The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-07-13
LOVE Asp nArR

ffoni, and lafEe baloouYi fuh oI mlEno-
nsite and gerauiums throughout the sum.
mer Fer 5 long time nothing was
known OF iis inhabitants beyond the in-
formation contained 10 ,he directory,
where they were registered as Miss Keith
and Miss indiana Keith. Indeed, for ten
years our square was kept In ioial igno-
rance Of their history By sight, we al
Knew them well, FOR frequently, II the
weather was fair, they were To be seen
walking 10 the square garden, and were
generally accompanied by dark-com
! pIexioned but pretty little girl, aud liin-
DO, who, though dressed Ike an English
woman, was supposed 70 be an ayah. The
E little Leila, who must have been about
three or four years old when they first
came 10 Number 20, never joined in the
games oftbe other children In the square,
Z bat used to walk with the ladies' aud the
ayah, chatteung away In a tongue which
the wondering nurses supposed to be Hin.
dustsni, and which seemed much more
familiar 10 her than English.
/ At church the Misses Keith were most
regular; and generally on a Sunday
morning Leila accompanied them with
the ayab, who seemed TO follow her like
shadow. In all psroehia charity lists
their names appeared, and the clergymen
were inclined TO ascribe many an anony-
nous donation to their liberality; and
often on a weekday afternoon their car
riage, instead OF taking the direction of
tie park, would convey them TO the
work-house or the hospitsl, where they
were ever most welcome.
/ or their personal appearance we have
hitherto said nothing. Miss Keith, who
might have been thirty when she came to
/ live in our square, was small and insig-
niicant- looking; but ber expression was
mild aud agreeable, aud the tone of her
voice pleasant. Miss Indiana, who must
have been ten years younger than her
sister, was tall aud slight, and her fea.
lures were delicate and beautiful, but
her whole air was that Of person who
had passed through great sorrow; and
the sallowness of her complexio rather
marred Der general effect. Her voice,
more musical than her sisters, was
mournful in its tone, expressive of sort
OF quiet wearincss, and very different
from Anne's cheerful, rapid accents; aud
yet, dissimilsr as they were, the closest
affection united the two. And now, in
stead of letting our neighbors grope, as
we did, in the dark, we will, without
further preamble, admit them into the
secret of Number 20. and tell them the
story as 1t was told us, nearly twenty
years ago.
Anne and Indiana Keith were the only
children of Sir William Keith, who oc-
cupied a high judicial appointment at
Agrs, and had spent the greater part of
his life In India. Soon after the birth of
Indiana, Lady Keith was ordered to re-
turn to EnglSnd, for the sake of her health,
and her two children went with her; and
when, in couple Of years, she died, they
remained there with their grandmother,
till her death deprived them of her home,
and they went out to join their father in
India. At that time Indiana was II years
of age, and her beauty struck and de-
lighted all the English residents of the
city. Her rich coloring was positive
feast to the eye, after the sallow cheeks
of the Agra ladies, and only enhanced
the lustre of her glorious dark eyes; so
that in very short tine the whole gar
rison was at her feet, and all the civil SER
wants were hopelessly in love. The elder
sister was completely thrown In the
shade, and she knew it; but she was
quite free from any feeling of jealousy,
and delighted In the universal admira.
ton that Indiana inspired. OF course,
among her worshipers there was one that
the beauty preferred; and though the
spirit Of coquetry which possessed her,
rendered her sentiments doubtful for a
time, she submitted at last TO become the
betrothed Of Captain Henry Willoughby,
Of her Majesty's One Hundred and Thir-
ty.tirst Regiment of Foot, gallant Off.
Ger and excellent man, who was q uni
versal favorte, and especially approved
by Sir William. Ii II is true bis means
were small, but then the lady's fortune
would amply suffice for both; and as
there was no particular reason for delay,
Indiana consented to the day being fixed
for the marriage.
One morning, as she and her sister
were occupied in looking over number
OF trousseau dresses, just arrived from
Calcutta, she was told that q person
wished to speak with her; and two ma
tive women entered the room, the first
thiekly veiled, the other with her face
uncovered, and carrying baby Of about
year old. To Indians's rather hasty
inquiry Of what they wanted, the fore
most answered by removing her veil and
displaying features which, though dark,
were strikingly handsome; and then, APP
preaching the white, timidly asked 10
broken English, II It was true that the
Bebee was going to marry the soubahdar
WillouRhby,
Indiana hooded assent, with 8 smile aud
blush, and. MeeuAh Baee continued:
Does the English law allow men TO have
two wives?
Good heavens exclaimed lndiaua,
angrlly, what does al this nonsense
meanf while Der calmer sister answered
Englishmen can never take second wife
until the 6rst is dead.
I Ihns. lie NaLae rnnAnlI marry TIE snn-