Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-04-22

danger from those outside every time
be looked away from them and
through the window. and as long as
the khan was quiet on the floor he
thought he'd be safer in the room with
him with his back against the door.
An hour later something possessed him
TO wonder if the prisoner was dead.
With his pistol in one hand he drew
back the blanket with the other. The
khan was gone, irons and all. and
Balaya was under the blanket
''Of course promised what Quarter
main asked and told him that If il real
ly came TO anything serious | could do
a good deal more: SO he went off
cOmforted and l was asleep in a sec
ond.
Hours later-that didn't seem min
utes-I started up, wide awake and
clutching my pistol. | knew that some
one out of order was in the tent. Ii
was the first gray light of morning
and as soon as my eyes We're used TO it
| discovered a figure, wrapped in a
woman's sarai. outlined on the other
side One of the officers had given up
his bed TO me for the night and it was
probably some camp follower accus-
toned TO coming there at that hour.
Angry over another disturbance
threw my head down on the pillow
muttering that | was the wrong man
But the woman replied:
1T is the sahib whom seek Bho-
vance give him rest
"'She will without your help, re
torted, but the voice went right on:
1T is the sahib who made Khabeer
Khan prisoner He is gone again. The
trail of the serpent has crossed his
track. A hare leaped upon the right.
An ass brayed at the starting. He is
safe Her voice was nothing if not
musical and oriental courtesy is always
soothing. | was dropping of TO sleep
| again when through the fog | caught
| the words. L went with him, salib,
| until he sent me back TO you Then
| was up again instantly.
"'Sent you back TO me to kill me, did
| he, because he couldn't do ii himself q:
| Well. why didn't you make try while
| was asleep? Did wake up too quick
| for you! 1t isn't the easiest thing in
the world TO do while I'm awake. Get
ont OF those shadows. Pull the flap
and stand in the light where can
have look at you. We might meet
again.
"She did Just that, and as the light
fell over her-my word. she was a
beauty. For moment | sat and
stared I never saw handSomer wo-
man in my life. She held the curtain
back with bare arm as perfect as
| ever sculptor modelled and in the same
not the khan who spoke those words
but il it would save the life of one
love to kill you l would not wait kha-
beer Khan's bidding. | would do ii
now. while you are awake and armed.
I'd do it with these empty hands. And
| with all respect to my proverbial pow
ers of self preservation | honestly be-
lieve she could and would. Heavens,
how her eyes flashed and her teeth
clicked and glistened. Then she went
| on. like a summer breeze: These are
the words of khabeer Khan He said;
The sahib is both brave and kind. Go
to him. He will hear you and help
you to save Balaya if he can
"'Balaya. l muttered. The fellow
who took the khan's place last night?
| Y ,vli 10 II 10 nr6S =
on her cheeks as she replied, He is the
light of my eyes, the breath of my
body, the father Of my children
".Yes, yes; but he's a traitorr in
terrupted, for the thing was getting toe
sentimental for me- What would your
khan say was right for man who
cheated him as Balaya has cheated
us?'
"She answered instantly: Death
But, sahib, | am not the khan; neither
am Balaya They do not speak. II
is / who plead for him. Balaya expects
to die. He told the English officer what
he was and asked to be sent away
He might have killed the officer or fec
with the khan. He did his duty to q
relative, then waited die for it as Q
ing for his life
Il knew that | had not one spark OF
influence with the colonel. | did moi
think she would have, but | advised
her to go to him. She replied: 1 Went
to his bed, sahib, as | came to yours
and looked into his face, but there wa:
nothing there for me-
And after that you want me t
tryY exclaimed. My word, he'd only
laugh at me-
Her reply was peculiar, but there
was certain wisdom in it that wa.
profound She said: He will answer
Let MIN die" But go to him. sahib
Let him once be truly told that Balay;
is not traitor deserving death. Give
him the opportunity to show mercy
He will not show it, but then, whel
the time arrives that the sun Of m,
heaven must be touched by clouds tha
shall darken it. the voice of woman
will speak to him. He will hear an,
will heed it. He will bow his forehead
in the dust to me, and the fountain o
my life shall not be unjustly quenched
"If | were an artist my life woult
not be endurable till l accomplished
the impossible and portrayed that wo
man as saw her then. her head thrown
back and her long hair like livin:
thing caressing her bare shoulders ant
throbbing throat. Her fingers tight
ened on the curtain and her breasts
; heaved till they almost burst the sill
chouli restraining them, and her who'll