Amador ledger., 1910-08-12
.AChildW ife
By EMILY B. PARKHURST
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.


| against the Hindoo religion for an In
dian family of good rank to keep a
daughter unmarried. Since it is diff.
cult for their parents to find husbands
for them the daughters are made
away with. Those of high birth.
called rajpoots. are put to death by
men especially employed to do so. The
British government having passed
laws against these murders, the par
ents of those girls who have not found
| husbands have resorted to a method
of marrying them in name. though
not in fact There are a number of
Brahmans. old and decrepid- called
Kulian Brahmans, who go about with
the object of hiring themselves out to
| go through the ceremony of the 'sev
en- steps" with young girls upon being
paid for doing so. After marriage they
leave the country and never see their
young wives again.
| In Allahabad there lived one of
these raipoot men who had daughter
over twelve years old.
I In the next house lived another FAM
| lily, in which there was one son. aged
eighteen. The two children had been
brought up together, and their child
ish friendship had grown into love.
| The parents of the youth were very
proud of him and destined him to
marry some girl who should be not
only of high caste. but whose par
ents would be able to beStow on her
great wealth.
One evening after it was dark he
was walking in the compound (gar-
den) about his fathers house when he
heard low call from the compound
Of the next house. Going to the fence,
he deserted the crouching figure of his
sweetheart. evidently suffering from
some great misfortune.
"What is it, dear girl?" he said,
springing over the fence and taking
her in his arms.
"I am to die"
ITO diew
Eyes. Today mana horrible
looking man-came to the house and
talked with my father. L had been
told to go on an errand, doubtless that
l should be away at the time and not
hear what passed between my father
and this man. But had not yet gone
/ have been suspecting that. not being
married. | would soon be made away
with in some fashion, though father
and mother have tried to keep the
awful knowledge from me. So when
| saw this friChtful creature come to
the house concealed myself behind
bamboo screen and heard every word"
She gave way to her feeling and
was unable to proceed. Her lover
kissed her again and again. begging
her to tell him all.
My father bargained with the man
for a hundred rupees to strangle me-"
''When- where:"
Tomorrow night father is to take
me out for walk by the river, when
this man is to come upon us suddenly
as if to rob. seize me and after he has
killed me throw my body into the
river"
The agony Of the youth was equal
to that of the girl. Both knew that
their separation and her death were
not to be prevented. 1t would be of
no avail for her to refuse to go to walk
with her father or to try in any way
to escape her fate. The young man
dare not disobey the commands of
his parents Should he fly with the
girl the sleuths of the Indian police
would follow and surely capture them
They spent what time that remained
for them together. not laying plans to
prevent the calamity, but weeping in
each others arms At last the girl
heard her mother calling her, and aft
er one clinging embrace she ran into
the house.
The next afternoon an old man lean
ing heavily on his staff stopped at the
house and asked for bit of bread and
little wine. The girl, who was to die
that night-knowing the secret, though
her parents were not aware that she
knew it-went to the cupboard by her
fathers order and brought the refresh
ment.
us your daughter married?" asked
the visitor.
mo" replied her father. 1--WE have
no husband for her."
but you cannot keep glrl IKE tnat
longer. Our religion forbids."
mo" whispered the father; 1--WE
shall not keep her longer"
The look that accompanied the words
was not lost on the old man.
'How much will you give me to mar
ry her?"
"You are a Kulian?"
81 am"
''I will gladly give you your price If
1t be not too much"
"What say you to a hundred ru-
peesY
II will give it gladly"
The girl was listening, and hope
| nr,rn 10, m, Ia, hnr. Chn Initnrnd