New-York tribune., 1898-10-02
A GOOD TURN.

God made The world good said Sultan Jan,
"but He made wcmen very bad.
Sultan JAN veteran of many fights and haVil-
dar in the Khemistan Horse, was sitting smok-
Ing on the veIanda before his quarters when he
uttered this unorthodox sentiment. It's concise
ness pleased him so much that he repeated II in
louder tone for the benefit of any Of the gar
riSon of the fort, which was called by the tribes
Shah Nawaz hut was known to the British
authorities No T9G, that might happen TO be
within hearing.
God made the world good, but He made
women very bad, so that they are verify but in
struments OF Shaitan for dragging men down to
destruction. What need has a young man like
Uaycraft Sahib-a very Rustam In fght-to
care about women? And yet he is pining away
for love Of the yelow-haircd woman at Ahbad,
the Colonel Sahibs daughter. He does not eat
for his bearer has told me sO-he does not
sleep as a young man should; he grows thin and
pale, and when he is not on duty he spends his
time in walking the ramparts where they
look toward Aiibad in writing on pieces of
paper and tearing them up. lie VIII not 80
near her for she has flouted him. as is the way
of women when they perceive that man has
put his strength in their hands, but he longs
after her all the more. Now, what is to be
done for him? Surely, il falls to me to do some
thing, for my heart yearns over the lad since l
caught him up from among the hoofs OF tbe
bOrseS in the skrmiSh on the border, and saved
dim from the swords Of the tribesmen and the
knives of their women and would not see him
continue to grow sick and weak. Shall send
word to my brother across the border to make a
raid on the traders from India when next they
camp outside the fort? The fight would rouse
EayCTaft Sahib and he would pursue the tribes
zen and punish them and forget all about the
seow-haired woman. But no. the tribesmen
will not raid in this direction again until they
have had time to forget the way in which ne
rarred fire and sword among them the last
time. What, then is TO be done? How shall the
woman's spell he broken? Why, surely
tan Jan jumped up from the mat in his excite
ment-"if he wants the girl he shall have her.
He will not stretch out his hand to take her. be-
cause he nas eaten the Colonel Sahib's salt, but
it is not so with us. The Colonel Sahb is no
officer OF ours. Tomorrow and the rest OF the
troopers belonging to my fathers house have
leave to attend the festival of the tribe, ana we
will seize the woman with the yellow halr ana
bring her here. Then when Hayciaft Sahib has
himself again, and the whole detachment viii
support him in his blood-feud with the Colonel
Sahib. and fee with him across the border, ii
need be-"
The more Sultan Jan pondered his new idea
the moIe il delighted him. and his gray mus
taches were curled by most unwonted smiles as
he sat revolving the details Of his scheme So
confident was he OF it's entire success that ne
could not resist saying a word OF comfort TO the
person whom the plan was designed 10 bencit
when he happened 10 meet him crossing the
courtyard OF the fort.
BE Of good cheer. Sahib," he said he
saluted. When the night IS darkest the dawn
is at hand
Sultan Jan was privileged person since saw
ing his young commanders life, but Fred Hay
craft could scarcely believe his when he
heard this unmistakable reference to his per
sOnal affairs and his face was red with vexation
as the old soldier staggered away. moment
reflection. however. showed him that II was
scarcely surprising that some rumors as 10 the
cause Of his frequent visits to the cantonments
at Alibad ard also of their sudden cessation,
should have got abroad in the detachment, and
he was satisfied with merely dcnonlnating sui
tan Jan old meddler as he passed on.
Evening was approaching, and Colonel Gra-
ham and his daughter had started for their dally
IN IL
Passing he hospital. the Colonel remembered
that he had something to say to the surgeon IN
charge and with an apology to his daughter ne
dSmOunted and Cntc!cd the building, leaving MS
horse in charge of the groom He was detained
longer than he had expected, and Miss Graham
began to ride slowly up and down the road,
more in the hope Of banishing certain GnpleaS-
ant thoughts that were toTmeniinS her than be-
cause she impatient Of the delay. Ihe place
was lonely enough but there was no reason FOR
alarm. for almost "A generation had elapsed since
any hostile tritcsmen had penetrated to the
neigh borhood Of Ahbad, and the two grooms
were close at hand and her father within call
But the surroundings were somewhat doieiui'
and the ncarnesS Of the hospital TO the Gene
terry unpIca sanity suggestive so that the
thoughts from which she sought to escape CON
tinuod TO trouble her. RIDING IN 'he olil
shadow of the grove OF trees which bounded the
cemetery she remembered that from the end OF
the road there view OF the hiily tract OF
desert which stretched TO the eastward to be OBJ
tanned in the direction OF Fort Shah Nawaz'
The recollection naturally brought with IT the
thought Of Fred Haycrat, and she slshed iii,
patiently as she glanced over the waste OF sshu
and rock Fred was such dear boy, and they
had been on the very verge OF coming 10 an
understanding when he had taken IL lnto ms
foolish head to make fuss On the subJec' Oh
Brendon of the Public Works department l.
True Brendon a prig and man oil mar
In his way and the Colonel looked upon MN
with favor; but Miss Graham was pouhd 10 pe
tiviI to her fathers guests, and she hao every