Connecticut western news., 1896-06-18
AI,D.,
I BEINGS WHO NARRAToR's PATH.


 NARRAToR's PATH.
 ->adsoms Young Pathan Prisonsr wAsss Kaiss Wa Stained With Blood. The Yesas Girl Who Prsssntsd silvsr Rms-wsrs the Two Connected.
 It was on the Ed of January, 1879, that General Roberts left Hazar Pir Ziarat to subdue the Khost district an nnsophisticated country where the rev enue had hitherto been collected in cop per. and up to this date the semblance If the rupee had not been known.
 Hazar Pir Ziarat (the shrine of thousand saints-iterally old men) was hardly even a village. and only the day preceding some six or seven had been added to the number of saints, as a batch of murderous marauders had been executed, and dying in the faith, shout ing the fatmah and acknowledging nothing but piety in their attempts on mfiGRl life, their corpses had doubtless r ndered their graves sanctified ground, and so added to the Ziarat-in these parts holy grove, generally of olive, to fell which is dissertation.
 As the Tenth hussars spread cheerily into order covering the advance, ther bright pouch belt buckles(the last glitter left after even stirrups had been dulled) sparkling in the bright sunlight as they threaded among the camel thorn sprin- kled over the plain, the writer diverged from the advance, having to convoy with small escort of cavalry and in- fantry Q long train of some 300 empty camels ordered to the advance base to fill up with supplies My way lay among hills bordering the right bank of the Kurrum river, and I soon lost sight of the force moving on Matoun and fin- ished the days march without any ad- venture On the Sd of January the in- cidents befell which now seek to mar rate.
 In lonely valley party of my Sikh infantry brought before me Pathan prisoner, saying: 'Here is man who has been caught concealing his arms It has been ordered by General Roberts that all such shall be dispatched. May we kill himf''
 Now, this was a hard saying.
 The young man appeared by his head gear to be a Waxiri, a not unfriendly tribe, which, however, furnished not few lawless depredators- His only arm was the long Afghan knife, necessary for his own protection perhaps. and in the cold weather it appeared not unnat- ural that he should wrap himself in his thin outer colored scarf. worn somewh8 after the fashion of a plaid His faD was handsome, open and fearless, but such was the mien of all Afghans-often seen on the most cold blooded fends
 could not, however, though de- termined to fulfill the spirit of instruo- tions. at once hand him over to the bay onet. and, saying, "Oh, his knife is only for harmless use or protection, took 1t from him and drew it It was thickly coated with fairly fresh blood
 For a moment I could have handed him over to death. but reason told me that this was no additional evidence of murder. He might have slain a goat CT sheep, he might have met an enemy in fair fight-questions of course were use less. Finally, with some misgivings as to whether was strictly obeying orders and amid the scowls and murmurs of the Sikhs. who were quite strange to my command, gave the young man back his knife and sent him on his way.
 He left gracefully and oourteously. ahowing neither in his smiling face nor in his elastic gait one single sign of guilt or fear, and soon his erect figure was lost to my view over the brow of . low hill
 Some hours of march followed. and the care of massing the long, unwieldy line of camels in column on each small plain. before again filing the next pass. precaution necessary to enable my rear guard to be within hail in case of attack en so tempting and easy a prey, fully absorbed me and drove the preceding in c:dent clean from my head
 Suddenly became aware of 8 young Pathan girl running beside my horse and holding mp to me silver ring set with a turquoise This seemed to me . very unusual act from Mussnlman and . Pathan. where seclusion is 90 strictly the rule, and I had no idea as to the meaning she wished to convey, my Pushtoo being unequal to the dialect shs spoke. and indeed scanty enough at all timea However, seeing that I was meant to take the ring, I did so, tho girl, about IT, showing that she meant I should take it from her. Even then she made no effort to leave, and so, imagining perhaps that she wanted mon- ey fer some purpose, I offered her a few rupees. which she refused petulantly. turned to the Hindoo sowars who rodo behind me and asked what it all meant, but they only laughed unpleasantly, e If to say, "What can . Mussulman and awoman mean except what is contemp tibley' 90 that, angry at their scorn and possible misconceptions. flung the giA back her ring and bade her begone. She left, muttering and apparently still anx- ious to explain, but troop of horsemen now appeared on the plain, and whirl- ing their long lances round their heads cantered shouting toward us The Sikh infantry closed their files and prepared to receive them, and went forward to reconnoiter them moro closely.
 They turned out to be friendly fir gah." or deputation, seeking General Roberts, but this fresh incident drove the last again from my thoughts, ard later on concluded my march without further befalling.
 It was not till weeks after that I thought of connecting the act of the gira with possible wish to express gratitude for the husband or lover who had such a narrow escape at my handa But I never heard any further explanation, nor did those who knew best the Afghan character think this interpretation . likely one.
 suppose shall never know moro of the two beings who on that day only literally crossed my path. Serv- ice Magazine.
 The Maaical Cat.