Strangely Betrothed

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 697, 2 December 1876, Page 5 (Supplement)

Strangely Betrothed-

' Goino opt, Ellen, are you ?' said my father, as lie tightened the reia of his sturdy hill pony ' Well, my dear, I have to faoe the heat, too, and shall envy you the shade of your favorite trees beside the big tank. That Alula bar headman I spoke of, who has brought over a gang of coolirs from the mainland has promised to mccc me in front of the jos«-house in the N»l Tantee village, to sec if we can come to terms. I shall be back 'oefoie tiffin-time, I hope.' A.nd with a kindly nod and a smile, he I roue off at a brisk trot, his horsekeeper, a ! b^rbfoo* cd Cingalese lad, eaaily keeping paco with the pjny, and running svrift and silent, like a brown shadow, beside his master's stirrup. Times had changed, and for the woree, lince Mr Travers had been reckoned among She mont thriving coffee planter* in Ceylon. Our once famous plantation, called T< avers, ■if . to family that had possessed it for two generations, was not now the source of profit that, in my grandfather's time, it hud been. The rich soil, worn out by overcropping and neglect, no longer yielded i,B heavy harvest of red brown berries ; while to reclaim fresh bud from the jungle was both toilsome and coxtly. The estate gare us the means of a maintenance, and a little more. I win an uuly child, and my father was a widowor ; so that our ac< uai nocesaitiMß, in <.nat ch»Kjj and frugal cou .try ws c easily pxividtsd f>r Nor should 1 navn iii*<i » care in the wot Id, save for the old, 010 snory of lovti, the coarse of which hard ciroumHttnces would not aulfor to rua smooth ■ >ar nearest neighbor— and Christian neighbors, with white faces and English speaking tongues, we^e scarce in Northern Ceyiou - was Mr. Forster, a planter, by far wealthier tb %a w« "-ere. Oswald Fors er and I i-vnre plighted lovors ; bat the v o iy ide* of an flu^.f.'-aient, between his only son nr.d she isui>h:or of his embarrassed neigbbot was 4JI aud wormwood to OawaLi s fa'.ber, a o<oud strong- willed man, who mamtgni bi| t'lnvin^ property so as to extract from every tiergdh of arable land its utmost yield 10 3ilvor rupoos. Desirous to efface from Oswald's mind idpa of marrying poor little EUeu Travwrs, Mr. Fi»ratcr, with his wife's concurrence, ,ji opo.-.cfl to send his son to Europe, confident in* 1 , foreign travel and chan^n of acun would hood obliterate from his m<*rii >ry th- imago of tn<* :oaely little girl beside the great fiuk • a Micsry. And no* a Tord concerning; the Tank itthe n.4tne of which, I feir, couv. ys» to ••'uropean readers but a very inadequate pouo 'ptiou of the stupendous reality The Tank of Mm%ry, justly reckoned among the marvels which the Island of CuyJon h.n still ti show, is perhaps the grandest of -utfiuittl lakes Dlaancd by moital engineer Mure usin '•vo th jnsand years hive passed since, befoie the iJhristun era, a Budhist kiug bade his subject* tail to erect the massive walls of hotvu fat»ne and tough chnnaoi that environ that vast sheet of water twenty-five miles in circumference. With the Minary UUe or Tank, which lay cbsa to my own home, I had bsen from childhood familiar ; and I dourly loved the mirror-like expanse of its calm waters, studded with floating islands of the crimson-blossomed lotus of India, the red flowers and green leaves of which covered many thouiaud acres of the surface. Strange hsh of brilliant colors glided in glittering sboals through the deep, clear water, rarely disturbed by prow or paddle Bright b.rds of every » ze, from the aotrlet flamingo fo the tiny oriole or the tow\n=«^» idjiuitni, n»imced it ; an.l all aiound grew in name profusion the mighty trees and fbweriug crcepdrs of ttia virgin lorest, whence came, at-- times, the complaining cry of tho moua'ain-e^t, the belling of the deer, the ptni.ber's sna'l. or tho crislnng of vane and sapling as wild elophants forced heir way through the trackless re censes of the jungle. I am b.mud to admit that there were other tenants of the lake and forest less attractive tban the bright-plumaged birds and the pretty little lizards bask ng iv the patches of yellow iranshins. Alligators word very common, snakes plentiful, *nd thAborpton, the ceutipede, and the tree-leecr^r«re often to be met with in more swampy and tangled tracks of the woodlands. But we, who were colonialborn, learn a disregard of the creeping things that surrouui us which astonishes a now araival from Kiurope, and I bad never in my life known what it was to feel fear of bs*st or reptile. I watched my father's rotiring figure until it dissappeared among trie faathery biinboos that lined the path, and then, turniag my back oa the white house with its green verandahs, walked on under the shadow of tho great forest trees till I reached tht enbaukmeut of the Minary Tank. Half an hour's walking brought me within sight of a ruinous Summoi-house, built on the edge of the lake by some former Dutch proprietor, and yet sut mounted by a large ball of gilded pith, perched on a pole Near this Summerbouse it was my custom to meet Oswald, and te would bd bui very seldom that we were to meet henceforth, since, poor fellow, he was to sail by the Lord Dalhoush, expucted at Point de Galle on the 31*t of the month On my way I paused now and then, familiar as was the prospect, to gaz3 upon the wide expauso of the lake, the silvery water* of which rolled aw*y so grandly that it was hard to conceive that what seemed almost entitled to Uke rank as an inland sea, could be actually the work of human hands. Fiocks of wildfowl, with white wines and shrill scream, hovered above the ■ warms of goigeously-tinted fish that swam arouud the huge weed beds ; while here and there, emong the red lotus blossoms, appeared what might h»ro been easily mistaken for a floating log, but wnich I knew to ba an alligator drowsily basking in tho glad sunshine. The heavy heat seemed to tender exertion even for the natives difficult, for I saw no fisher as usiul paddling his light canoe, or preparing his tough nets of cocoanut fiber. And the very Cingalese woodcutters had deserted their work, leaving behind thorn a great heap of hewn timber, in front of which, imbedded in the spongy wood of a cypress, four or five short bright axes remain sticking. Some few paces from this heap was the ruinous Summer-house, and beyond it ther« towered aloft the giant talipot tree, with its vast serrated leaves, that serve the Cingalese for sail, and thstcb, and screen, beneath whioh Oswald and I were accustomed to meat. To my surprise, and perhaps chagrin, I did not at hr>t see him for whom I looked aud began to fear that he had forgotten to keep his wonted tryst ; but, on drawing nearer I beheld a sight that for the moment froze my very veins with horror, and caused the ory of anguish that rose upon my lips to die away. Oawald -lying on the tutf among tae roots of the gigantic palmtree —seemed to oe asleep, overcomo, probably by the uuusal iie»t, while aiound him was loosely coiled nomethiug that resembled a stout rope cuuously streaked with black, and orange' jnd wmte— something tnat causes the withered leaves and crisp gra*s to rustle as it slirral i had nover seen a living tic-palungt, but I knew at the first glance that the snake before my eyes waa uo othtr than a Urge juecimon of that dreaded reoti'e wh:ch in •Vyion takas the position that m Gon-inental Indn belongs to the cobra, and for the bite of which (hire is no known remedy. T^ico within the last three yean laborer* on my father's plantation bad been brought in,

dying from the venom of the tio-palunga, bat in each instance the skill of the native snake* charmer had led to the capture of the reptile, and it wm not believed that any of this ■pc lies had baen left alive in our immediate neighborhood. This, however, was unquestionably a tia-palnnga many feet long, and it had wrapped it* coi's, as though ia hideous sport, arouad Uiwald's limb* as he Imy there unconscious. The great, flat head of the enormous snake rested on the ground among the flowers and ferns. I could see its eyes, bright as jewels, fixed upon m«. It showed for the moment, howaver, no particular aigns of anger or of distrust, but oontented itself by quietly contemplating the in truder on its haunts As I stood gazing on my sleeping lovor, and the monstrous ciestur* that lay wakeful but quiescent so near so him, all the stories of snakes that I hare ever heard or read oame crowding in upon my qnickened memory. I knew that tbe tic-palunga, in common with moat of tbe "venomous varieties of its race, seldom employed its pmson-fangs unions when attacked or annoyed. Bat 1 aleo knew the hardiest elephant-hunter of the forests would sooner confront the charge of a herd of incensed tutkers than face the lance-liko dart and rancorous bite of this dread denizen of of the jangle. The tic-palunga, unlike the boa and the python, rarely, if ever, preys upon the larger animal*, such as deer or cattle, coafiutng its dint for the most part to birds and frogs and luards. Some caprice most likely had caused it to twine a part of its supple convolutions around Oswald as he lay, and, so long as h« remained asleep and motionless, there was little probability that the serpent woald harm him. My great fear was lest he should wake, and, in awaking, by some hasty movement arouse the ire of tne tesistless foe. Oswald was brave and strong, but it we-] a mock ry to speak of courage when so terrible an antagonist was in question. Suddenly, as if it had been a whisper from heaven, there came to my mind a thought that promised hope, oven in that dire extremity of need. I had often seen harmleas shakes kept tame in colonial households, and was aware of their habits and of thoir love for certain kinds of food, and, above all, for milk. Gould I but bring to that spot a supply of milk and place it, before Oswald should awake, temptingly near to the tic-palunga, all might yet be wall. And yet to desert him -poor fellow — in suoh terrible company, seemed cruel ; yet it was for hir. sake, and I felt that 1 must go. Very slowly, then, lest my foot steps should disturb the sleeper, or irritate to* huge reptile that kept watch beside him I stole away, and, when at a B+fe distance, Hew, rather than ran, along the forest-path. The nearest European dwelling was Oswald's own home. There were Cingalese huts nearer, no doubt, where dwelt some of Mr. Forster's hired men ; but I should not be able to procure what I sought save from the planter's house. At another time I should not have willingly trespassed on the domains of Oswald's father ; but this was no occasion for scruple or punctilio. Life and death, a# I knew, depended on my spued. There, at length, rose up before roe the milkthora hedge, tbe impenetrable thorns of which are often useful iv keeping ont leopard and jaokftl, which surrounded the planter's homestead, and, passing through an open gats, I entered the compound. The first ssrvanfc that I met, and who lifted his hand to his snow-white turban with a polite ' Salaam ' and » smile that showed tbe white teeth between bis bf»rd»d lips, was a man whom I knew— A MjpVrfMa groom who had formerly been in my fathers service, and whose child I bad nursed through an attjek of tbe Ceylon fever ' Lall bingh !' I gasped out, panting for breath, 'do me a kindness, for Che sake of old bread and salt. Get me somo fresh milk quickly, for the love of God, but »«k no questions— bh»i !' Something in my tone impressed tbo Maharatta, for without a word he hurried off, and soon icturned, bearing a jar of milk and a drinking vessel, or lota, which would contain something !gf* than a pint, and which at a sign fronvm, he filled with milk. This very act, slights! it may seem, was no small oompliment, for it was, doubtless, his own drinking-cup that Lall Singh was giving me, and, shonld any lip not belonging to one of pure Hindoo descent touch its burnished rim, it would hereafter be unfit for use. However, I scarcely waited to utter a word of thanks, but snatched up the brass lota and darted out, It may be thought singular that I had not given the alarm to the household at Mr. Forater's plantation ; but I bad resolved that I would not, it I could do my orraud unqnestionde, create a turmoil which might bring about the very evil against which I wai attiring. Oswald's mother and sister loved him ; but their nerves were not of the strongest, and their out-cries, had they heard the re*«, would have had the«ffeot of summoning a score of servants and coolies, and to ie*l Oswald's fate by sending a noisy posse of voluntters to the place where he lay at the snake's mercy. As if on winged feet, yet carrying the precious draught of milk with jealous oare, 1 hurried back to tbe spot where, at the foot of the huge talipot-tree, lay 03wald, yet asleep. The snake, however, as if uneasy, wm beginning to stir. Its monstrons head wagged slowly from side to side 4mong the wild flowers, and its slender tongue protruded from between its grim jaws But i was in time, and, >s I poured the milk, or rather a portion of it, on the ground, so that a tral should lead to the spot where I sat down the brass drinking-cup, with what of its contents remained, I was careful to avoid, by any abrupt gesture incensing the tio-paluuga. ' Then came a minute or two of agonized expectancy, and then, to my great joy, I saw the reptilo slowly uucoil himslf, evidently making for the milk. First one wreath and then another of the snake's limber length was untwined, an<? the great serpent, brushing through the forest grass and flowerets, stooped its broad bead to drink. As I saw Oawald thus freed, and tbe unsuspected foe draw further and further away from the place where he reposed, I felt the strength which had hitherto supported me suddenly become weakness. My nerves being no longer braced by the sens* of Oswald's mortal peril, the iostiuctivo terror and disgust which I had from childhood f«lt for the serpent tribe overpowered me, and I grew dizzy and weak, and I could scracely stand and scarcely see. What was this before my dim eyes ? The well-hnown poroh of the Dntoh colonist's summer-house, overgrown by trailing creepers, and all bnt choked by tall weeds. Mechanically I entered, and, sinking down on a roolderiag wooden seat, once decked with silken cushions and gold-leaf, I gradually regained the physical strength which had deserted me, and with it the capacity for thought. Uit curiouo how, in such cases of extreme exhaustion, the bonnmbed mind slowly resumes some abandoned train of thought, and thus it was with me. By decrees I remembered Oswald's danger, my own efforts to save him, and What was that rustling among the stem*, and leaves, and buds of the luxurious plants that festooned the nhatt^rJ wmdown of the iSuintn- r-h'iuifl, in »U oi.o r-mti piofuat n of th«ir tr ( >pic*l giowtb? Su>oJy, suruy not *be rippling, umuiatmg motion with whioa bugs soaks drags himstlf through th«

braket and jungle-graw ! Yes, my feara were but too true ; for there, in the open window-space —the broken trelliswork of which had been replaced by wild vines and dangling orchids - appeared, at a height of ■ix or seven feet above the ground, the hideons heed of the serpent that had lately menaced Oswald, and now confronted me. And theu it flashed npon me th»fc this deaerted kiosk was probably the reptile's actual | home, and that, n though iv very irony of terror, I had veutured to intrude into the . very lair of the torriblo creature, from the sight of which I had— once th<tt Oswald's safety seemed assured — r«oled dizzily away I hid often heard of the utrange taste which i snakes evince for an abandoned dwelling, ■ and how frequently thay haunt tbe outbuildings of Europeans' abode, and the hut* of the natives ; and yet hero had- 1 rtahly strayed into the hiding-place of the deadliest guardian of the Caylon jungle. That the snake was perturbed, there could be no doubt. It curved its graceful neck like that of a awau, and hissed slightly while its broad jaws were partly opened I fancied that I could see the curved poison fangs— more to bt dreaded than ever was Malay creese or Moorish dagger —while the jewel-bright eyes glittered otninoatly. Ouo wiH, piercing shriek I could not repress ; and then the futility of resistance or of flight forced itself upen me, and I stood, motionless as a marble s.atue of embodied fear, gazing at the emeraldine eyes, fixed with so pitiless a stare on mine. The subtle, suffocating odor which large serpents exhale when angry, reached me ; but already I gave myself np for lost, and waited passive till the tic-palunga should make his fatal dart. The sibilant noise from the snake's halfshut jawa had grown louder, and the bright, baleful eyes more menacing, while the grim head towered high aloft, reaiy to strikewhen suddenly, something bright flashed through the flowering vines of the creeping plant, and the snake's hideout head »nd lithe body disappeared, as if by magic. Then followed the sounds of * fierce struggle, repeated blows, tramping feet, snapping boughs, and the accents of human voices ; and then Oswald oame leaping through the doorway, clasped me in hi* arms, and bore me out into the broad light of the day, where lay writhing yet, the carcau of the d«ad snake, hewn through by the sharp-cutting axe whiab Oswald still grasped in his right h*nd. 'Snabash!' exclaimed Lall Singh, whose swarthy face gleamed with delight as he spurned the body of th« vanquished r ptile. 'It was well that the first blow went home, or it would have fared but bsdly with the youug sahib when this accursed sUyer of men turned on, him. Wan ! I'd »ooner have fauced a tiger ' To Lall Singh I was indeed, in no slight degree indebted for my safafcy. Cnnvinoed, trom the agitation of my mianer, thai something was wrong, he had followed me, and wai in the act of arousing Oswald from his | slumber, when the piei'oiug snrink which fear j had wrung from me ro-echoad through the i woods, and calle 1 attention to the imminenca i of the peril. Then Oa wa\d In I snatched up one of the keen short axoa which the na< ive woodcutters hai left sticking in a tree-trunk, and had been fortunate enough to disable the snake at the Hrat blow. My story is now told, and I have only to add that I wai overwhelmed with praises and caresses by the Forster family— hitherto so cold -and that, oa the following day, Mr. Forster himself rode over to my father's house, to entreat Mr. Travers, from whom he had of lite been estranged, toaooept his renewed frendship, and to a?k for my hand on behalf of his son. Oswald loit his passage on the homeward-bonnd ataamer that was to touch at Point de Ga'lo, aad. when he did visit Eu.ope, ho took with him Ellen Travels as hia wife. We hwo long been bappily settled -f*r from tho tropic juugles ami their do.igorous habitan'-a— bub never have either my husband or myself forgotten those few instants of bitter anguisn and alarm ba«de the Tank of Mmary.