The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1914-08-28
CHAPTER YIN.


CHAPTER YIN.
Tho Slave Market.
Having decided upon the fate Of
Kathlyn, the natives set about recap
turing the wild elephant. 1t took the
best part of the 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,
Kathlyn would have suffered greatly.
Half the time she was compelled to
walk. There we're no howdahs, and it
was a difficult feat to sit back Of the
rnahout. 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
jerked 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,
On the way to the slave mart they
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
Of the chief mahout, proceeded to the
slave mart. Kathlyn glanced at the
wall wonderingly. Was her father
alive? Was he in some bleak cell be-
hind that crumbling masonry?
Even as she sent q last lingering
look at the prison the prisoner within,
bis head buried in his thin, wasted
hands, beheld her in a vision-but in
a happy, Joyous vision, busying about
the living room of the bungalow.
And far away a younger man beheld
: vision as very tenderly he gazed at
Kathlyn's discarded robe and resumed
bis determined quest. Often, standing
beyond his evening fires, he would ask
the silence, "Kathlyn, where are
your Even then he was riding fast
toward Alfalfa.
A slave mart Is a rare thing these
days, but at the time these scenes
we're being enacted there existed
many Of them here and there across
the face of the globe. Men buy and
sell men and women these times-en-
%lightened, SO they say--but they do 1t
by legal contract or from vile hiding
places,
Alfalfa had been a famous mart in
It's prime. 1t had drawn the agents
Of princes from all over India. Persia.
Beloochistan, Afghanistan. and even
southern Russia had been rifed Of
their beauties to adorn the ezenanas Of
the slothful Hindu princes.
The slave mart in the capital town
Of Alfalfa stood in the center Of the
b~azaars, a great square platform with
. 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,
II was the oriental idea OF q club, and
much the same things were discussed.
All about there ere barkers, and
Iruit sellers, and bangle wallas flor
slave girls should have rings Of rupee
silver about their ankles and wrists,
and solemn Brahmins, and men who
painted red and ochre caste marks on
one forehead, and ash-covered ia
klrs with withered hands, Nautch
girls, girls from the bazaars, peripa-
tehc jewelers., kites, and red-headed
suitures--this being a proper place
for them.
The chief mahout purchased for
hathlyn a beautiful saree, or veil.
which partially concealed her face
and hair.
Chalu!' he said, touching Kath-
yhs shoulder whenever she Jagged,
ior they had dispensed with the litter.
Go on!"
She understood Outwardly she ap-
peared passive enough. but her soul
vas on fire and her eyes as brilliant
Is those Of the circling, swooping
ntes, watching for that moment which
was to offer some loophole. On
through the noisy baxaars, the object
q many q curious remark, sometimes
lnsalted BY the painted women at the
windows. sometimes tested at by the
'uiers around the merchants booths.
II seemed 70 her, however, that q
MN Of steel had grown over her
nerves; nothing startled her; she
sensed only the watchfulness she had
farm. I
AZ length they came out into the
ousy mart The old mahout congratu-
ne himself upon the docility Of his
and' It would stiffen the bidding to
announce that she was gentle. He
even went 81 far a to pat her on the
shoulder. Thu sfaa1 Aim did not cover