The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-10-08
THE POISON MAIDEN
[Original.1

You would think so if you spent as
much time there as l have"
Il have heard that the Indians
knowledge of poisons would make the
Borsias appear ignoramuses on tie
subject"
The Britisher shuddered. The other,
seeing that he was affected by some re-
membrance connected with poisOns,
after an effort persuaded him to tell 1t.
Yes. it is a story of poison, story
the main feature of which | would not
believe until | had been invalided
home and looked it up in the London
/ medical journals. Then, and not TIL
then, was l convinced.
II was stationed in one of the inte-
rior Indian posts where there was a
reigning prince who kept his position
by chicanery and where the priests
maintained their ascendency by the
same means We had Il little ensigh
/ named Adams with us, a pretty, black
eyed boy who was brimful of deviltry.
One day the prince sent our colonel an
Invitation for the officers to come up to
his palace and have afternoon tea. We
all went and after tea during which
some of us drank more wine than tea,
Adams especially, we were taken into
the private apartments where the wo-
men were kept and suffered to mingle
with them quite freely, considering we
were in India and the home of an In
dian magnate. When we got back to
or quarters Adams confided to me
That he had had an impromrtu affair
with Il young Indian girl; that he had
seized an opportunity when unobserved
TO lead her into an apartment filled
with tropical plants and, concealed by
the enormous leaves of one of them,
had kissed her. Just as they were
leaving the apartment they heard
rustic behind them, and the girl had
turned CHASTITY pale. In another min
ute they had separated. This was all
there was of it; not very much, one
would think, to worry about, but Adj
ans was much troubled and l confess
I didn't like the proceeding myself.
"'You are in no danger | said con-
solingly. no Indian will be allowed
at is for the girl I fear he said
lugubrously.
eff you are discovered and the mat
ter is reported to the prince l think
he will show his malignity by his fu-
ture bearing toward lis. Indeed he
may bring the matter before the colo
nell
eve shall! see,' said Adams. Keep
dark. You're the only man I've told
mo message came from the prince.
Indeed on a return visit he made to our
quarters by invitation OF the colonel he
bore himself with great friendliness.
Seeing Adams pass, he remarked adj
miringly upon his attractive appear
ance, as every one did, ana asked TO
have him especially presented. Tie
chatted so affably with the youngster
that Adams felt sure he had had no in
tmation of the meeting in the con-
servatory. | saw them talking to-
.gether, and it seemed to me that the
willy Indian was looking down on
Adams with a singular eXpression-an
expression | did not exactly like
However, that seemed to end the
matter, and l gradually forgot it. !
Adams heard that the girl was in her
usual condition in the palace and
ceased to worry about her. Then, when
we changed stations, all suspicion that
Adams would have to suffer for his
.ndiscretion was removed. He was as
ready for another affair as before, and
only an opportunity was wanting.
ION arriving at our new station the
native ruler Of the province enter
tanned us at his palace. l feared that
Adams might get into another scrape,
so kept an eye on him. l tried to
get him to promise me that he would
not, and especially that he wouldn't
drink any wine, for wine made his
incaution absolute recklessness. He
would promise nothing, and | knew
that there was such fascination for
him in danger that resolved to watch
him all the closer. l never let him out
of my sight till servant came to me
and told me the host wished especially
that / should be presented to him. I
left Adams in an apartment opening
into dimly lighted garden, begging
him to remain where he was till | re-
turned. This he promised to do.
was presented to the host, who de-
tained me some time asking questions
about our artillery service, in which he
appeared to be much interested. As
soon as could get away from him
returned to the room where | had left
Adams. He was not there. Looking
into the garden l saw a patch of uni
form among the plants and followed
the man who wore it, Just before
ROC nInd 4 Ah,nf h1, a