The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-07-22
THE RISE
OF RAHIMUDIN.
|UUUUU By MRS. A. PERRIN. vUUvvE
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more or less In bondage TO the Khan
samah-teef And also FOR the first few
weeks matters went well. The Sahll
sometimes beat and abused the othe
servants. but not badly, and me b,
never noticed. / took care 10 be dill
| gent over my work, ! learned the wayi
OF the compound. Kullan taught m,
how TO cook (for this saved him troubl,
when he wished 10 stay late in IN,
bazaar), and ! helped the bearer tt
brush the Sahibs clothes and 10 keeT
the rooms tidy.
But the peace did not continue. The
Sahib began 10 drink much whisky
and one evening when some matter
displeased him during dinner he spranp
at the bearer, who was also table ser.
want, and smote him heavily. using
words that burned my ears as ] sat I'm
the pantry washing the dishes. The
bearer cried out that he was hurt unto
death, his puggaree came off. and the
Sahib kicked IT through the open door
and across the verandah into the
bushes; then ne shook the man az n
dog will shake veTmin, and all the
time he smote and kicked him and
rOared abuse. For some hours after
the bearer lay In his house gr0anlng,
and later in the night he took his be
longings and ran away without his
arrears OF wages or n written recon-
mendation. Thus the Khansamah was
forced TO do the bearers work, as wei
as his own; whcreat he grumbled sore
ly, and my duties were doubled also.
for | now helped TO wait at table; and
all the time / watched for chance Of
letting the Sahib see that ! feared him
not, for / remembered my fathers
words.
Two days later when the Sahlb was
sitting at breakfast, drinking whisky
and eating but little, the Khansamah
spilled some gravy on the tablecloth,
and my knees shook as the Sahlb rose
slowly from his seat, looking at Kulan
with eyes like those OF tiger, walked
toward him just as the striped one ap-
proaches its victim. Kullan knelt and
prayed for mercy, but the Sahib
dragged him over the floor till his coat
came off in the Sahib's hand. and he
kicked the man along the ground like
game ball until he drove him into the
vcranda. Kullan rose quickly. looking
like q hunted beast, hut before hc
could fee the Sahib caught him and
pushed him into the lamp closet that
led from the vcranda, and locked the
door. He laughed ms he put the pad
lock key in his pocket and heard I<ul-
Ian Khansamah crying and shifting at
the door from the darkness within the
go-down; when he turned and saw me
looking he shook his fist at me and
told me TO so 10 my work.
Then the Sahib went 10 his room
and lay on the bed and slept. and /
cleared away the breakfast ana
washed up everything; afterward |
went to the kitchen and found it emp
ty; the servants houses were also
empty, and none answered TO my call.
They had all fled in fear, having,
doubtless, heard the noise of the Sa-
save l. Rahimudin. the dishwasher,
and Kullan, the Khansamah, who was
crying and calling in the lamp go
down.
Toward sundOwn n telegram came
for the Sahib, and, not without mis-
giving in my heart, l took IL to his
room. lie awoke and read the tCle-
gram, and then arose in haste, speak
ing of trouble concerning bridge In
the district. and bidding me pack his
bag with clothes sufficient for a day
and night, and order his trap to be got
ready and bring him whisky.
| packed the bag and brought the
whisky, and | said "Your highness,
there is no syce in the stables they
have all run away; but thy slave can
harness the horse"
| went straightway, and with trouble
and patience | put the horse to The
cart and brought il TO the door. The
Sahlb did not beat me, though from
want Of knowledge l had done II bad
ly, and when told him there were no
servants left at all, he cursed them
and bade me stay and take care of
everything until he should return.
l asked him: what are the orders
concerning Kullan Kharsamah. who
il imprisoned within the lamp go
DOWN. He laughed. and the sound
was like the cry of the hyena around
the walls OF the village at dusk.
THE order is that he stay there till
| return. Dost thou understand"
salaamed. and he drove away.
Then did my heart glow within me,
for now had my opportunity come, and
the Sahib should see that was Of
use, and could obey. All that evening
| was alone in the kitchen, and Kul-
Ian cried In the go-down; l fed the
horses and the fowls. and after lock
ing up the house at night, took my
bed and placed II in the yeranda that
| might guard against thieves. But
could not sleep 10y reascn OF the noise
made by the Khansamah; and l an
swercd him not. for / feared he might
persuade me To disohey orders and
break open the paddock. and l remem.
bered my fathers words. Also l was
glad that kullan was in trouble, for
had he not deceived my father and
taken money under false pretences,
and did he not exact percentage from
my miserable pay as dish washer
So | smiled when heard E.m beating
on the door and calling, and | only
feared that when the Sahib returned