The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-21


i fool of you, fear.'' Then turning to
her sister. ''Look Anne: contract of
marriage between Henry Willoughby.
Captain in Her Majesty's One Hundred
and-Thirty-first Foot, and Meenah Baee
daughter of Holkar's Dewan, with
some unreliable name or other dated
two years ago at Indore. Do you, mean
to say, and she turned fiercely to the
woman, ''that you consider yourself
married to Capt. Willougbhy!''
Meenah Baee answered timidly in
the affirmative. A thick cloud rested
On Indiana's brow as she again ex-
amined the document.
1t is his signature, she said with
choking voice. ''How is a note l had
from him yesterday it is undoubted-
ly his writing, signed by a clergyman,
too, the Rev. W. JONES'
"There is Henry coming!" exclaim-
ed Anne, who was looking out of the
window.
eve will have him in here,'' said
Indiana, coldly, and gave orders to
servant. "You, Meenah Baee, remain
yelled till I bid you show YOURSELF
Capt. Willoughby entered the room
with a look of deep depression on his
face, which at any other time would
have aroused Indiana's tenderest SYM
pathy but now, without observing it.
she bowed in a manner that at once
startled and COMPOUNDED him, and, be-
fore he could approach her. said
''Capt. Nilloughby, you are come at
moment when your testimony is
wanted. Have you ever seen that per-
son before
At her signal, Aleenah Baee raised
her veil, and NNilloughby started
slightly. as he beheld the beautiful
| face, and answered rather vehemently
| for he fancied that Indiana WAS jeal-
| Gus; - Never. that [ can remember"
''Wo uld it be inconvenient to you to
expert your memory a little - de-
| manded Indiana. in the same cold.
! hard voice, while Meenah Baee. ex-
claiming, It is he ! it is my hus-
band !! threw herself at his feet, en-
| braced his knees. and kissed the hem
Of his garment in her rapture.
Poor Capt. Willoughby, thoroughly
bewildered by this ebullition OF tender
ness on the part of a perfect stranger,
and by his betrothed S sudden change
of manner, and also oppressed by the
sad news that he had come to COM
| municate, could not speak for q while.
and his silence confirmed Indiana in
her suspicious of his guilt. At length
he replied: Il cannot recollect hay
ing ever seen her before. and what she
has to do with you and me, on my
honor, cannot conceive
g Your conscience should tell yOu.'
said Indiana. $50 you persist in dis
avowing her!'
But Henry Willoughby's patience
could last no longer, and, without
noticing the last question, he exclaim-
ed: "What all this means, Indiana,
you best know; but I confess it ap-
pears to me very dull jest, especially
under the present circumstances. I
have sorrow enough already without
your adding to it. You, from whom |
hoped for comfort - he added with
emotion. After moment he recov-
cred himself, and went on: MY reg
iment is just ordered to march, at a
! moments notice, against the Sikhs,
and we start this evening""
Indiana s face grew pale, but other
wise she gave no sign of emotion, as
she handed him the paper and said:
cit may appear jest to you. but GER
tainly is none to me. Read that
Willoughby read it as desired, and
then said: s. never signed this paper.
1t is true I was at Indore about the
time when this marriage is said to
have taken place but, surely, Indi-
| ana. you cannot believe such story
about me. Oh, Anne! she cannot
really believe it?''
Miss Keith shook her head sorrow.
fully, but did not speak and Indiana,
without looking at him, said +: Nee
nah Baee, can you swear to this man
as your husband!" and the woman
unhesitatingly answered ':yes.''
On being further questioned by
Anne, she related that her husband
had been obliged to leave 1ndore a few
days after the marriage, but she had
lived on there until the birth of her
child, when her father, in ignorance
of it all, and of her change in faith,
twas anxious to give her in marriage to
one Of her own nation and to escape
his importantly she had fled to Agra,
and whilst making inquiries respecting
her husband, she had seen him on pa
rade, and hearing that he was about
to be married, had come forward to
assert her own claims.
In answer to this Capt. Willoughby
could give nothing but an emphatic
denial; but he owned that appearances
were against him; and Sir William.
whom Annie had summoned to the
conference, looked disturbed, and
said that it was just as well that
Willoughby should have to leave Agra
now, before the story got abroad. He
would cause the matter to be thorough