The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-03-07


Assam. Living in the secluslon of
their isolated villages, scattered here
and there amid the low, deDsely-
wooded hills which bear their name,
this strange, semi-savage tribe of
demon-worshipers have retained to
this day many of their primitive
traits and superstitions. Amongst
their extraordinary traditions. and
one that forms the subject of this
falsehood he will meet with sud
len and violent death. So strictly
do they adhere to this belief that a
Caro-, IL required to take an oath, will
sblemnly say, May be killed by a
wild elephant il do not speak the
ruth"
Many years ago there lived in one
Of the lonely villages above men
toned Caro- maiden remarkable
for her beauty and fascination.
Michnii for so this village belle was
named, was the daughter of a man
Of no Importance. and poor withal,
even for Caro-; but this in no way
detracted from the number of her ad-
mirers, which included half the bach
slor population of the village.
Amongst them was her cousin
Pembu, a ood-looking, stalwart
youth, who had long loved her with
all the fervor of his wild and ardent
nature. The girl returned his love
az ungrudgingly as 1t was bestowed,
for, added to his comely face and
manly bearing, Pembu was possessed
of many other virtues calculated to
win savage maiden's heart. He
could shoot an arrow farther and
With truer aim than any youth or
veteran in the village, and was, more
over, a bold and successful hunter
while in running. jumping, wrestling
and such like feats of strength there
was none to equal him.
But Pembu had a rival, and a very
dangerous one-no less person than
the headman's son. Kishto, the youth
in question, was one of the so-called
enlightened" type of Caro-, an edu-
:ated savage, despisIng his less-cul-
tured brethren and holding in cora
Tempt the ancient traditions of his
race.
This man had long cherished a Sc
cret affection for the pretty Michni
and had once been rash enough to
declare his passion. an indiscretion
which cost him many hours of bodily
pain and mental torture, for the girl
had complained to her lover, who
mad with fury. had sought out the
offender and administered SO severe
castigation that the wretched youth
was laid up for month. Now Kish-
10, being of poor physique and of a
cowardly disposition, dared not re-
laliate in kind. but none the less re-
Sented the treatment he had received,
and swore openly TO be avenged
Though lacking physical strength and
pluck, he was shrewd and cunning to
degree, and it was not long before
he had devised q scheme which prom
ised to give him the revenge he
thirsted for, Snd also the possession
of the girl Among the few friends
he had in the village was a mean
spirited creature like himself, a man
who was also ill-disposed towards
Pembu Finding this individual
ready and willing to aid him in his
evil project, Kishto resolved TO carry
1t out at once.
A few PAGES from the hut where
Pembu lived was one occupied by a
money-lender, an old and feeble man.
who lived alone by reason of the
extortionate rate OF interest he de-
manded he was not a. very popular
person in the village.
One morning. shortly after Kishto
and his accommodating friend had
arranged their little scheme, q viii
lager going to the old usurer's hut to
reclaim some jewelry he had pledged,
was horrified to find him lying dead
inside. At once he raised an outcry,
and soon the whole village had col
lected. Amongst the first to arrive
upon the scene was the headman,
who, by virtue of his position, was
legally bound to hold an inyestiga-
tlon. He ascertained that the old
man had been stabbed through the
heart the motive for the crime being
evidently plunder, for not single
coin or ornament was to be found in.
side the hut.
The murderer had left no clue oil
any kind behind him. and but for 9
suggestion made by the astute Kishtc
1t is unlikely that any great effort
would have been made to trace him
The willy youth, who had evlnced
the keenest interest IN the proceed
ings, now suggested that the huts oi
all persons living in the immediate
vicinity should be searched. Thi.
suggestion was no sooner made thar
1t was carried out, and, commencinf
with the nearest, the searchers
reached Pembu's hut, where, care
fully concealed inside the thatchlnf
OF the roof, was found blood
stained knife and two silver anklets
A deathllke silence greeted this dis
covery, for Pembu was beloved b,
all, and none could believe him guilty
OF so cruel and dastardly an act al
the murder of the old usurer.
But appearances we're certainl!
against him. The knife was undoubt
edly his, the one he always used
made for him by his friend the vii
iage smith; the anklets, too, wer,
recognized by two women present