New-York tribune., 1898-10-02


dance had been promised to him, and instead Of
blaming his memory, or thinking that
mistake had been made, lcaped to the conclu-
sion that Miss Graham had shunted him on pur-
pose. Hence quarrel, conducted chiefly ny
means OF Clance5. under the very noses OF the
rest of the dancers, and strong sense OF IN
jury on 10th sideS-SO strong, indeed. on Miss
Grahan's that the very next morning Haycraft
saw her riding with Erendnn Her careless bow
to him as she passed completed the effect. and
Haycraft returned to Shah NawaZ ana;hematiz-
ing as is the wont of young men in his position
the whole race Of women. and had sulked there
persiStently ever since. Miss Grahams heart
was very sore s. she gazed at the desert
through mist Of tears. Why he so blind?
Why c"nldnt ne understand that the ride was
undertaken with the sole object of driving him
to demand an explanation, and thus clearing up
the trouble of the night before? But If he pre-
ferred to stay away and sulk-why. of course
he must please himself: and Miss Graham
turned her hack resoiutely on the desert, and
prepared TO canter back 10 the hospital But as
soon she in the shade Of the trees again.
with her eyes somewhat dazzled by the sunset
light. she thought she heard a rusiling in the
wood. She rencd up suddenly, and as she did
so there was rush from among the trees on
both sides Of the road, and she found herself
surrounded by wild-ooking figures wearing the
dress of the frontier tribCsmen. whose intention
was evidently to bar her passage.
Miss Graham was young woman of nerve
and resource, and she perceived at once that not
only her own liberty, but the safety Of Alibad.
might depend on her escape from this trap She
had her horse well in hand. and, bringing down
the whip heavily on his flank she headed him
straight at the leader of the party. a rufiianly
old man, whose face seemed in some curious
way familiar to her But the Old man avoided
her onslaught with great dexterity, and as she
laid about her gallantly with her whip the horse
reared. and she found herself wrenched from her
saddle, coming to the ground with considerable
force. More frightened than hurt, however she
looking around in bt Hderment when
cloth was flung over her head blindfolding and
gagging her most effectually. She struggled
with all her might. but her hands were seized
and bound in front Of her and she was lifted on
her horse again Then some sort OF cloak was
thrown over her covering both herself and her
saddle. and the horse was led away At first
she tried to discover the direction in which she
was being taken but soon perceived that her
captcrs, in order to battle any such attempt.
were changing their course constantly, once or
twice even going round and round. as IL seemed
to her. and she gave up the endeavor, and did
her best to realize the state of affairs. That
she had been carried off by trI5esnen from be-
yond the border could not be doubted but the
fact that such daring outrage had been perpe-
tratcd almost in sight Of the cantonments
seemed to threaten general raid on British
territory such as had not occurred for years.
But why should the brunt Of the attack fall on
her? Could it be that she had been seized as a
ransom hostage for the safety of Il certain
very holy ana very troublesome Mullah whom ii
had been found advisable 10 detain in safe Gus
tody? If this was the case, nothing beyond "A
good deal of Inconvenience was likely 20 bcfall
her and Miss Graham began to consider the
alieviatiors Of her position.
4
at The moment" she said to herself 'for they
might have killed him, or al any rate made him
prisoner. too; and what would have happened 10
Alibad then? But now he will come to look for
me as he has made things safe.
wonder how soon il will be before II VIII strike
Hussein that l am rather a long time riding To
the end of the road ana back again? He Will
| think that Prince has run away. aid ne VIII
come to the edge Cf the desert to look for me.
Then he will find the marks of "a struggle On the
sd nd OF the road. and he will rush back and give
4 I'm frig
Miss Sahib has been carried OF by the trines.
Then they win send out scouts and get a force
together, and suppose the PEOPLE in the can
tOnments will have to take refuge in the fort IN
case Of an attack on the place. and they VIII
have 10 make arrangements in view Of all sorts
Of things, and-oh. dear, I'm afraid para Will
never come up with us tonight few un-
willing tears forced themselves from her eyes.
although she struggled hard 10 restrain them
They will he sure to overtake us in the morn
ing-they must"
BY her horses frequent stumbIes on rocky
ground she judged that her captors were
| taking her across the desert The cloth over
her head covered hey closely that she could
scarcely hea: their words when they exchanged
a few muttered remarks. and could not DIS
tngush anything they said. Once they stopped
and apparently talked little with some one
they met and Miss Graham did her best to call
out, but in vain She heard the stranger laugh
a,rjnly as he went his way. and guessed that
he had been told she was the runaway Vlfe ol
one of the PARTY, who had been Tetaken, ana
was being brought home to suffer the due re-
ward Of her deeds Her heart sank again a. she
recalled various frontier tales at which she had
shuddered when she heard thom-rum, rs Of lost
English women. supposed 10 have been inul-
dered in some raid, but in reality carried of
across the border, vi enCe vague tales az misery
and humiliation had filtered back through the
talk of friendly tribes. Would her name be
added to The roll Of those at the mention of
whom mems brows darkcned and women trem-
blcd ana grew pale? With an effort she pulled
herself together and drove away the horror
which had seized upon her forcing back even