Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-05-24
till gun-lire, when, Of course, the house
would be opened.

chairs IN England; but IN Dr. and Mrs
Morton's time-fOr know, o reader, thai
my story is founded on fact-they were
except in the evening drive, the most
general mode of carriage. In the yer.
andah of every house one or more might
always be seen, with their bearers al
hand, ready for instant service by day
or night.
1t was past O'clock when Dr. Nor
ton heard coming down the compound
the moaning, monotonOus cry of the
bearers who carried their mistress to
her home. Placing the palanQuiu in the
Verandah, they called loudly for admis-
sion, striking the door with their hands
in no small wonder that it had not, as
usual, been thrown wide open at their
approach. Expectation of the coming
triumph had driven sleep from his pill
low and he now turned his head with a
grim smile, for his revenge was at hand
the little rebel should learn lesson
never to be forgotten. .'......
To the bearers voices was soon added
that of their MISTRESS Indignantly, en-
treatingly, ceaxingly she called in turn.
She reminded her husband that their
verandah was overlooked from the road.
Let me in, beg, l entreat Of you, Will
liam. 1t will be gun-fre in couple of
hours, and if seen here l shall be the
laughing stock of the whole station. o.
William dear, de let me inp'
To which her husband answered stern
ly, I'VE will not rest under the same
roof this night" and he chuckled to
himself, for he only intended to keep
her waiting few minutes.
For nnmpnt Mrc MnrtNn caaa,ad
irresolute; then having said a few words
to the head bearer, she cried aloud in,a
passionate burst of sobs, IL will die
sooner than submit to such humilia-
tion;" and, followed by her servants, she
rushed away.
There was long wailing cry-a
shriek-a heavy splash. Good Heavens
could it be-could it be possible that his
impetuous wife had thrown herself into
the we'll? Hark to those wild cries as
the bearers run hither and tbIther with
loud ordinations and calls for help.
ParalyZed with fear, the husband could
with difficulty open the door; then rush
ing out be would have flung himself in =
to the still ripping water, in Il mad at
tempt at rescue, had not bearer hung
upon bis arm, as, in broken English, he
tried to explain that his mistress was
safe.
"Then where is she? What is all this
row about? Who has fallen in? What
are you all yelling for?"
For Mem Sahib tell, Throw big stone
down WE'LL then too much bobbery
make: run this way, that way-plenty
great tamasha. Mem Sahib make big
cry, then Mem run away"
| DIR. Morton knew himself outwitted,
for doubtless his wife had taken advan-
tage of the door she had thus succeeded
in opening. All, well, though vexed at
the trick he was by no means sorry that
the conflict was at end, and that they
should both pass what remained of the
night in peaceful rest. He dismissed
the bearers, and returned to the house,
but to find it shutl the door was closed,
and obstinately resisted all efforts to
open it; whsn voice from tie window
from which he had himself so lately
spoken said, "Ws shall not sleep under
the same roof tonight" The doctor,
with uneasy laugh, first treated the sit
uatien as silly joke, then expOstulated,
then stOrmed; but all without avail or
even notice. He called to the ayah to
open the door: but her answer was that
she was locked in Mems room, and Mem
had the key under her pillow. He
stamped at first with anger, but soon
with cold, for his night pyjamas offered
Slight protection against the chill morn
ing air. At length seeing the palanquin,
he got into it. The lovely cloak was ly-
Ing on the cushions; he drew the head
over his head, its delicate hues in strik-
ing contrast to his sunburned face aud
dishevelled hair, and dragging it round
his broad shoulders with an angry tug,
settled himself to sleep.
The gun had fred, the assembly"
sounded, but still the doctor slept on.
Ner was he aroused by the sound of
horses hoofs as bevy of ladies, unes-
corted except by servants, rode up to the
door. They would be joined il the ride
by their husbadds after parade and then
after final round of the course, assem-
BILE at the house of one or the other of
their party to chotahazzarie and live
ly discussion of absent friends.
In much surprise they waited a min
ute or 80 before the closed and silent
house; then, with significant glances, ,ene
after the other slis from her sandle, de-
termined to solve the mystery. All,
there it isl A little corner of the cloak
worn the night before by Mrs. Merton
peeped out of the closed door of the pa
lanquin; twas evident that the poor lit
tie thing had been obliged to seek that
shelter. What shamep They would
speak to her, they would comfort her,
and oh, what laugh they would have
against her! They grouped themselves
round the palanquin. bending low to
peer in; and one on either side drew
back the sliding doors as-graeious-
DR.. Morton, still half asleep, slowly
opened his eyes. Most effectually was
he wakened by the startling exclama-
tion with which the visitors hastily re-
treated to their horses, which they were
just in the act of mounting as the door
was thrown open, and Mrs. Morton ap-
peared in her riding-habit. They imme
diately rode away, to the infinite salts
faction of the recumbent but impatient
doctor, who was in mortal fear that
fresh complications nigh arise through
his unexplained absence from duty
bringing messages of inquiry.
At the meeting of husband and wife
we would rather not play fly in the cor
ner, but take for granted that there was
the usual amount Of tears, recrimina
tiOn and Mysteries, in which-for this
occasion only-a torn and and crumpled
fabric of pink and silver teok an active
part; the sight of it from time to time
stimulating Mrs. Morton's grief and ell
oquence, while her husband, whe, smart
ing under the expose of the morning, had
entered on the fray with unusual spirit,
soon found himself vanquished, limp
and utterly dismaysd. as his own incon-
sistent, tyrannical and selfish conduct
was contrasted-not for the first time
with the patient endurances of his long
suffering wife.
Neither Of this nor of the reconcilia-
ton that followed in natural sequence,
shall we make record; but we must of
the pleasing fact that, at the very next
concert. Mrs. Morton. leaning on her