The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-04-09
warrcn 11astings==11is Career.
Tn cbree Parts-Part cbree
BY c. R. H.

the inexorable calamity. Yes, he had
risen from apparent obloquy and had
brought the highest representative of
the Hindoo race to ruthless death.
The protests Of the council had been
in vain. All supplication had been lg-
nored. The simple mind Of the Hin
doc worshipped him in fear as ter
rible master. Without doubt Hast
ings resorted to this monstrous bar
barity to save himself, as he afterwards
termed it, from the loss of ''honor, for
tune and reputation" and for Il .
purpose of impressing on the native
mind a lasting significance of his pow
or. A more pronounced victory could
not be imagined, for from that time
on, either thru reverence or awe, they
never once molested nor importuned
him with the slightest accusations.
We will not express our opinion of
Impey, nor offer further remarks on
Hastings conduct, other than to con-
denim the vicious immortality of the
one, and pay our regrets for the lack
of integrity in the other.
1t is altogether fitting and right that
we should hesitate here, in the recital
of an existence prolific with its multi
tude of achievements, bordering on the
marvellous, and speculate concerning
the future of the great satellite, who,
even now, hung clear and resplendent
in the gorgeous galaxy of fame which
environed him. We are constrained to
admit that we, during these splendid
times, would have prophesied a termi-
nation of this remarkable life, far diff
fereut from the one which actually in
vOlved it. For who would have said
that this exalted man was to know the
depths of humility, was to feel the
grief of a revlled and deserted soul
and what was keener sorrow to him
was to be unable to resent or retaliate
Still, multitude of just such aggres
sive, relentless prosecutions, harasseC
the declining years of his life, to lift
for space before the end, that the ole
man, torn and racked by many pains
and tortured by countless misgivings
might totter down the way of his an
cient dignity, to know the admiration
and to receive the blessings of the new
generation he was about to leave for
ever.
! Whatever the future held in stOr'
for him it was at least certain that HI
continued to enjoy for several year
the prestige and emoluments of hi
high Office which had so lately been il
jeopardy. Of all the difficulties whicl
had beset and surrounded him, whicl
had so nearly annihilated the pros
poets of Ills future, perhaps the an
tagonism of Francis had been tn
most formidable. Long was it to cor
. vulse these gifted men, to distort an
deform their great achievements, t
, follow both to the grave. Rancor is a
} awful barrier, fraught with treachel
Gus crevices and unsafe paths. Grea
is he who braves its many wiles t
scale its naughty heights.
. But a short time had elapsed froI
> the execution of Nuncomar, whe
Hastings had wholly recovered his ol
] predominacy in the Indian govern
+ ment. One by one the vanquishe
? rivals had disappeared. Death, jea
' ousy and disgust had thinned the
Q ranks, to insure to Hastings the pos
g tion and prerogatives he had for q tin
2 been denied. It was at this auspiciol
: time that the wife he had waited fl
2 thru the slow years, was released fro
a her bondage, to fulfill the promise I
}. that memorable day in the past. Fo
Y tune seemed to rejoice at her hero
) second ascendancy, to place befo
;, him great prophesies of glory and
Q revel in pageantry she had never b
d fore exhibited.
l. Hastings ever listened to her serel
9 songs. The mysterious seclusion
her golden secrets was always que
h for him, and her tickle, frivolous prol
q ises were cherished to bring shame u
9. on him who had trusted her. To pI
n long this inquiry, to repeat the 9