Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-06-10
Sim Cages Tai Mahal.

ny L, HordH.

could. From dark TO dark she was
always busy. The cattle at the barn
needed her sometimes, and the silent
clamoring of housekeeping never ceased
its dull appeal. Tho Dakota home
was rs neat rs any in England. BY
the treside sat figure suddenly
grown old; but quietly, here, there,
everywhere, moved the straight form
of Emmy--a woman grown matured in
her demeanor in les, than 30 days,
realizing the burden which had come
10 her, but ready to meet il with con-
tinuing courage. II was not alone the
men who won the wCst When the
deep SHOWS came and the bitter cold
Emmy and her father bundled up in
heavy wool and furs when they went
about their outdoor work. At night,
gathered close To the little stove, the
two talked or read or cftentimes passed
long hours in silence. Emmy had
few books and journals and now and
then picture. Perhaps it was as Il
premium from weekly paper that she
had obtained the picture she most
priced, a Photographic reproduction
showing fairy dream in architecture,
u white palace of some unfamiliar but
compelling design. Neither she nor
her father knew the name Of the
original of the picture, but they called
1t Solomon Temple. having read OF
that aud knowing OF no better name.
SO it might have passed had it not
been for the Farmers Encyclopedia.
For one night Emmy, turning over the
pages of this encyclopedia, saw there
tue blurred likeness of her temple.
ave found it, pa!' she exclaimed.
Found what, Emmy" said the old
man.
"My picturel 1t amt Solomon's
Temple. IT'S the--the Tai Mahal. It's
all described right here in the book.
1t amt really n temple at all. It's
mau-sole-yum. Listen here" She
read aloud:
"The Tai Mahal Of Agra, India,
without doubt the most beautiful and
renowned mau-sole-yum of the earth.
This wondrous triumph of architec.
mlia "a a fitting tomb for the body OF
his beloved wife, the sultana, TO whom
pe was much devoted. A royal treas
ore was expended in this noble monu-
nent, and even today kingly ransoms
gre visible in the precious stones dis
played in the decoration of the tomb.
! The cdiiice is of solid white marble
and is set in the middle of vast and
beautiful gardens. The main build
ing is surmounted by lofty dome
rising above the centre aud flanked by
| four delicate minarets or towers. The
interior is an iniinitude of inlaid work
AID exquisite carvings in the marble.
IN the central chamber rests the sar-
cO.phay-gus of the sultana, and near
| bv it is that OF the sultan, her husband,
who bnilt for her this royal tomb that
tbe world might know his love for
her,"
Emmy laid down the book, with her
fpger between the pages and took up
her long-prized picture.
at cost more than the state CAPT
tol, pa" she said, 'and it's ever 80
many hundred years old. knew it
WIS something all the time
Let me see it, Emmy, said the old
man. He held it long in his hand,
Gazing at it as if to fix in his mind
each line and light and shadow
Does it say anything about that
there woman-who she was or what
Sue looked like. Emmy?"
NO, pa, not as | can see. It's
mostly about the mau-sole-yum.
''She must have been toler'ble
gonl.looking woman, ] guess" said
sin Gage after time land she
must have been good woman, too, or
her husband wouldn't have set so
much store by her. allow he must
haze had money"
dc said little more and soon babe
hi. daughter good night. Emmy, left
ut the tireside, sat dreaming of what
it would be to be so dearly loved as
that Her father, at -, lay down to
dream Of what it had been thus to
loye.
one morning, many days after, Sim
Gage pushed his chair back from the
breakfast table and spoke out slowly
and as if by deliberate and well-con-
sidercd plan.
Emmy" said he, az loved your ma"
"Yes, pa, | know you did, " said
Enmy, quietly, land she did you"
Yes aud she did me. Emmy, do
you s'pose that there sultan ever loved
his sultaness any more'n did your
ma orshe did me?"
"Why, pa"
"But lie was leetle bit better fixed
to show it, / guess; that's about IL,
ehY'