Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-04-12
THE GRASS WIDOW OF NYNEE
TAI.

Mrs Cleather was by far the prettiest and gem
orally the most attractive among the whole
army OF grass widows to be found In gay and
Rlddy Nynee Tai. the hill station of the " W
T. India. Naturally. as is always the case in
'hls merry world we live in. being beautiful
attractive and altogether charming. she won the
hearts and admiration of most of the stronger
sex and the envy. hatred and malice of the
weaker. That was only to be expected it is
! the way of the world, and it would have been
altogether out of the common if it had been
otherwise.
I Admirers she had many, though it would have
: been hard to pick out among the multitude Gun
less one was behind the scenes who was more
favored than the rest. She distributed her at
tentIOns equally among them all-at least, so
far as the eye could see; and riding one after
noon with this one, rowing on the lake with
another. or dancing with a third nobody was
quite able to fix on any one in particular WHOM
they could tell of as her own distinctive bow
WOW. and whom they could set themselves to
manufacture stories and scandals about
Five months of the Nynee ] al season had now
gone. and pretty Mrs. Ceather had managed to
/ PASS unscathed through all the fiery accusations
OF the hest of scandal mongers anG yossipers of
that festive AnClC-lndian community; until
quite lately. when she had evinCnd sOmewha
greater paFtiality for one OF her staff and set all
tongues going at once.
Mind YOU" said Mrs. Allison to Mrs Bar
Eard one afternoon. I've heard queer stories
about this young and innoccnt-looking Mrs
Cleafher; not that believe them: still. there is
no smoke without fire. you know"
Quite So" responds Mrs. Barnard In her
squeaky voice: and Mrs. Dawson tells ne she
saw two people very like Mrs. Cleather and Cap
tam Fem on the lake last night at eleven
o'clock"
Dear me, And all this time her husband
shaving away in the plains."
Yes: and you know they've been very much
together OF late: they say he is always up at her
house every morning about ten or eleven. and
remains there the best part of the tiay'
AN. IT : crying shame" says Mrs. Allison,
| for such scandals to be allowed to go on in
public like this: why does not Mr. Cieather come
up and look after his wife,
We'll. suppose. poor man. he can't get away
! from his duties in the plains. but | think some
enc ought to warn him OF the way his young wife
Is going on
Yes, and if only knew him bit better
I'd do 50 myself just out of pure Christian
charity.
But what could one tell him? You see there
Is rs Yet no direct evidence OF anything exactly
wrong"
No. true. my dear but if this Kind of thing
goes on much longer there will be- mark nv
word The truth must come to light some
day.
Meanwhile pretty Mrs. Cleather, the pride of
the "bOW-WUws and the envy of her sex Dur
sued the even tenor of her ways utterly calious
OF what people thought or said about her-a
friend of everybody who knew ner well, and
Gould appreciate her pleasant manners and con-
VerSati0n. and the enemy, though not Of her
own making. OF others who knew her but slight
ly or not at all.
lie season was on the wane at Nynee Tai
Inc rains were over and once more the lake
shOne forth in al! its former glory and the over
md
moss. with which its banks were surrounded
made the whole more like q picture in farmland
than reality In the hills of Northern India
Every one was making the most OF the last few
weeks that We're left of the season. and dances,
theatrlcaS. picnics and designations of all sorts
crowded one on the top of the other day after
day Mrs. Cleather was everywhere and the
charm and spirit of every ball or picnic she
went to- Certainly she did give people faint
excuse Tor taking. as Captain Fem latterly was
never absent from her side. and had these last
few weeks evidently taken his place as chief OF
the numerous staff of her would-b admirers:
but then he was apers0nal friend of Cleather's
the husband and would not that be sufficient
In accounting for the decided preference for
nm among the others by the young grass
widow?
One Thursday afternoon about the beginning
OF October Mrs. Allison. Mrs. Barnard and Mrs
Dawson had small and select picnic of their
own at that most delightful of all resting places
namely. the inn known Us Rest by the WAY at
Douglas Dale. half way down on the road to
Ranihagh. 1t is a picturesque little house,
situated in the middle of the valley and sur
rounded by the most beautiful of gardens
redoient with the sweet OdOr of acacia ard
orange trees. and planted out In the most
artistic style with palms. grasses, trees aud
bushes OF all sorts. western as we'll as oriental.
The garden produces fruits of all kinds,
cherries. apples, plantains. Strawberries. and. in
fact, everything the thirsty traveller could wish
for: added to which there are lovely walks
under the cool shade of the trees and green
arbors such as are seldom SEEN where one NAV
HE away from the maddng crowd and be at
rest. lulled by the ripping of the silver stream
near at hand and the singing of the birds over
head. such place Is Douglas Dale q veritable
Garden OF Eden. second paradise
The sun was beginning to set over the purple
Mills 10 the north as Mrs. Allison was gradually
collecting the remnants of her army as they
came in two by two from their walks and talks
In this paradise on earth Mrs. Allison, more
stald than the rest, had remained behind In the
veranda. dear Colonel Verriker so kindly remain
ing TOO TO take care of her-sO kind and thought
full OF him. but it not the first time this gal
liant officer had performed this charitable task.
Mrs Allison herself was a grass widow of a
somewhat doubtful character, although accord
Ing to her own ideas prim and proper to a de-
gree; still, she had no real objection to one
OF the male sex, other than her lawful
spouse. being tackled on to her apron strings for
lhe time being. though the same arrangement
with others was scandalOus in her ewes tn a de-
gree
The party had now all arrived and were sit
ing III the lar corner of the yeranda sippinp
yea ana chatting previous to their start M the
NIL a3ain for Nynee Ta when they were sur-
prlsed by the CHATTER of pony hoOfs coming over
the bridge towards the house; and lady all
alone without even syce (grOom) rode into
the garden and pulled up in front of the We
randa. She had evidently ridden rather fast for
her pony was very hot and she very much ont
OF breath Getting her foot out of the stIrrun
she slid down of the saddle by herself and
leading the pony up to the door called the bearer
Words fail to describe the establishment of the
tea party at the other end of the veranda when.
by the light Of the newly Lit lamp over the door,
way. they recognized the features of the '.spot-
less and innocent" Mrs C.eather. Their excite
ment knew no bounds; they dare not move for
fear of being seen, and thus spelling the tableau
OF which they would doubtless be witnesses 1t
was only Mrs. Allison who could not resist saw
ing In rather audible whisper There. told
you so. How much for the child's innocence
now. should like to know? You may be sure
she's on no good errand down here all alone at
this time of the evening"
However, Mrs. Cleather was much too tired
or excited with her ride to notice ANYTHING and
the group under the veranda were quite unseen
10y her. Presently the landlord came to the
door.
Did you get my note this afternoon?"
"ies, ma'am."
oil I'm