The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-08-06
CHARTER VIII.
The Slave Market.

Having decided upon the fate Of
Kathlyn, the natives set, about recap.
turing the wild elephant. 1t took the
best part ofthe morning. When this
was accomplished the Journey to ALA.
ha was begun. But for the days OF
peace and quiet Of the wilderness and
the consequent hardness Of her flesh,
kathlyns would have suffered greatly:
Half the! time she was compelled to
walk. There We're no hcwdahs, and 1T
was difficult feat to SIT. back Of the
mahout. The rough skin OF the. ele.
plant had the same effect upon the
calves Of her legs that sandpaper
would have had. Sometimes she
stumbled and fell. and was rudely
lerked to her feet Only the day be-
fore they arrived was she relieved in
any way; she was given a litter, and
In this manner she entered the hate.
ful city. .ss
On the way to the slave mart they
I passed under the shadow Of the grim
prison walls OF the palace. The ele.
plants veered Off here into a side
street, toward the huge square where
horses and cattle and elephants were
bought and sold. The litter, In charge
oflthe chief'mahout, proceeded to the
slave mart. Kathlyn glanced at the
wall wonderlngly. Was her father
alive? Was he in some bleak cell be-
hind that crumbltng masonry?
Even as she sent last lingering
look at the prison the prisoner within,
his. head buried in his thin. wasted
bands, beheld her in yision-but in
a happy, Joyous vision, lbusying about
Tho living room Of the bungalow
And far away a younger man beheld
avision as very tenderly he gazed at
Hathlyn's discarded robe and resumed
bis determined quest. Often, standing
beyond his evening fires. he would ask
tho silence, "Kathlyn, where are
you 2" Even then he was riding fast
toward Alfalfa.
A slave mart is a rare thing these
dcys, but at the time these scenes
were being enacted there existed
many Of them hero and thore across
the face of the globe. Men buy and
sell men and women these times-en.
lightened, SO they say-but they do II
by legal contract or from vile hiding
places.
b. Alfalfa, shad been famous mart In
Its prime. 1t had drawn the agents
Of princes from all over India Persia.
Beloochistan, Afghanistan. and even
southern Russia had been rited Of
their beauties to adorn the zenanas OF
the slothful Hindu princes.
The slave mart in the capital town
Of Alfalfa stood in the center of the
bazaars. n great square platform with
q roof, but open on all four sides.
Here the slaves were exhibited, the
poor things intended for dalliance and
those who were to struggle and sweat
and die under the overseer's lash.
Every fortnight a day was set aside
Tor the business of the mart. Owners
and prospective buyers met, chewed
betel nut, smoked their hookahs,
slipped coffee and tea and exchanged
the tattle Of the hour. It was as much
an amusement as a business; indeed,
it was the oriental idea Of a club, and
much the same things were discussed.
All about there were bankers, and
fruit sellers, and bangle wallas (for
slave girls should have rings of rupee
silver. about their ankles and wrists),
and solemn Brahmins, and men who
painted red and fochre caste marks on
ones forehead, and ash.covered 70.
kris with withered hands, Nautch
girls, girls from the bazaars, peripa.
tetic jewellers, kites, and red.headed
vultures-this being a proper place
for them. :. ,i..t
The chief mahout purchased for
Kathlyn a beautiful saree. or. veil,
which partially concealed her faca
and hair. s..3
"Chalu!" he said. touching Kath.
lyn's shoulder whenever she Jagged,
for they had dispensed with the litter.
eco, ont. L III.
y She understood. -outwardly she ap1
peared passive enough, but her soul
was on fire. and her eyes as brilliant
as those Of the ctrcilng, swooping
kites, watching for that moment which
was to offer some loophole. (, On
through the noisy bazaars, the object
Of many q. curious remark, sometimes
insulted by the painted women at the
windows. sometimes TESTED at by the
idlers around the merchants booths.
yfIt seemed to her, however, that q
film of steel had grown over her
nerves; nothing startled her; she
sensed only the watchfulness she had
often noted in the captiyes at. the
farm.
At, length they came out into the
busy mart. The old mahout congratu.
lated himself upon the docility OF his
find. It would :stitfen the bidding to
announce that she was gentle. He
even went SO far as to pat her on the
shoulder. The steel film did not cover
all her nerves. SO it would seem: the |
nafted shoulder was lvtilnerabIa ehn