The Mineral argus., 1884-11-06

/ NAAAC INNA&IAN AA0
strewn around in the widest p%rofuslon.
The hands of the clock moved slowly
on, Waiting is always annoying, o 1t
was most provoking. But just as he
was debating whether to go or stay the
door of the inner room was opened, and
q pale, fair, faded woman of about Al
made her appearance. The general
advanced with alow bow.
"How do you do, Gen. Biddulph? 2
she said, in Ian guild tones, extending a
thin, delicate hand. 81 am so sorry to
keep You waiting. but / was detained by
Dessa, !" (sighing faintly). The general
FASTENED to push an easy chair for
ward. 81 am really quite glad you
have come" continued Mrs. Comyns,
sinking into the chair, and drawing the
shawl closely around her, for she IS
altogether beyond me-"
care you alluding to Miss DalyY'
asked the general hastily.
Eyes, " sighed the lady. out of
friendship to Maj. DAILY 1 undertook
the charge of his daughter; but 1 was
totally unprepared for her wild temper
and ways.
"She is high-spirited?T he suggest
ed feebly.
every" Mrs. Comyns replied dryly.
"My health is so bad 1 am quite mcom-
petent to manage her"
"May L not see herr" asked the gen.
eral, after a pause.
"She will be here in a minute. L
daresay you heard some sounds of
quarreling when you came in. Yes, /
thought SO; that was Dessa giving her
ayah a lessor in fact pulling out the
poor creatures hair in handouts" The
general uttered an exclamation of dis
may. Il think it is only right to let
you know what she is" the lady con
tinued, holding out her hands to the
fire, though to him the room was in
sufferably hot, 'unless you are pre-
pared; perhaps you are. Has Maj.
DAILY told you anything about her?"
The general was reluctantly compelled
to reply in the negative.
"Just as l expected; he is too lazy to
do anything of the sort. My own
opinion is that he is too delighted to get
rid of her for a time. L am not sur.
prised."
But she is so beautifully" said the
general, apologetically, the picture of
his visionary ward rising clearly before
him.
Mrs. Comyns turned her head aside.
"She is a trihe dark, was her reply; and
somehow the general traced suppressed
merriment In her tones.
"She is a brunette, then? be asked,
%anxiously.
Mrs. Comyns laughed softly. "My
dear Ger. Biddulph," she said, looking
at him for one moment, 81 see you are
not an courant with the state of things.
May / ask if you remember the late Mrs.
DAILY 2"
~ have no personal recollection, GER
tainly; but I know her to have been a
beautiful and amiable woman" he re-
turned promptly.
"That vas the first wife; [ mean the
second"
"The secondp repeated the general,
blankly.
at is a most extraordinary story.
Major DAILY, in one of his eccentric
moods, wandered up country, fell, i'll,
and was carefully nursed and tended by
a native Of inferior rank. With
zeal worthy of a better cause, Major DAILY
sought her out when he recovered, and
he married her"
Mrs Comyns' soft low voice died
away. The general stood silent as a
statue. Then this girl" he said, at
length, "is-is"--
BLACK" observed Mrs. Comyns,
"black as your hat on the chimney. A
sound of rapid movement came from
the inner room, the door was burst open,
and before the general had time to re-
cover himself a girl stood in the open
ing. "Ah, here is Dessa. Dessa, this
is your guardian come and shake hands
with him"
S~peechless with astonisment and vex
alton, the poor man gazed with horror
on the figure before him. Squat, short,
dressed in the most unearthly garb,
with huge gold rings dancing in her
black ears, and innumerable silver ban
giles shining on her dusky arms, stood
the beauty of his dreams, the h~eiress,
his ward. He advanced feebly, with
o~utstretched hand. The girls face ex-
banded into a broad grin, her white
even teeth cleaning like pearls in their
ebony setting"
"She is shy" said Mrs. Comyns, with
a smile still lowering around the cor
ners of her mouth. "You will be bet
ter friends by and by"
Murmuring some incoherent fare
well, the general seized his hat, and
hastily made his escape from the room,
and out of the house. He strobe home
overwhelmed with the horrible discov-
cry. Modification, anger and vexed
pride surged in his heart, and he longed
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