Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-06-22
THE POISON MAIDEN
tOriginal.1

You would think so if you spent as
much time there as have"
81 have heard that the Indians
knowledge of poiSons would make the
Borgias appear ignoramuses on the
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 it.
Eyes, it is story of poison, a story
the main feature of which would not
believe until / had been invaded
home and looked it up in the London
medical journals Then, and not till
then, was convinced.
81 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 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 confided to me
with a young Indian girl; that he had
seized an opportunity when unobserved
to lead her into an apartment filed
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 Ad-
ans was much troubled, and / confess
/ 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
"It is for the girl fear he said
lugubriously.
off you are discovered and the mat
ter is reported to the prince 1 think
he will show his malignity by his flu
ture bearing toward us. Indeed he
may bring the matter before the colo
nel'
"'We 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 youngster
that Adams felt sure he had had no in
timation 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 singular expression--an
expression did not exactly like.
However, that seemed to end the
matter, and 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
indiscretion 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. I feared that
Adams might get into another scrape,
so kept an eye on him. / 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 a fascina ton for
him in danger that resolved to watch
him all the closer. ! never let him out
Of my sight till a 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 a dimly lighted garden, begging
him to remain where he was till / re-
turned. This he promised to do. 1
was presented to the host, who de-
tanned 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 i had left
Adams. He was not there. Looking
into the garden l saw patch of uni
form among the plants and followed
the man who wore it. Just before /
reached him saw that he was Adams.
He was leaning over a richly dressed
Indian girl. ! fastened on, but be-
fore / could Join them Adams turned
and their lips met in kiss.
~ stood as If petritied. II they were
watched it would be too late for me
to save them. Adams seemed not in
clined to take his lips away. Presently
he sank slowly to the floor. / rushed
up to him. He was dead"
The narrator paused and took long