The Portland daily press., 1880-10-04
THE PRESS.
CONCLUDED FROM SATURDAY.
A Trip--and What Followed.
Temple Bari

Temple Bari
Come. Tell me something about them,
for if we are to be there few weeks, it is
better to be forearmed by toreknowledge."
Why do his lips tighten under his black
mustache and his eyes tighten in way she
has never seen before, ere he answers?
Its mixed lot. There's the viceroy,
the Chief and all their staffs, with and with
out wives sorts; many soldiers Oh leave;
young wives and old ones without their hus-
bands; young men without wives; but few
girls. Every one lives in glass house, yet
throws pebbles all day long at his or her
neighor. Can you conceive anything more
provocative of peace and pleasant tales?''
''You frighten me! And you went there
a second timer'
What evil genius delays the instant con-
fession which then made would have saved
the sorrow that resulted from his silence as
he pondered for minute how to word the
history of what had already cost him so
much pain and self-denial?
Alas! Just as he takes her hand, and,
saying ''Gadys3' is on the point of telling
her all, Lis sisters voice calls mol! Nol3'
and the opportunity once lost is gone be-
yond redemption.
As soon as the Oatleighs have settled in
their house, which commands on one side
view of hundreds of miles of the snowy
Himalayas, and on the other looks across
the Punjab as far as the eye can reach, they
are reminded of the Indian custom which
obliges the new conner to call on the resi-
dents, who show their good taste or discrim
ination by returning or ignoring the at
tempt to be familiar.
The Simla world has put them at bound
on the pinnacle of social fame by a vote
unanimous.
Lady Oatleigh herself, young and of
beauty only just surpassed by the yet fairer
charms of stately Gladys, turned the heads
of all the men the day after their arrival, as
they talked along the Mall.
Every woman of apprecative taste, and
there are many, was gratifed to hear that
the tall and handsome stranger was of late
a guardsman, and therefore not likely to be
unobservant of the claims of the beat SeGe
on his admiration.
But in Gladys the interest of all was con-
centrated. Tall, fair and beautiful, with
that indescribable air of power which be-
longs to one who has reigned in the most
fastidious society in the world, on that
point. she created a turore which asserted
itse at once.
''The lord sahib," himself no mean judge,
sets the seal of his approval by devoting
himself as much as he can to her when. the
Oatleighs dine at the vce-regal residence.
''The chief follows suit, and the next even
ing at the Band the Simla world endorses
their verdict
The Indian matron has no unworthy jeal-
ousy of the unmarried, for the best of rea-
sons.
Eyes, my dear! If you believe me, he
sat beside her all the evening, and she took
it as matter of course! l don't wonder
though. She is quite the best looking girl
l have ever scen,' says one occupant Of a
jampan to another, as they proceed along
the Mall, beside each other.
$50 London has decreed, they say. You
know why they came out here"'
''No; heard they were tired of Scotland,
and tried this as a new sensation"
Nonsense, my dear! Dolly Manners
was not to be caught off-hand, so she got
her brother to bring them all out in his
yacht. wonder they wefa not frizzled to
death in the Red Sea-" says gossip number
two, with malice propense-for she is well
aware of the deep interest her friend takes
in the fascinating Hussar.
'Whatv' almost screams Mrs. Blanque,
as she springs to her feet in the sedan-like
chair, much to the discontinue of her bear
ers. "He came out with them! Where is
he then?" and in her surprise and excite
ment the undeniably handsome grass-widow
firms, if it were necessary, all that her
friend has long suspected.
''Oh, of course he is with his regiment at
Umballa. He could not get leave at once
after coming out from England, but he will
be with them shortly The chief would do
anything for a glance of her bedur yeur,"
answers Mrs. Exewise, with the assurance
of the accomplished romancer.
That evening young Faretop of the Rifles
finds his goddess more diticile and erigeGnte
than he has known her since she cast her
siren glamor over his too impressionable
heart.
81 am tired, Bertie,' she pleads in ans
wer to his reproaches at her being so dis
trdite, as they return from the Band in the
rapidly fading twilight.
But my leave is nearly up, and 1 don't
know when or where we may meet again."
whispers the infatuated boy in the hoarse
accents of first great passion
$50 much the better for you,,,, she an
swers, with rare touch of compassion for
her last victim. "You will think of me all
the more kindly if you go before you have
begun to be tired of mer'
GAS f.
''When do you start?' she interrupts,
with sudden change to indifference in her
tone, which acts like a douche of the iciest
water on the feelings with which he has
seized her hand.
Dropping it as if he were stung, the poor
lad turns away his head in uncomfortable
emotion and is silent-as the songless wood
through which they wend their way to her
home.
"Bertie!' she says, simply But in the
word there is such world of meaning-it
calls up such memories, short though they
be, that in the sudden revulsion he is her
slave more than ever. "Would you please
me?''
''With my life." He answers her with
the fervent earnestness of youth, and, as his
eyes meet hers in the rising moonlight, she
feels he means it to the letter.
'sYou will do what ask?''
"On my honor"
"Then go Tomorrow"
For moment she thinks he will fall, as
he staggers from her side. The blow is SO
cruel, so unexpected. But his manhood
answers to the call he makes instinctvey
upon it, and though his face blanches and
his lips quive-. strangely he answers
brayely:
81 have promised rashly; bnt, since you
will it, l shall go. Can do nothing for
you more?'
Does no tenderdess pierce her heart as she
looks into the fair boyish face and sees its
workings, ill-concealed emotions, while he
accepts the death warrant he so truly reads?
"Yes; you will pass through Umballa,
Captain Manners, friend of mine has just
come out from England with something l
am very anxious to have. Will you give
him note from me about it, as l believe h
is not coming up here?' she adds hastily,
recognizing the dangerous ground she
treads.
Certainly" he answers dreamily, as he
wonders what this world will be for him
henceforth. SIS there nothing else?''
"No," she said with unwonted softness
''Not just now. Come tomorrow before
you go, and we will then make our adieux."
They have reached the door. The Jam
pants stand aside, and the chivalrous lad
leads her in as if she were indeed all his
fancy paints her.
"By Jover mutters Manners, few days
after this, as he reads letter he has found
on coming in from his evening gallop. 'The
plot thickens quicker than l expected. [
knew of course she would be there. and
that had better keep out of it at present,
but when it comes to this-phewr' and his
brows knit as he reads again the impas-
stoned words which the unconscious messen-
ger has left.