Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-09-09
THE POISON MAIDEN
(Original.1

(Original1
India 1s strange country, fam
cy,' remarked an American to a Brit
1sh officer In London military club.
"You would think so If you spent as
much time there as have"
II have heard that the Indians
knowledge of poisons would make the
Borgias appear ignoramuses on the
subject"
The Br1tisher shuddered. The other.
seeing that he was affected by some re-
membrance connected with poisons.
after an effort persuaded him to tell it.
EYES, it is story of poison, story
the main feature Of which would not
believe until I had been invalided
home and looked it up in the London
medical journals. Then, and not till
then, was l convinced.
II was stationed in one of the inte-
r1or Indian posts where there was
reigning prince who kept his position
by chicanery and where the priests
maintained their ascendency by the
same means. We had q little ensign
named Adams with US, 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
our quarters Adams confded to me
that he had had an impromptu affair
with young Indian girl; that be 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 a
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 Ad-
ans was much troubled, and confess
l didn't like the proceeding myself.
"'You are in no DANGER said con-
solingly. NO Indian will be allowed
to take revenge on a British officer
at is for the girl fear be said
lugubriously.
| "'If vo,, orc dicoovorod opd +ho mat
ter Is reported to the prince l think
he will show his malignity by his fu-
ture bearing toward US. Indeed be
may bring the matter before the colo
nell
eve shall see,' said Adams. Keep
dark. You're the only man I've told
NO 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 ad-
miringly upon his attractive appear,
ance, as every one did, and asked to
have him especially presented. He
chatted SO affably with the youngstel
that Adams felt sure be had had no in
timation Of the meeting in the con
servatory. l saw them talking to
gether. and it seemed to me that the
willy Indian was looking down OF
Adams with singular expression-a1
expression l did not exactly like
However. that seemed to end the
matter. and 1 gradually forgot it
Adams heard that the girl was in bel
usual condition in the palace ant
ceased to worry about her. Then. whe1
we changed stations, all suspicion tina
Adams would have to suffer for hi!
indiscretion was removed. He was a.
ready for another affair as before, ant
only an opportunity was wanting.
ION arriving at our new station tn,
native ruler Of the province enter
tanned us at his palace. l feared tina
Adams might get into another scrape
so l kept an eye on him. tried t.
get him to promise me that he would
not and especially that he wouldn'
drink any wine, for wine made hi
incaution absolute recklessness. 81
would promise nothing, and I knew
that there was such fascination TO
him in danger that resolved to watc]
him all the closer. I never let him GU
Of my sight till servant came to N
and told me the host wished especial,
that I should be presented to him.
left Adams in an apartment openin
into dimly lighted garden, begging
him to remain where he was till 1 re
turned. This he promised to do.
was presented to the host, who dc
tanned me some time asking question
about our artillery service, in which b
appeared to be much interested. A
soon as could get away, from him
returned to the room where had LEI