The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-06-23

versal favorite, and especially approved
of by Sir William. 1t is true his means
were small, sbut then the lady's fortune
would amply suffice both; and, as there
was no particular reason for delay, In.
diana consented to the day being fixed
for the marriage. 0ir.r itr sar .aI .0,
One morning, as she and her sister
were occupied in looking over number
of trousseau dresses just arrived from
Calcutta, she was told that a person
wished to speak with her, and two native
women entered the room, the first
thickly yelled, the other with her face
uncovered, and carrying baby of about
year old. To Indiana'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, approaching the white beauty,
timidly asked, in broken English, if it
was true that the Bebee was going to
marry the Soubahdar Willoughby.
Indiana nodded assent, with smile
and blush, and Meenah Baee contin-
ued, "Does the English law allow men
to have two wives2"
"Good heavens |" exclaimed Indiana,
angrily, "what does all this nonsense
mean {" while her calmer sister answered,
"Englshmen can never take second
wife till the first is dead"
"Then the Bebee mustn't marry the
Soubahdar Sahib;" and she handed to
the sisters piece OF paper, which In
diana took and opened, and perused
with an angry frown, though, as she fin
ished it, she laughed, and said, "This
is some stupid joke meant to frighten
me. Somebody has been making a 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
unreadable name or other, dated two
years ago at Indore. Do you mean to
say" and she turned fiercely to the wo-
man, "that you consider yourself mar
ried to Capt. Willoughby9"
Meenah Baee answered timidly in the
affirmative. A thick cloud rested on
Indiana's brow, as she again examined
the document.
cit is his signature" she said, with
choking voice. Here is note I had
from him yesterday it is undoubtedly
his writing-signed by q clergyman, the
Rev. w. Jones"
"There is Henry coming" exclaimed
Anne, who was looking out of the win
dow.
"We will have him in here" said In
diana, coldly, and gave orders to q SER
want. "You, Meenah Baee, remain
yelled till bid you show yourself"
Capt. Willcughby entered the room
with look of deep depression on his
face, which at any other time would
have reused Indiana's tenderest SYM
pathy but now, without observing it,
she bowed in a manner that at once
startled and confounded him, and, be-
fore he could approach her, said !:
"Capt. Willoughby, you are come at q
moment when your testimony 10 wanted.
Have you ever seen that person before9"
At her signal Meenah Baee raised her
veil, and Willoughby started slightly,
as he beheld the beautiful face, and an
swered, rather vehemently, for he fan
cied that Indiana was jealous, "Never,
that can remember.
"Would it be inconvenient to you to
exert your memory ittle2" demanded
Indiana, in the same cold, hard voice !;
while Meenah Baee, exclaimed, cit is
he it is my husband !" threw herself at
his feet, embraced 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 perfect stranger,
and by his betrothed's sudden change Of
manner, and also oppressed by the sad
news that he had to communicate, could
not speak for a while, and his silence
confirmed Indiana in her suspicious Of
his guilt. At length he replied, 81 can
not recollect having ever seen her be-
fore, and what she has to do with you
and me, on my honor cannot conceive. I"
"Your conscience should tell you" I"
said Indiana. $50 you persist in dis
avowing herr"
But Henry Willoughby's patience
could last no longer, and, without no.
ticing the last question, he exclaimed,
"What all this means, Indiana, you best
know but confess it appears to me q
very dull jest, especially under the pres
ent circumstances. have sorrow enough
already without your adding to it. You,
from whom 1 hoped for comfort" he
added, with emotion. After moment
he recovered himself, and went on, "My
regiment is just ordered to march, at a
moments notice, against the Sikhs, and
we start this evening""
Indiana cheek grew pale, but other
wise she gave no sign of emotion, as she
handed him the paper, and said, "It
may appear jest to you, but it certain
ly is none to me. Read that"
Willoughby read it as desired, and
then said, az never signed this paper.
1t is true / was at Indore about the time
when this marriage is said to have taken
place but surely, Indiana, you cannot
believe such a story about me2 o,
Anne she cannot really believe it2"
Miss Keith shock her head SORROW
fully, but did not speak /; and Indiana,
without looking at him, said, "Meenah
Baee, can you swear to this man as your
husband 2" and the woman unhesitating
ly answered, eyes"
On being further questioned by Anne,
she related that her husband had been
obliged to leave Indore few days after
the marriage, but that she had lived
on there till the birth of her child, when
her father, in ignorance of it all, and OF
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