The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-07-10

her sister: "Look, Anne; contract Of
marriage between Henry Willoughby,
captain in her maiesty's One Hundred
and Thirty-frst 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 fercely to the
woman, "that you consider yourself
married to Captain Willoughbyi"
Meenah Baee answered timidly in the
affirmative. A thick cloud rested on In.
diana's brow as she again examined the
document.
at is his signature" she said, with a
choking voice. Here is 4 note I had
from him yesterday; it is undoubtedly
his writing, signed by clergyman, too,
the Rev. W. Jones'"
"There is Henry coming!" o1claim-
cd Anne, who was looking out OF the
window.
"We will have him in here," said In
diana, coldly, and gave orders to SER
want. "Yon, Meenah Baee, remain
yelled till l bid you show yourself"
Captain Willoughby entered the room
with look Of deep depression on his
face, which at anyother time would have
reused Indiana's tenderest sympathy;
but now, without observing it, she bow
cd in q manner that at once startled and
confounded him, and before he could
approach her, said Captain Willough-
by, you are come at moment when
your testimony is wanted. Have you
ever seen that person before?"
At her signal, Meenah Baee raised her
veil, and Willoughby started slightly, us
lie beLeld tho beautiful face, and au-
swercd, rather vehemently, for he fan.
cied that Indiana was jealous: ''Ncver,
that I can remember"
"Would it be inconvenicnt to you TO
exert your memory a little I" demanded
Indiana, in the same cold, hard voice,
while Meenah Baee, exclaimiug: ait is
lie | it is my husband !" threw herself at
his feet, embraced his knees, and kissed
the hem OF his garment in her rapture.
Poor Captain Willoughby, thoroug hly
bewildered by this ebulIition Of tender-
ness on the part OF u perfect stranger,
and by his betrothed's sudden change
Of manner, and also oppressed by tho
sad nows he Ind come to communicate,
could not speak for o while, and his
silence confirmed Indiana in her suspi-
cions Of his guilt. At length he re-
piled: az cannot recollect having ever
seen her before, and what she has to do
with you and me, on my honor, l can
not conceive"
"Your conscience should tell you,"
said Indiana. $50 you persist in dis
avowing herl"
But Henry Willoughby's patience
could last no longer, and without MOTTO
ing the last question, he exclaimed:
" What oil this means, Indiana, you
best know, but I confess it appears to
mo very dull jest, especially under the
present circumstances. have sorrow
enough already without your adding to
it. You, from whom hoped comfort !"
lie added, with emotion. After q mo-
ment he recovered himself, and went on:
" My regiment is Just ordered to march,
ut moments notice, against the Slkhs,
and we start this evening"
Indiana's cheek grew pale, but other
wise she gave no sign OF emotion, as she
handed him the paper, and said: at
may appear Jest to you, but it Ger
tainly Is none to me. Read that"
Willoughby read it, as desired, and
then said: :" l 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 q story about ME. On,
Anne | she cannot really believe it I"
Miss Keith shook her heal sorrow.
fully, but did not speak; and Indiana,
without looking ut him, said: " Nee
nah Daee, can you swear that this is
your husband !" and the woman unLesi.
tatingly answer d Yes"
On being further questioned by Anne,
she related that her husband had been
obliged to leave Inlore few days after
their marriage, but that she had lived
on there till after the birth Of her child,
when her father, in ignorance OF it all,
and Of her change OF faith, was anxious
to give her in marriage to one OF her own
nation; aud to escape his importantly,
4, he hal fled to Agra; aud whilst making
Inquiries respecting her husband, she
had seen him on parade, and hearing
that he was about to bo married, had
come forward to assert her own claims.
LII answer to all this, Captain Will
loughby could give nothing but m en-
phatic denial; but he owuedthat appear
auces were against him; and Sir Viii
linn, whom Anne hal summoned to the
conference, looked disturbed, and said
that it was just rs well that WillouShby
should leavo Agra now, before the story
got abroad. lie would cause the story
to be thoroughly sifted, and tho wit
ncsscs sought ont whose names were ap'
pended to tho document, and for the
pi esent, anyhow, the engagement had
better he considered Us at IN end.
Captain Willoughby, whose pride was
deeply wounded Mt his word being
doubted, acquiesced, md approached
Irdiaaa to bid her farewell. but his
offered hand WIS rejected; andhaughtily
bowing she turned away; and when that
evening the Ono Hundred and Thirty.
first left Agrn, i'll high spirits, perhaps
tho saddest heart among them was that
Henry Willoughby.
After willoughhy left her fathers
house, Indiana still preserved tho same
stolid composure; her pride was deeply
hurt ut tho i:.dignity that had been
offered her, and yot, with strahge incon'
sistepcy, shc insisted on Meenah Baee's
taking up her abodo in tho house, and
showed the greatest kindness toward
her and her child.
Perplexed by her sisters conduct,