Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-08-25
WITHIN AN INCH OF MARRIAGE.
A Story ~ "Loving'' and ..Lesins. -

WITHIN An INCH OF MARRIAGE
A stsry ~ "Loving'' and Losing
A
$50 the Coioners daughter has come, and is,
thew say, stunning"
sTrust you to ind our pretty girl, VIVIAN"
laughed a brother soldier. "Now I've seen
her,to and don't agree with you; she's too
white and lackadaisical for stunning to eX-
press Stunning "a / take l. means jolly,
larky. don't-care sort of a girl, who'll dance
you down in the dsuz emps, ride you down in
the hunting field, and box your ears il you
are impairment"
That's the sort Of girl you cultivate in
Yorkshire, said a handsome, light-haired man,
moustacbe were quite in character with his
lauguid dravl, and loose, lazy motion OF his
limbs "Whsn we were qusrsered in York
was nearly married by one OF your stunning
girls: and only escaped by running away with
a girl from a boarding school. Fact assure
you. She and struck mp an acquaintance at
a Christian probation meeting. What the
deuce are yoC fellows laughing att They have
meetings very often In York-a 10. of persons
talk. and lot OF old women and boarding
schools come to listen. 1 went for a lark, and
who's thati" ne was sitilng by the open win
dow, and past II a party were riding.
Beatrice Meyneli:'' sam Vivian; "the very
girl we've been talking Of"
"JOye!" repeated the fair man, a crimson
tide of color rushing to his face. The other
stared.
"well, what's up, Carterl Going to have
sight"
But Carer did not seem 10 see the Joke. He
neither answered nor laughed. The flush
passed away again, leaving him as pale as q
ghost and rising, he stammered-
"I'm out of sorts that champagne Croft gave
rs poisoned me. Ill turn in to the mess and
get some brandy. No, no, Topham, say there
1 am all right; only shaky." And waving Mr.
Topham back be walked of, leaving the men
he had been talking to looking after him
gloomily enough. for in an indian climate
death dogs man like his shadow; and any
unusual signs hoisted by Dame Nature are apt
70 oeset pToportionate amount Of appre-
hension.
"He lives too hard" said Topham: "Poor
fellow, No man conld last at the pace. He'd
much better 60 in for leave and cut this beast
ly country. or it'll give him what it's gwen
many good fellow, six foot Of landed prop
srty.'
"Nonsense, he's as strong as you are Take
couple Of pipes of him, and he'll be as steady
rs Judge don't know what you fellows
Chiefs.
CHAPTER H.
There vas dinner party a. the Resident
Magistrates that night, and OF course the Col
onel and his daughter were there, the lat
ter the centre or attraction. Vivian, who had
according TO his own mind, been making some
progress with the pale. quiet beauty, was
thrown into despair; brother Of the Judges
wife, certain Major Hervey, had lust re-
turned TO India after a long leave, and had
taken Aeernt on mis- way to the headquarters of
his reximeut. Heryey was one OF those mo-
dern Crichtons one meets with now and then
perfect or az nearly perfect as human natHre
can be, in everything he undertook. A hero in
the service, irresistible, SO gossip affirmed IN
the drawing-room, a dead shot In the Jungle.
well read and accomplished, good looking and
rlch. What would you have more! With all
these things one might conclude Hsrvey's a
happy lot, but there is no life without its al.
10y. Hervey had been touched in the most
vulnerable point; he had married, bat the mar
TiaRe had been unfortunate, and after three
years separation, he had gone home Just in
time 10 stand by the unhappy woman's death
bed. and forgive her the wrong she had done
HIM; one child only she left and this bow he
hao drought 20 lndla, 10 share his sisters nur-
seIy
Mrs. Masters At once settled that she was the
very wife for her brother, and never rested
until she had secured the girls frjendshin-
interesting her as much as possible in her
brother by telling, with all a sisters prejudice
the sad story of his marriage
Indian society is much more ola family sort
man Englisb, and the most private affairs soon
leak out; so II was well known IN the station
that Beairice was booked for Major Hervey
Much speculation was afioat; and when they
met IN the Judges drawing room, many eyes
watched them with no small amount OF envy.
.'Do you Ike India, Miss MeynellG'' asked
Hervey, when, the introduction having been
made, he took vacant chair by her side
"Not yet, was the ans wer and the sad eyes
rose 10 meet his, with world Of feeling Iyiug
arafe and unconnected with the words that
were spoken almost mechanically Eyes thar
were full OF unshed tears, andlhid themselves
away under their long thick veil or lashes, as
d afraid lest they might betray some secret
They mad strange effect upon Heryey az he
looked oack into them, and be scarcely heard
the commonplace answer the lips gave to his
common place question. mot YETI but NAV
DO so. III Is so different anu led 80 ch a Quiet
lonely life in England"
''Do you rider
q 81 NJ il fl.a
and there came a faint flush over her face
but do not think riding along what You
call tne Mall worth mounting for"
lou like going across country, perhapsy,
The msJor looked az the slender wrists and
wondered what power they could exercise
over bride; as he looked, he YVES conscious
tnat deep crimson rushed over the girls face
anc mat her eyes fixed themselves on him with
an expression Of intense fear He was inter-
ested and perpiexed, he scarcely knew wheth-
aeieeabIy or not; and in the middle of his
Are you fond OF hur ting, Major Heryeyr,
cry; u Is one OF the many hardships Of
soldering out here tina we have no such glor-
ious sport"
Have you ever hunted in Yorkshirer,
'No; do tknow York shire az all GIou-
eesIer Is my county. and the Dukes hounds
saw ny training. But il you doo', like the
Mail, why don't you ride early, and have .
gallOp into the cOnntry!,
80 do, when papa will CO..
Aho the colonel. coming u p 1T this juncture
II wish you'd DO duty for me, Hervev; rid
ing al her pace don't SUIT my old bones"
Il snall De delighted, if Miss Meynell will
accept my escort"
BestTice bowed. Vivian, who was LOOKING
OIL, swore she blushed. and went of TO the
efter end OF the room TO efer Captain Batche.
LOT zen 10 two that Hervey married BEATRICE
IN InOnth by which il will be seen that Mr.
vivian = matrimonial hopes being on the de-
chne, ne was willing TO make compromise
with ms heart, and If he could not win a wife
az least win something
Inc dinner party on the whole was a sue-
cess Beatrice had talked more ihan usual.
and Hervey had scarcely left her side ali tos
evening, so that there was some eYeuse TOR
Ars. Masters triumph. When she and her
orotaer We're alone, she asked
"How DO you like Beatrice. Cnarlsyp,
Il don't know!' he exclaimed. "Why Won
hhtea WIN her all night You surely can tell
ne ~ you like her" ''i
"Surely you think her prettyl''
'Vn yes, more beautiful, I think; what is
her siCfy!'
story laughed Mrs Masters, s.Story. sir.
God bless you, I've none TO tell; what story
can a girl Of eighteen. never out OF a sch.oI
rocm. hayel What strange faneies you men
taket'
Maybe" replied Hervey, drily: @but that
does not alter the case. MISS NsyneN has a
story and painful one, too"