The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-02-15
|AChiId
BY EMILY B. PARKHURST
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

The daughters of all good families
In India must be married. II would
be a public disgrace as well as a crime
against the HiDdoo religion for an ln.
dian family of good rank to keep a
daughter unmarried. Since II 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 u number of
Brahmans. old and decrepid, called
Kullan Brahmans. who 20 about with
fhe 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 rajpoot men who had u daughter
over twelve years old.
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 aud destined him to
marry some girl who should be not
-. IA l,,,N
ents would be able to bestow on her
great wealth.
One evening after II was dark he
was walking In the compound tgar.
dem 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 1t, dear girl?" he said.
gpringlng over the fence and taking
her In his arms.
81 am to die"
'To dlep
"Yes. Today mana horrible
looking man-came to the house and
talked with my father ! had been
told to go on an errand. doubtless that
I should be away at the time and not
hear what passed between my father
and this man. But had not yet gone.
Z have been suspecting that. not being
married. would soon be made away
with in some fashion. though father
md mother have tried to keep the
nwful knowledge from me. So when
saw this frightfui creature come to
the house | concealed myself behind n
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
Tor n hundred rupees to strangle me-"
"When- whercT'
Tomorrow night father Is to take
me out for a walk by the river, when
this man Is to come upon us suddenly
as II to rob. seize me and after he has
killed me throw my body into the
river"
The agony OF the youth was equal
20 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
60 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
Tor 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 cllngng embrace she ran into
the house.
The next afternoon nn old man lean
Ing heavily on his staff stopped at the
house and asked for Il bit of bread and
u little wine. The girl. who was to die
that niGht-knowing the secret. though
her parents were not aware that ghe
knew went 10 the cupboard by her
fathers order and brought the refresh
ment.
'Is your daughter marrled?" asked
the visitor
ANps i'I'll'N W lhNt
no husband for her"
'But you cannot keep girl like that
longer. our religion forblds"
"No." whispered the father; tive
shall not keep her longer"
The look that accompanied the words
was not lost ON the old man.
"Iiow much viii you give me TO mar
ry her?"
"You are n KulianT
81 am"
81 TIll gladly give you your price II
II be not too much"
"What say you to hundred ru.
peesY'
~ Will give II gladly"
The girl was listening, and hope
eprang up In her heart She loitered
near till she saw her father count out
the money TO the old man ana then
swOoned
When she came TO herself she wns
n.lA oh a.. ,I..I