The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-30
The VIII of SNa,

Soil was Hindu maiden of fifteen sum-
mers, who lived next door to the King
of Behar. at Garden Beach. between two
and three miles down the Hugh River
from Calcutta.
She was but a dhobin. or washgirl, Of
the lowest caste of Hindus, while her
neighbor was great Indian prince. for
political reasons living IN magnificent
semi-captivity on his parole to the Brit
ishgovernment not TO leave the neighbour
hood Of Calcutta
| So while his majesty OF Behar resided
in a fine palace facing the river, Soil
| lived with her father and ten little broth
ers and sisters in dilapidated, matched
| hut just outside the kings northern gate.
/ Two other creatures of widely different
| characteristics made up Soils family cir
! cie-a lean, humble cow, for the greater
! part tethered out in the compound and a
monster cobra snake, that, unlimited, had
| taken up his abode in the matched roof
| OF the hut, and who, being regarded by
| the family as the incarnate spirit OF silva,
| the terrible god of the lowest caste Of
/ Hindus, was fed on milk and eggs at all
costs, even when the rest Of the house
hold were nigh upon starvation.
Often had Soil gazed with awe upon
! their great neighbor. but only once had
the eyes Of the king fallen upon Soil.
|
King of Behar of a handsome barbara
! (footman) standing upon the splashboard
Of the equipage.
The barbara purposeiy looked in the
wrong direction and replied that he did
not know, but that he was as dust under
| the feet Of the great king to do his bid
ding.
| Then. find out" peremptorily ordered
! the king, for the girls slender form and
graceful pose had pleased his royal fancy.
Find out" said the king. "Dyou hear
me- Doab?"
Doab at once intimated that the kings
command should be obeyed; but as he
did so, a frown clouded the brow Of his
usually placid countenanee.
For some minutes Soil stood watching
her royal neighbours progress, until as he
passed out of view she turned TO enter
| the hut, when a vaice at hand stayed her
footsteps.
SOL! Hullo, Soil, there!"
"Ah, sahib," quickly responded the girl,
as she caught slight of the captains stew
ard of one of the ships lying at Garden
Beach, who had approached the hut I'M
observed.
How about that washing that was TO
have been on board today?" demanded the
steward. I'VE sail at noon tomorrow, and
it is now 5 o'clock"
II will see,' replied the girl, turning
sharply toward the door of the hut. Then
she gave vent to little cry. and started
back for with a loud hiss long, dark
object glided away from under her feet
and coiled itself in an attitude of ag-
gressive defense.
MY God, a cobral" exclaimed the stew
ard as he dashed forward and aimed a
blow with his cane at the serpent's up
lifted head
The blow FELL but not where it was in
tended for the girl threw out her arms,
and, interposing her own person, received
it instead, while the snake made off I'M
harmed
why! What Gid you do that for?" ask
ed the steward, as he stared with the ut
most establishment at the trembling Hindu
maid
20, you must not strike him." she cried
in terror. you must not, indeed. He is
silva, the terrible god. If you had struck
him he would have killed US ALL He lives
up in the thatch of the roof"
do you mean to say you let that rep
tile hang around your house?" asked the
amazed steward.
He was only waiting for his milk" re-
piled the girl, as If making an apology
for the cobra's act. 81 had forgotten to
give it to him."
L nope Q1QnJ nurL yOus SalQ the
steward, in a tone of real concern.
20, no." replied the girl, and she there
upon ran inside, and shortly returned to
say that the captain sahibs clothes would
surely be on board the ship early the next
morning.
''Well. I'm d" soliloquized the stew
ard, as he cautiously picked his way out
through the rank grass of the little COM
pound. whoever would have thought
of keeping a pet cobra on the estate?
These 'Indoos are a rum lott
Two or three hours after the King Of
Behar again passed by Soils little hut,
as he approached his own domain.
Mind, Doab," said he to the barbara,
Mine you see about that girl yonder."
Doab intimated that the will Of the
Light of hteUniverse should be in that,
as in all other respects. PROMPTLY obeyed-
But the same dark look crossed his face
as he sprang down TO run before the
horses and open the gates for the kings
carriage to pass through.
In a little while, Soil again stood at the
door Of the hut her hair decked with a
wreath of stephanotis-the delicate per-
fume Of which filed the air about her.
Soon a figure was seen moving across
the little compound from the direction OF
the kings palace, while a familiar voice
called out in tender accents: "SoHr'
"Ahl Doab, Doab'' the girl responded
with delight, IL feared you would not
GOMEZ
Then, as she ran quickly forward to
greet the kings barbara there came again
a loud hiss, Immediately followed by
cry of mingled pain and terror. and Soil
fell into her lovers arms, exclaiming:
''Doab I am bitten. 1t is silva 1 had
forgotten He has not been fed"
Did you find out who that girl is7'
asked the King OF Behar Of his barbara
the next morning.
Il did. your MAJESTY" Doab sadly re-
piled.
who is she, then? Tell me quickly. for
I like her looks" said the king.
"She was only Soil. the dnobin girl, re-
piled the barbara
was only dhObln. Well, who is she
now. them"
silva alone knows" replied the barbara.
'1She died last night"
Died last night!' repeated the king,
whit as much emotion as his ease-loving
nature would permit. "Of choiera?
NO, your majesty-a cobra
"A cobra,--a pity" remarked the king. |
"a pity for liked her looks"
1T was the will OF Siya,' said the har- |
kara. as he humbly bowed his head |
Michael Clifford White.