Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-12-21

our homes exhibited here as ornaments.
For instance upon q handsome little
ebony table, stood O large silver coffee
pot, and upon another set Of parlor
hre-irons In their brass stand. To still
further protect these curiosities, they
were covered by tall glass shades. In
one room was piano. or rather q
spinet, upon which, although II was
horribly out OF tune, l played Their
wonder was boundless and still more
so, when played some melodies with
which they were familiar, and cTowdlns
round me. they begged me TO show
them how 90 make music" evidently
imagining that piano playing was a
purely mechanical process like turning
the handle Of hand organl
When we returned to the conservatory
they picked the choicest blossoms. and
presented them TO me, and indeed
was afraid to admire anything, 80 great
was their generosity.
Re-entering the room we had left, |
found Miss Cook with the little baby
in her arms, talking to the Maharanee,
and II was then I learned that she, and
not the girl in white, was the mother.
Miss Cook had been present at the
child's birth, and was naturally inter-
ested In the little fellow, and, In course
OF conversation, spoke OF him as her
little SON" This seemed to please the
Maharanee but not so the young girl,
who frowned resentfully. Miss Cook, no.
tlclng her anger, laughingly exclaimed,
III do not know Maharanee If either you
or | may lay much claim to him, for
Jumeera loves him better than either
OF US / do believe The Maharanee's
lip curled scornfully, as taking the
babe and stralnng him to her bosom,
she replied haughtily, "Oh. Mem-Sahib,
what has she to do with my son, she
In cursed Of the gods, and her love
would only blight him.
AT this cruel speech the tears started
20 Jumeeras eyes and drawing herchud-
dab over her head she rushed past me
and disappeared through an opening at
the end Of the conservatory.
could see that a rebuke was upon
Miss Cooks lips, but she controlled
herself, perhaps feeling that discretion
was the better part OF valor, but my
interest in the zenana was gone, and
longed TO depart, cherlshlng the Wild
hope that possibly might see Jumeera
TO comfort her, | urged Miss Cook
to leave, but she said In a whisper
that this would be contrary TO etiquette
and that the Maharanee would dismiss
US presently.
had brought some Christmas cards
and distributed them to the ladies. be-
ing careful to save one for Jumeera, in
case | should be fortunate enough to
find her, but even this did not seem to
kn no ~ ha Vaaatfntr
and after few moments of awkward
silence the Maharanee arose mad,
making us profound salaam, struck
small gong. when the eunuch again
appeared. and conducted us from their
presence.
While waiting for our carriage, we
paced too and fro In the womens court,
when l learned from Miss Cook a few
particulars OF my protege, found
that she was a widow, her young hus-
band, brother to the rajah having died
Ave years previously. Although at the
time the poor child was only twelvs
years OF age custom forbade her to re-
marry and as sign Of mourning, she
was condemned to wear her hair short.
and dress only In white. The British
law had abolished the sutteo or sacrl-
fee Of the widow on the funeral pile
OF her husband, but as Miss Cook re-
marked, II was open TO question, II the
law was humane, since the life OF
widow was so unhappy-she was prac-
tically the slave Of the rest OF the fam
lily who, instead Of consoling her, were
anxious TO impress upon her mind that
this trial had come upon her as a pun
lshment for some crime committed In
pre-existent state. No wonder the
poor girl yearned for the love OF the
little innocent babe. who could not un-