, until he reached tent stand
ing in an open space apart from the rest.
Here he f1attened himself against the
ground and lay for minute or two
perfectly still, his swarthy form scarce
ly distinguishable from the color of the
ground. Suddenly he glided like a
-, g