Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-09-14


The light Of the moon could not PEN
citrate through the high, narrow defile,
but as the little group entered the
plain, bursting from behind a cloud, 1t
revealed to them a scene of strange and
weird grandeur; its white rays dis
closing the huge masses Of bone, the
dark background of rock, and the gro
tesque and hideous idol rising conspic-
uously in the midst.
Mounting one of the steps leading to
the image, George examined it careful
ly. Kazil shuddered 1t what appeared
TO him a s~acrilegious act, and expecting
TO see lightning fash from the gods
eyes and a destroying fire from his
mouth. But his master descended un.
harmed, and directed his steps toward
one of the skeletons, to study nearer
the highly-polished bone.
KaZil separated himself at a little
distance, and walked slowly and aim
lessly, brushing his feet along the high
grass. his gaze fixed on the ground.
Suddenly he stopped abruptly. A
shudder raj through his limbs, and ne
made a movement backward with man.
ifest terror.
Then, c%onquering his emotion, by
strength of will, he returned, leaned
over and parted the grass with his two
hands, only to spring erect, uttering a
terrible cry, in which anguish and hor-
ror together mingled.
''What is the matterg' cried George
Malcolm, fastening toward him.
"a boa CONSTRUCTOR" stammered Stop,
In terrible fright; ga black panther, a
leopard or a fierce tiger! We are lost.
Let us save ourselves!"
In saying which the valet would have
taken refuge in flight, but terror paral-
yzed him. He sank helpless on a rock.
Not without some impatience, George
addressed Kazil a second time:
Answer me, child-what is itg'
"a corpse buried in the grass" an
swered the young Hindoo, gravely.
"A corpse?' repeated George.
"Yes. MASTER"
"Kazil knelt by the body, and drew
from the wound an Indian dagger,
whose bloody blade he carefully exam
ined under the light of the moon. Suo-
denly a violent and new emotion was
depicted on his ~countenance, and he
murmured:
"a dagger marked with the symbol
of the goddess. 1t is the Sons of Bow
hanic who have struck this blown"
At this moment a black cloud passed
over the moons face. George took the
torch from the hands of the Hindoo
who was near him, and, bending beside
KaZil, exclaimed:
"Iet us looki"
Shielding the light, he held 1t where
1t might fall upon the CHASTITY form;
but instantly he bounded back; the
torch fell from his hand to the ground,
it's flame extinguished, while a cry, oil
rather q wail of agony burst from his
breast. Breathless and painting, he
muttered to himself these words:
mo, no! 1T is a dream, an Illusion,
an Internal lie! / have seen blindly! /
am a fool! This form, these features!
If If should be l have seen Alright! My
God! My God, on my knees I pray
you to remove this phantom from me!
1t is impossible! 1t is not true-it
would be too horrible!!'
Master, master, what Is the mat
ter?" asked Kazil, who saw, but could
parent madness.
Stop was no longer seated on the
stone. Kneeling and grooming, he called
upon all the saints to protect him.
The moon reappeared between two
clouds, and let its clear light fall full
upon the corpse. George averted his
head, as If to avoid some frightful Wis
ion.
81 wish to look again, and / dare
mott" he stammered. II wish to see it
cnce more, but / have not the our
ager' Then, seizing Kazirs arm, he
cried: 'Look you, Kazil! Bend and
look! You do not recognize this
corpse? In the name Of the living
God, answer me quickly! Tell me you
do not recognize It"
Kazil obediently leaned over and
looked upon the CHASTITY face; his eyes
suddenly dilated. his face becoming liv-
id, as, in a voice which no longer sound
ed like his own, he cried:
"Sir John Malcolm-Sir John Nal
colmr.'
George threw himself on his knees
beside the body, sobbing.
MY father! 1t is my father"
kazil, his face bathed in tears, MUIR
INJURED, despairingly:
MY be~nefactor-my savior! They
have killed him, and they are my broth
ers!''
George, stretched upon the ground,
now clasped his father in his arms,
and leaning against his breast, tried in
vain to revive him, while he wiped the
last drop Of blood from the open mouth
of the wound. He kissed his face, his
hands. His grief, in it's terrible
strength. would have moved to pity the
heart of a tiger, or even a votary Of
Bowhanie. Through his tears and sobs
he murmured:
MY father, stabbed to the heart
poor father, bloody, lifeless! He
can't hear, he cannot see me. His eyes
are forever closed and his voice forev-
er hushed! With all my strength, /
loved him. So much happiness 1 had
hoped for, and it is death that meets
ne,"
His face appeared Of marble, whose
lines We're rigid under a mask Of livid
pallor; his eyes, dried by an inner
fame, no longer wept; his parched
mouth expressed an energetic purpose.
He had been kneeling. He rose.
LET this helpless weakness be BAN
islledw he exclaimed, his voice regain
ing its firmness. "Of what use are