Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-01-25
AA~NNAN,NNyN NNNNNH
A STRANGE STORY.


ing. sitting at the foot Of the railway
bridge, pensioned-off native soldier.
Early every morning he arrives there,
and, throughout the day, sits on a
small wooden stool which he brings
with him. ON the approach of foot
steps, however. he stands erect. swells
out his chest and puts on q military
air, aud the stick he uses as o crutch
he brings sharply to his side at the
word of command, .Tionr' given by
himself Ii you are liberal and offer
him some money. he gladly accepts 1t,
but l have never yet heard him ask
any one for aims.
One day | placed a coin In his hand.
and. to my surprise. he did not salaam
and blees me, as other beggars do.
The usual way is for the beggars to re-
ceive the money, then look up to heav-
en- and humble
''May you live long. Sahib, have
plenty of money, a young wife and
houseful of children"
1t is very often that the man who ls
thus prayed for is already married and
his wife old.
Well. as was saying. was sur
prised the man did not bless me. and |
was about to resent his GOODNESS, as
thought. when he slowly brought his
stick to the shoulder, then to the
front. and gave me the Royal Salute"
I learned afterward that he invariably
did this to those who presented him
with aims. In a little while he and ]
became great friends, and never pass
him by now without a well, Tommy,
how are your His usual reply Is: I'm
good health; Allah be praisedr Some
thing told me that this man had a his
tory, and TO learn II. longed. One day
the opportunity to do presented Itself.
1t was raining. and Snoleman, or. as
he Is better known. Tommy" had
crept underneath for shelter; L was
driving by at the moment and saw
him. stopped the carriage, paid the
driver his fare. and followed after the
old soldier He was delighted to see
me and gave me his stool to sit on.
while he made himself comfortable on
a large stone near me.
After a few minutes conversation |
asked Tommy" to give me an account
of his life while soldier.
.'Sahib,' replied he. II have no obiec-
tion to do so. but so embarrassing has
that portion of my life been that | will
but weary you by speaking of il. True
1t Is that have fought In not few
bloody battles. and have received med
ais; but did but my duty. III fought
| well Ii Is not for me to tell of II. But
| listen now. and you'll have something
| better.
| II was born In Hyderabad. and the
\ very morning that I came into this
world my mother died My father had
| loved her much-ayeI so true was he to
| her memory that he took 10 him no
new wife to fill her place. Consequent
~, I was his only child. My father, he
| too. died when ] was about twenty
years of age. He left me small for
\ tune-some 10000 rupees or more.
with this | set out for Bombay. in
tening TO trade with and multiply my
small fortune there.
Zone morning early | arrived at the
Byculla station. | was at loss what
to do next. | knew no one. nor had |
been 20 Bombay before. My heart
within me sank.
II gave In my ticket Mt the door and
walked out. A couple Of porters car
ried after me my luggage. Striding MP
and down, in no easy frame of mind,
In the compound at the back. was a
well dressed Mohammedan. I went up
I 10 MIN anu dShhn niHi IL uf tputu wv
ommend to me good boarding house.
..A boarding house? he exclaimed:
.nf course can: I keep one myself.
Young man, just now / was thinking
i | would be ruined II no new boarders
were to come TO me shortly. See how
good Allaf, is!'
"sYea. he is good. am a stranger
here. brother. and he has sent you to
/ - baf,iaud Fua rnpiipd
..Hc answered not but hailed n
gtarry. A feeling of dlstrust crept
over me when caught his greedy eyes
noting the contents Of my pocketbook.
when I opened II To pay the porters.
Afterward put II down to his being
yery much in want of money: and Ms
W. drove away T. by roundabout
means. discovered he was In monetary
d .Fcnlties. I offered him a few hun
bred. hut he refused to accept even q
fraction Of that money. Thinking
fright yex him, did not press him Il
accept the gift.
II was taken TO large building sur
rojttded 10y compound. A room was
showD me, and when ! had arranged
my things ! lay down on my bed aud
went to sleep.
about o'clock was awakened by
servant. who told me some food was
prepared for me. washed and
dressed myself. then followed the ser
want to the dining room. | noticed
table was laid for three only.
Not many boardersT | ventured Il
; inquire of the servant.
lie laughed.
Not tho season. he peplied. 'Whcr
I the Bombay races are on. my master
generally manages to get in a number
] Of MolIammedGns.'
, II thanked him. and was about sit
, ting down at the table, when the own
er " the house made his appearance
followed by young woman.
II was surprised: but Yoosif. tn,
owner of the house, told me he was no
: particular and did not at all mind biz
I sister. Ayesha. mingling In male rocie
2 ty. Yea, Allah. What a beautifu
/ woman she was. Sne came and 81
: near Inc and conycrsed pleasantly.
: cannot tell you what I said to her
, Something foolish. know. for 7 fire.
!. quently caught ner brother laughing.
"When we had eaten, fair Ayeshi
I asked me to come aud converse witt
! tIer In tho citing room and I nnfffu,