Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-06-22


the sisters piece of paper, which In
diana took and opened and perused
with an angry frown, though as she
finished 1t she laughed and said "rhis'
is some stupid joke, meant to brighten
me. Somebody has been naakingtA
fool of you, fear Then turning to
her sister. ''LoOk Anne: a contract of
marriage between Henry Willoughby,
Captain in Her Majesty 5 One. Hundred.
and Thirty first Foot, and l1eenah 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 fercely to the
woman, ''that you consider yourself
married to Capt. Willougbhy?'
Meenah Baee answered timidly in
the affirmative. A thick cloud rested
Oh 1ndiana's brow as she again ex.
amined the document.
1t is his signature, she said with
choking voice. Is How is q note ! had
from him yesterday it is l,ndoubted.
rs b w1 kav 7iens@ y clergyman
"There is Henry coming!" exclaim.
ed Anne, who was looking ont of the
window. 'J't.. ~ -,
1--WE will have him in here" said
Indiana, coldly, and gave orders to a
servant. "You, Meenah Baee, remain
yelled till bid you show yourself
Capt. Willoughby entered the room
with a look of deep depression on his
face, which ut any other time would
have aroused Indiana's tenderest sym.
pathy but now, without observing it,
she bowed in manner that at once
startled and COMPOUNDED him, and, be-
fore he could approach her, said {:
"Capt. WillOughby, you are come at
moment when your testimony is
wanted. Have you ever seen that per-
son BEFORE ........
At her signal, Meenah Baee raised
her veil, and Willoughby started
slightly, rs he beheld the beautiful
face, and answered rather vehemently
for he fancied that Indiana was ,jeal.
Gus "Nevef, that I can remember .
"Would it be inconyenient to you to
expert your memory little!' de-
manded Indiana. in the same cold,
hard voice, while Meenah Baee, ex-
claiming, cit 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 ebulliti0n of tender.
ness on the part of 4 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 while,
and his silence confirmed Indiana in
her suspicious of his guilt. At length
he replied: II cannot recollect hav.
ing ever seen her before, and what she
has to do with you and me, on my
honor, l cannot conceive
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 'sWhat all this means, Indiana,
you best know but I confess it ap'
pears to me a very dull jest, especially
under the present circumstances.
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
1T may appear jest to you, but GER
tainly is none to me. Read that
WillOughby read it as desired, and
then said O. never signed this paper
1t is true was 1T lndore 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 "Mee
nah Baee, can you swear to this mar
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 Indore few
days after the marriage, but she hat
lived on there until the birth of hel
child, when her father, in Ignorance
of it all, and of her change in faith
was anxious to give her in marriage tt
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 .abou
to be married, had come forward II
assert her own claims.
In answer, to this Capt. GWilloughb!
could give nothing but an emphati,
denial; but he owned that appearance
were against him; and Sir William
whom Annie had summoned to tn,
conference, looked disturbed, ant
said that it was just as we'll tina
Willoughby should have to leave Ayr;
now, before the story got abroad. III
would cause the matter to be thorough
ly sifted, and tn witnesses sough
out whose names were appended t.
the document, and for the. present
anyhow, the engagement had better
be considered. at an end.
| Capt. :Willoughby, whose pride wa
deeply wounded at his word bein,
doubted, acquiesced, and approached
Indiana to bid her farewell; but hi
offered hand was rejected, and,- haugh
tily bowling, she turned away, ant
when that evening the One undred
and Thirty-first left Agra, in higl
spirits at the prospect of an encounte
with the Sikhs, perhaps the saddles
heart among them was that, of Henr,
Willoughby, whose only hope now wa
that he might fall in battle, and tina
Indiana might repent her injustice
But he was disappointed, and passes
through all the battles of Mo0dkee
Ferozehau, and Soubraou, without ;
Isscratch; and though risking his life o.