Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-11-10


was foretelling the downfall of the
British Raj.
II glanced over my shoulder at Har-
old, and / saw that ne had grown
white, white to the lips, and that his
bridle-hand was trembling.
"A native in the crowd yelled some
thing in a raucous, falsetto voice, and
caught the words at once.
"'Your fellows down country have
mutinied and killed their officers
cried to Harold. Did you hear what
that man said?'
"'God help us, God help u.s. he ex-
claimed in that same hoarse, tense
voice. Let us get Onto the fort-to
the fort
"A great strapping Muhammadan, a
butcher in q red turban, leaped from
the crowd and seized the rein Of Mrs.
Harold's horse with one hand. The
other held meat chopper. The horse
reared. | rose in my stirrups, raised
my loaded riding crop and brought the
butt down full between the fellows
eyes. He dropped like log.
"'Get on to the fort, Harold, in Gods
name, and take the ladies with YOU l
cried breathlessly, for now / was lay
ing about me with that heavy butt, and
the people, screaming with fear, were
tumbling over one another in their
eagerness to get beyond the reach of
my arm.
Il caught "a glimpse Of Mrs. Har-
Odds face, flushed with excitement, her
eyes flashing with enthusiasm and a
sort OF fierce delight.
ooh, how splendid of you!' she
cried. How splendid!' and then she
and Harold and his sister were off, at
gallop up the hill toward the fort
Harold leading.
"The crowd had fallen back before
me, and | rode straight at the Muham
MADAM preacher. | hit him, as | haG
hit the butcher, full between the eyes
and l felt the bone shatter beneath the
blow.
You dogs!, cried. You dogs wht
dare to bark because fools tell 20,
that the Raj of the British is ended
get to your kennels like the whipped
ours you are. And when sense re
turneth to you, come to me at the for
craving pardon, lest send word to thu
government of the wickedness in you
hearts, and the hide be stripped from
you in punishment. Coz
And then, why then, and it bring
tears to my eyes when recall it, TO
they are men, these Muhammadans 0
India, though like children they b
easily led astray or Alright as mai
may chance to lead them-the crow
set up throaty shout, not Of rage o
defiance, but Of approval and admire
ton.
at is we'll done!' cried many voices
1t is well done, and behold our Sahi
is a man. Let the Raj stand or fal
elsewhere, here the Raj and our Sahi
are one; and see, the Sahib stand
while the fool who spoke vain thing
lies yonder in the dust. 1t is in trut
well done
81 turned my horse slowly an
walked him up the hill to the fort. Fo
me at that moment the world held onl
one thing-Mrs. Harold's face-an
that too said. 1T is well DONE and
think also thank YOU
after that there came some anxiou
times, but in the end mine was one c
the districts that had no mutiny hi!
tory. Harold's nerve had been shake
by that scene in the town, and tn
worst of it was that he couldn't get
back and that his wife saw it.
cat last it was safe for them to leav,
and l thanked God for it, though lii
didn't seem to offer much to me whe
she had gone out of it. Anyhow,
knew it was the only thing for me,
was to avoid making q fool Of m,
self, and she-well, she was everythin
that a woman ought to be.
"The evening before they were to G
away l came upon her sitting in tt
veranda Of my bungalow-we ha
moved out of the fort ages before,
spite of Harold's frenzied protests
and she began to speak of all, she We
3 pleased to say, they owed to me.
"'Don't,' | said. 1t is | who ov
2 a debt--to you 1t is you who hay
t helped me, helped me to play the mar
"I don't think you wanted muc
; help to do that she said very seriousl
r in moment we were on our fee
facing one another, and her hands wei
in mine. knew then, know no'
| that might have kissed her. But
: would have hurt her.
4 Instead | stopped and kissed h
e hands.
4 Goodbye and God keep you,' sal
t and turning, left her.
"rhat. | know now. was nv create