Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-11-14

have about 5000 with him. They
would kill him and conceal his body,
but how to accomplish it without let
ting Tiiah know? At the mention OF
her name, she betrayed her presence
by low cry. In second the two
were upon her asking her what she
did there, and whether she had heard
what they had said. Terrified of the
wretches, she gasped out that she was
sleeping and their voices star tied her,
but that she knew nothing OF what
they had been saying. Tong grasped
her by the shoulders and told her if
she was speaking the truth it was we'll
for her; but il not, she had better keep
her mouth shut, or he would b'lsjar "a
threat). Then they let her 60.
'The next day Sleiman arrived and
was greeted with effuslon by his rela.
tives. 'Tijah trembled and was silent
She dared not tell him of the danger
he was in. but she made up her mind,
if she could get the opportunity, to
warn him to take care. Till late
Sleiman sat outside talking to differ.
ent neighbors who looked in, and
'Iijah crept away to her room, mean.
ing to lie and watch until Sleiman
joined her, but wesried with the alarm
and anxiety of the previous night she
fell asleep.
''She awoke with a sudden sense of
terror knocking at her heart. By the
light of the moon which penetrated
through small window in the hut
she saw Sleimsn extended by her side;
for q short space OF time she heard
nothing but the noise of his loud
snores, when suddenly sort of shut
fling sound inside the room struck her
as something strange. 1t seemed as
though some animal was crawling
along the floor, and as she looked with
trembling expectancy toward the
direction whence it came, the face of
Tong slowly rose beside Sleiman from
the other side of the low bed on which
she lay. She held her breadth, hardly
daring to keep her eyes fixed on him
lest the intensity OF her gaze should
draw Tong's attention to herself.
A flash of something bright,
long drawn groan, a short strug.
gle, and then pillow flung
over the mouth which was q still
capable OF crying out for help, and
brawny, muscular arms, pressing it
firmly down till the convulsive heav.
ing ceased, and all was still as death.
'Tijah closed her eyes with one deep
shuddering sigh and tainted. When
she regained her senses she feared to
move or look at first, dreading what
ghastly sight would meet her. She
put out her hand and felt about eau.
tiously. The dead form OF Sleimsn
was still beside her; the pillow rested
over the face; in the room no sound,
but below, a stealthy passing to and
fro-Tong and his vile preparing to
get rid of the body.
"'Tijah paused, thinking what to
do; then she rose slowly and orept
outside. The door of the house was
open. and T9ne had evidantlv- inst
skirt which lay near her on the floor,
and flung it over her head then,
without backward glance, she fed
through the doorway, ana as fast as
her terror. r.stricken limbs would carry
her down to the seashore. 1t took no
time to uniasten the kolch, and
in few moments she grssped the
paddle, and had set out in her
tiny boat to row over the miles of sea
which lay between her and her parents
home in Malacca. 1t was frail bark
for safety; but she felt she could trust
to it sooner than to those bloodthirsty
creatures she had left behind. A long
way she rowed, and the next day when
the sun got up and soorched her, she
pulled in her paddle, and rolled her.
self in her sarong and lay down in the
tottom of the boat and slept. She
was aroused by the movement Of her
cookie shell. 1t was night; breeze
had sprung up and squall was com.
ing; white orests tipped the waves and
heavy bank OF clouds obscured the
starlight, and in a few moments black
pail OF darkness enveloped her. The
wind struck the fragile craft. whirling
it wildly round, and before she could
seize the paddle to try and steady it.
the boat capsized, and she was flung
into the angry sea. She struck ont
boldly, and swan until her hands
touched the upturned bark, to which
she clung, endesvoring to right it.
Poor girl she knew not where she
was, how far from shore, how long her
strength would last, and whether there
was any hope of succor.
sat last the squall passed over, and
the water became comparatively calm,
but the moon had not risen, and che
could see nothing. She began to get
exhausted, and felt that she could not
hold on much longer, and would sink
and drown unless Tuan Allah took pity
on her. She thought sadly that she
was young to die, and pray ed for help.
A small thing ss light ~ feather
touched her cheek-a mosquito, sent
to save her life. When she heard the
sound which Tuan cursed just now,
she knew that land must be quite near,
for mosquito never flies out to sea.
She let go her anchorage, and making
one more effort, swan bravely on, and
very soon her feet touched the beach.
"Meanwhile those cruel murderers
had finished their work, and before
daylight dawned had got rid OF every
trace of their i'll doing. The neigh.
bors inquired what had become OF
Sleiman and why Re had come and
gone so suddenly.
"'Oh,' said Tong, 'he left hu -ried
ly; he took 'riiah with him and went
away in the klceh atdaybreak to catcl
q steamer which would pass there 60
ing to Singapore.
"The village people thought il
strange, and shrugged their shoulder
for little, then forgot it. But Trial
told the tale to the authorities in Ma
lacca, and the police came over ant
searched there many days, but coult
find nothing-only it was thought su ,
picious that the cattle dealer should