Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-08-31


CHAPTER VII. (Continued.)
Eyes; nor do / understand from
whom it comes. All" he added, tear
Ing open the letter. ''still another iDvi-
tation, but Of a very different nature!'
and he read aloud the following lines:
"The Princess Djella begs Sir John
Malcolm, civilian, of the Presidency OF
Yenarcs. and his sons, to do her the
honor to assist at a panther hunt, on
Thursday next, September g. After
the hunt the princess hopes to see her
guests at supper at S~chahabad."
"a panther hunt" exclaimed George.
"Ah, father, nothing could be more de-
lightful!"
But there is danger" murmured
Agnes. "Oh, dear guardian, decline
this invitation, l beg your
II have very strong reasons, dear
child, to accept. But you need not
fear. We will not wantonly expose our
lives. Your love renders them too pre-
cious."
"But who Is this Princess Djellay'
asked George.
''She Is a descendant in direct line Of
the Tamerlides, and possessed of one
of those gigantic and limitless fortunes
of whose extent our greatest wealth
can form no idea. Entire provinces be-
long to her. She exercises almost alb
solute rights Of sovereignty. She has
palaces at all the large cities of India
at Calcutta, Agra, Delhi and n dozen
more. Her country houses. which de-
serve the name of palaces, are MS many
as the days Of the year; her influence
Is, of course, propor'iorately immense,
and IL she were not the faithful friend
of the Company, she might become It's
most dangerous enemy
"You have never doubted her fidel-
ity?"
'sNo; for on several occasions she has
given of II indisputable proofs"
as she marrird?"
cat eighteen she was a widow. She
Is now scarcely twenty-five, and one OF
the most wonderfully beautiful ome
that the Imagination of a poet might
conceive. The singular light in her
eyes, the warm pallor of her complex
ion. the splendor Of her black hair, are
incompatible"
"ah. Sir Jchn,' interrupted Agnes,
with an involuntary shudder, ..how
lovely that woman must be-
every lovely, dear child; but less so
thai yourself. About her unquestioned
and fascinating beauty is something
singular and almost repulsive. Near
her, one does not feel as with you, the
charm of purity and innocence"
Agnes thanked her guardian with n
smile, but an underlined trouble still
weighed upon her, 1t was the dawn OF
Jealousy within her heart.
HAS this Hlndoo princess. who In
vites to a panther hunt as an English
duchess to a tea, preserved the man.
ners and slightly savage customs Of
her ancestorsY 2" asked George.
"She is the most singular c~ontradic-
ton In the world" answered Sir John.
"She is as completely a woman of the
world as the most honorable and IT,
tied lady In all England. She has re-
ceiyed a most thorough and brilliant
education; she speaks English and
French as though she had been born in
London or Paris; she has Travelled
throughout Europe; she has danced at
the Tuileries; she has painted and
drawn from nature from the loveliest
sites In Italy and Switzerland. and
skilled artists who have seen her work
declare that its execution is marvellous.
She imports her jewels from London,
her toilets from Paris. Her French
cook came to her from one Of the
finance kings of France. One might
not push farther the extreme of refine
ment and civilization, AMI yet, the prin-
cess has preserved all the beliefs and
superstitions and preiudices of her
race. She, whose elegance might rival
any w%oinan's: she. who has visited the
Windsor cathedral. Notre Dame at Par.
Is and ST. Peters at Rome, yet abso-
lItely believes herself descended from
the god Vishnu, and kneels with pro.
found and ardent conviction in the
Temple of silva or Bowhanie. II one OF
these terrible Hindoo divinities should
demand. to-day, through the mouth OF
their priests, a human sacrifice, l am
confident that this charming woman,
who would be found charming in any
country OF the globe. would stand by
and assist ut the torture with a smile
oven thought her victim were her lat.
sst partner in the dance"
"Horrible!" said George. "She is a
monster
TN n ~fashion-yes. She Is of her
country and her race, and instinct is,
with her, stronger than education. She
lives In the midst of luxury, of which
we, as Europeans, can form no idea,
To cross the threshold of one Of her
palaces Is to be transported from real
tty into fairyland."
"Of her personal life. what is saidY'
Nothing. Ii her public life is known
her private life Is so completely yelled
that 1t defies investigation
"Why does she not marry againT
Sir John smiled.
THAT Is a question she alone can an
swer,' he replied. 'Put II to her. II
you viii. but understand that the hour
she discovers widowhood TO be a bur
den. the aspirants 10 her hand would
be MS numerous as the stars in the sky.
or the sands upon the Shore" Y