The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-01
A STORY OF INDIA.
[London Society.l
CHAPTER I.

uary day. The sun was sinking lower and
lower over Cuchuahigar, but, as if
unwilling to depart without final burst
Of splendor, lit the waters of the lake,
which lies on the outskirts of that small
station, with dazzling brilliancy. Defy
ing the pencil of the painter, the pen of
the poet, to depict them, the erich col
ors mingle and glow; above, they melt
through every rainbow hue, from the
faintest shades of opal, blue, and green,
to the deepest crimson and violet; below,
In the sheeney ripple, they fade from the
crimson to the blue again; islands of
gold and purple float in the sea of light,
and across it a dark low-lying belt of
land stretches, immovable and unchang-
ing. To the left the land widens out
towards lis; and among the rich Indian
foliage we can see large palace-like build
ings or low white bugalows surrounded
by bright flower gardens which reach here
and there to the waters edge. Behind
us lies Cuchuahigar; sand stretching
from the shores of the lake on our right
Is large expanse of unshaded fluffy
ground, bounded, on the farther side
from the waters. By trees and jungles,
and merging in the distance in the dark
belt of land that divides the sky and
water before us.
This fluffy stretch is "the Course" and
its monotony is unbroken, save perhaps
by the dusky half-clad figures of few
'dhobies or washerwomen, who, with
their miserable hastly-looking donkeys,
wend their way YEARLY from the water
ALI is still and at rest here, bathed in a
sleepy glow of warmth and light. The
Tipping waters murmur softly among the
reeds near the shore; the branches of a
few trees near, bent by the lightest of
breezes, stoop softly to kiss their graceful
shadows in the waters; no harsh sound
reaches us, and even the hum of the
bazar has soothing influence. The far
away murmur is suggestive, however, of
the hustle and stir going on in the streets
behind us, and our fancy can picture
item not unpleasantly, safe from this
racket and din.
There we Can fancy the dark skinned,
sparcely clad men and women, who move
in crowds to and fro, bargaining and
chattering with those they meet, or with
those who sit cross-legged in open booths
behind their outspread wares. We can
picture the young women, carrying on
their heads baskets or earthen vessels
filed with water or native food, their
bright black eyes glancing swiftly to
the right or left beneath the well-bal-
anced burden as they move erect and
firm along; Or old filthy-looking hags,
with wizened faces and Indifferent gaze,
who sit, with their knees huddled up to
their chins, smoking their hookahs with
calm stolidity; and here and there, per-
haps, were richly-clad natives, who strut
with pompous pharisaical air among the
throng. Creaking native CARTS drawn by
dull, heavy-eyed bullocks, are jostled un-
tremendously about; jangling springless
vehicles hurry recklessly along; but,
above all and through all, little naked,
miserable children creep and squat
about, regardless alike of the feet of man
Or beast.
From our quiet retreat we can see the
water-carriers, characteristic of the hour,
come to the bend of the lake, where the
river that flows through it issues forth
again; fill their unweildly-looking bags,
and trot away to sprinkle their refreshing
burden on the hot dusty roads: and loud
er and louder, as the sun sinks lower,
drowning the hum of voices, there comes
from the the bazars the sound of jangling
bell and creaking wheels, for the Offices
are closing for the day, and the natives
in their noisy vehicles are streaming
homewards.
Gradually the sharper sound of horses
hoofs and the even rumblingof well-oiled
wheels, like the tones of some low, clear
music, can be distinguished among the
confusion of harsher notes; and carriages,
breaking on the stiffness, curve round
the bend of the river, and sweep along
by the shores of the lake.
In one of the first Of these carriages
it two elderly ladies and Young girl.
"Dear me" CALCULATES the elder and
stouter:ofithe two, who reclined luxurious
ly in the back seat of the carriage, "I
told you, Emily, that the clocks could
not be right; see how high the sun still
is."
"Ah, we'll, what does it matterg an
swers the other, listlessly; "and there are
some others and our own party here, at
any rate"
eyes, there are are few" rejoins the
first speaker. "The course will be lively
tonight, l dare say; they say there are a
great many in for this meet"
The carriage swept on by the shore of
che lake; then, turning across the turf,
returned by another way near the en-
trance of the course again, As that in
which the three ladies sat passed by on
d second tour, party Of riders issued
from the road and came swiftly towards
It.
81 hear riders coming, surely; who are
they, Cissyp queried Mr.. Campbell,
mother of the young girl who sat facing
her. and sister Of the third occupant OF
the carriage, Mrs. Ricart.
Cissy Campbell leant lightly forward,
and, glancing at the new corners, an
swered softly:
"Some Of Mrs. Stevenson's party,
think, mamma; they have mustered a