Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-08
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

like 1t, and 1t was a great success and i'm
mensely admired. We cruised about a bit
to find place in the lake near our friends,
where there was shade and where the mon
goose could play about without fear OF
dogs, and finally hit upon q little paradise
an island covered with apricot trees in full
bloom and wild mustard. a moat around 1t
and outside that narrow path shaded
by two rows of willows which ran COM
pletely around the island. The approach
was. white with water lilies. a very small
dainty variety, and beyond that came the
PUSHES so high that in going through them
IN our little Shkara, or duckboat later on
we were completely concealed by them.
Inc colonel had appropriated a small
island covered with plum trees and the
three officers paradise short distance
Off, was in the main canal leading to Ma
Tim Bagh, long, narrow island shaded
by willows and with patches of wild mus
tard here and there. We were enchanted
with our mooring. and feeling the spirit
OF the discoverer stirring within us we
determined to bridge the moat and explore
the island AS the planks and boards at
our disposal proved too short we were
pondering as to how to get across when
Capt NJ. exclaimed that he knew the very
thing, and blowing a whistle hanging on
his watch chain he was answered by his
bearer in his tiny shikara. Without tell
ing us what he was going to do, he, with
the help of Major NJ. ran a loose log up
on the bank and the small boat over that
and launched 1t across the moat. which 1t
just Spanned
A Regular Party.
The mongoose, with small ceremony seed
across the new bridge, and then rushed
about, jumping into the air for very JOY
and running up and down trees, every bris-
tie of his long tail on end In pretended
fright We found the most enchanting lit
tie garden of place, ablaze with wild
Tulips and pink with the fallen blossoms Of
the apricots. shady and 'kempt." Such
spot to read in! And such fragrant trees
to have tea under! The colonel was so
charmed that he suggested glass of wine
and biscuit at once, and another sum-
mons brought his stately bearer who was
banished for wine, while we, entering into
the fun of it, went back over the boat
bridge In procession and returned laden
with round table, chairs, tea cloth. vase.
which was promptly filed with wild tulips
glasses and plates. and a very nice plum
cake which had been presented to US by
Mrs. R. E. on our departure. The cere-
mony of drinking the health of the duke,
the island. the boats and their inha bftants
and last and least the mongoose was a
very merry one. and lasted until time to
crawl over our shaky bridge again and
dress for dinner. The Dial lake Is said to
be the only place IN Indian peninsula where
the lotus grows. and that night after n
ner the old colonel finished off a delightful
day by telling us the beautiful tale of the
Indian princess who. with her faithful
maid, was carried off to Kashmir by the
heir of the beautiful vale" She pined and
longed for home, but knew not even in
what direction her land lay, nor where she
had been carried to. The only thing she
knew about the place was that the lotus
bloomed there, and she could not remem-
Der the name Of the land of the lotus"
Rescue Of the Princess.
The maid however, must have been a
clever little person, for she managed to es-
cape and to find her way back to her own
country, taking with her a lotus flower
Arriving, footsore and weary, she was
taken before the father of the beautiful
young princess, and when asked where his