The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1907-01-31

left me a widow of three. and-twenty.
about to earn their bread and mine.
jim was a great favorite, and as |
had some interest l got a post-a curl
Gus one, you'll say was appointed
to visit Zenanas, and ascertain that
the government pensioners were alive
to draw their pay, and not having it
made over to substitutes, after their
death"
How could that be?" 1 inquired
"rll try and explain. You see, after
the mutiny the English government
took the King of Delhi and sent him
away to Burmah. There were all his
family to he provided for, hundreds Of
retainers and relations, penniless and
beggared, and to all these, the govern
ment granted pension, paid
monthly. Regarding the men it
was simple; they applied person
ally for payment. They coull
be seen. Not so the women,
above all the princesses of the royal
house-and their pensions were large.
1t would be easy to say princess was
alive and draw her income, when no
outsider ever saw her face-and she
might be dead for years. There had
been a good deal of Encouragement
and cheating, among great and small.
- -
When pensioner died, halt tie money
went to his next of kin, when the next
OF kin died, quarter of the sum went
to his heir, and SO it expired. Well,
one day the secretary of my depart
ment sent for me, and said very Sc
riously:
Look here, Mrs. Mills. You must
be most particular in visiting the de-
scendants and next of kin of the old
Begun Sona-bee in Lucknow. She is
falling fast. Her pension is fine
one, and half of it goes to her grand
daughter. Have you ever seen herr
No, l replied; I had not. l had
seen her two sons-beautiful boys. /
had visited the old Begun regularly.
She liked me, we were good friends;
but somehow | had never once en-
countered her granddaughter. Either
she was i'll, or she was away visiting
her own people up in the Punjaub.'
And this has gone on for five
years?' he said, and he was angry.
That is not the way to carry out your
duty. Your duty is to see these pen
sioners, so as TO swear TO their lden-
tity. You must be resolute; don't al
low them to hoodwink you, or we
shall hove to get some other person
to deal with them and you lose your
fine post
Yes, and l would lose my bread,
and my children would starve, l knew
that; and / resolved to be determined
when l went to Soma Begum's.
Il went home and asked neighbor
and friend to have an eye to Dora,
my dear little girl. She was II;
Ernest was at the Martiniere college.
Then l drove away to the palace, very
determined indeed l felt that l had
everything at stake, and l would never
leave till l had either seen this prin-
cess or her dead body.
II had an immediate audience with
her highness, and told her my errand
civilly and as pleasantly as l could.
She at once flew into a terrible pas
sion. She was the latest woman l
ever saw, and | thought she would
have a fit. Her face seemed to swell,
her eyes nearly jumped out of it, and
her voice-oh, it was just one long
scream!
'All said was, Bring me to see the
Princess Notice only for one moment,
and l go; otherwise l stay here al
ways
Il was hustled away into damp,
low room, looking into a courtyard on
the ground floor, and left there alone.
No one came near me for hours-but
they peeped and whispered outside to-
gether. l remained there all night,
and l ate some bread, and got water
at the fountain in the court; but could
not sleep for the rats, and for the
fear that someone would come and
strangle me, you see. l was alone
one woman combating hundred.
1.-The next morning l was again
taken to the Begun, and she was now
all good nature and affection. But
this is foolishness,' she cried. Take
this and she offered me splendid
diamond and emerald belt. 1t is for
thee, if thou wilt depart, and say that
all is well. Il have seen her highness,
the Notice Mahal, granddaughter of
her highness the Begun"
"'But that would be false l an
swered stoutly. I do not accept
bribes.'
Then accept hunger!' she scream
ed. Hunger and DEATH
with this threat ringing in my ears
once more l was hustled down to my
quarters below, where l remained for
three days, almost starving. Once an
old bag crept in, and whispered, The
end is near! Huzoor-the ends at
hand!'
"But what end? My end?
"As l was thinking of lying down
on the fourth night l suddenly saw a
glimmer of light, and a pure white
woman, in rich native dress, entered,
with a lamp in her hand. She was