The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-06-21
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!, HIS FATHERS SON :
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

steps of St. PauPs hospital. His faith
er's stories of the life at the old college
had fired the boys youthful ardor, and
away in the plains of India he had
vowed to be doctor, and to win
place in the l. NJ. S.
And now it was as dust in his mouth,
for he was alone. In his fathers sta
ion he had been the pride of the Euro
pean staff, for no one could beat him
in any branch of athletics, but at St.
Paul's he was an unnoticed unit.
Presently a man whom he saw at
once was a native of India, came and
stood close by his side. Moved by the
urgent need for companionship, Sher-
riff made the first advances.
81 wonder if you feel as lonely as l
lo?" he asked.
The native turned abruptly.
I'm from India" he replied, dark
lush sweeping over his face as he
heard a muttered "Nigger" spoken by
,ne student to another.
$50 am II" exclaimed Sheriff.. I'm
rom Amritsar, where my father is sta
toned. His name is Sheriff., and he is
colonel in the Indian medical. And
'ou?"
I'm a Hindoo, and my European
tame is-Pamphlett. But, surely, you
Eon't talk to nigger!" His tone was
Icrid in its bitterness, and Sheriff.
ooked up in surprise.
so, come, Pamphlet" he said, eager
Y, 'that's not fair. Anyway, let you
md be friends"
swell, Sheriff." hesitatingly an
wered Pamphlet, "Im a queer-tem-
oered man; but let it be So"
''Then come and live at my diggings!
There's a capital front and back room
lbove my floor, and we can read to-
,ether comfortably"
'Now, look here, young man." said
Pamphlet three weeks later. Its time
we began to read at night. Grinning at
he hospital all day won't pass our eX-
inns for us, unless we work at night,
100. We've seen all the plays, we've
visited most of the halls, and you and
have got to buckle tot"
Both men were sitting in Sherifi's
rooms smoking and discussing the
events of the day.
Every WE'LL" lazily replied the lad,
knocking out the ashes from his pipe.
What do you suggest ?"
''Well, we ought to grind up our bones
regularly at night before working at
st. Paul's in the morning. I'm sick of
going out, aren't you?"
''I've got capital skeleton in a box
UPSTAIRS" said Sheriff., laughing. 81
got it" Then he stopped abruptly, as
he caught sight of his companions look
Of inquiry. 'I'll go and turn the box
,ut. It'll save you from buying, for we
Ihan't want two sets"
Box in hand, Pamphlet left the room,
md the door closed behind him. Often
now, as he drives the patient bullocks
in his paddy fields in India he sees that
amp-lit room in his fancy, with the boy
standing by the door.
Gloomily enough he went to his sit
ting-room and lit a candle, while he
opened the box, and turned the
bleached bones out with a rattle on the
able.
The skull rolled toward the edge, and
he hastily placed his hand on it, and,
raising it up, gazed absently at it. Sud-
denly his face grew green, while his
pupils contracted and expanded as he
watched with horrible fascina ton the
shining bone. There, on the vortex,
were two deep cuts crossing each
other.
"By Sivagee!" he murmured in Hin
doostanee. "My father was left for
dead by two such cuts.
my father has a badly set left
arm!"
Then, unwillingly, as if dragged by
an unseen power, he crept round the
table, and laid his hand on one of the
arm bones. With a low cry of hor-
ror he fell half faiting into chair
"My father left u.s." he moaned still
in the language of his thoughts, ''to
go on pilgrimage to give thanks for
his recovery. He never returned, and
now this curse Feringhi makes by
word and reproach of him. May every
curse light on his head!"
Salaaming almost to the ground be-
fore the table, Pamphlet gathered
the ends of the tablecloth together,
so that they covered the grim relics,
and then, lifting up the burden rev.
erently, he replaced it in the box
Then, resting his head on his hands,
he wept silent, awful sobs.
"Pamphlett Pamphlett!" cried
Sheriff from below, ''aren't you com
ing down? I've ordered in the cof-
fee. Come on!"
The man rose, once more salaamed
at the box, now resting on a chain
and then slowly went downstairs.
"By the way, where did you get
your bones. Did you buy them?"
''Well, it's too bad of me to spin
yarn against myself, but here goes.
About three years ago, just before my
father had decided to make me doe
tor when l was old enough, 1 was
walking near the great trunk road
near Amritsar. Lying in the long
grass, about 20 yards from the track,
i found dead pilgrim, dried almost
to a mummy. He might have been