Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-17

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had formerly strayed from Mrs. Abbott's fowl
yard into the hut Of hungry coolie there were
now seven, plainly showing that the more equal
distribution Of the good things OF this world
is the direct product OF civilization. But for
the prolongation of the line the simple natives
Of Pagiri would have been content with rob-
bling Mrs. Abbotts henroosts once a week.
Now the minister and his wife reveled no more
frequently in the consumption OF fowls roast,
boiled, or curried. than the deserving natives
who surrounded them. Another result. and
one which struck the Abbotts As being more
distinctly advantageous. was that their social
| circle had gained by the arrival of the English
engineers. Not one of them Of the mis-
sionary's way OF thinking on religious matters.
out ne was a tolerant man, and permitted him.
self to enjoy a pleasant chat with a son OF
beial now and then ON topics purely worldly.
indeed. before long the bungalow became a
much-favored resort OF several Of the new
corners, with whom Mrs. Abbott was deseryedly
popular. and hardly an evening passed with
out one or more turning in at the gate
Tor an hours smoke in the veranda aud a
pit OF harmless gossip with the good man and
MS wife. Patience, who kept herself good
Zeal In the background on these occasions. was
happier at Pagiri than she had ever been be-
lore In her life. The soothing warmth of the
atmosphere, both moral and climatic. had done
wonderful things for her, and she began at
lengtn 10 look her age. At two years old she
might have been a hundred. at fifteen thirty-
n'e, and at twenty fifty. Now she was twenty
nve and looked il. The panied. drawn ex-
preston had left her face: her smooth skin had
taken faint tinge OF pink; her white dress was
ihade Win less regard for economy than the
gray linen. and she had developed a latent
genius for housekeeping and a handy, helpful
way which made her friends regard her as a
valuable acquisition to their household and
congratulate themselves upon her rejection as
a missionary's wife
, she is reserved for some other fate. NV
DEAR" Mr.. Abbott had said to his wife with
some solemnity as they sat together in the We
randa one afternoon six months after Patience
PAD become an inmate Of their house. Pre-
oestinatlon is at the bottom Of it, You may de-
pend providence interviewed on her behalf"
1t was time somebody did" answered his
wlfe, rather irreverently. Poor child, she has
had sad life. and think she must have been
half starved into the bargain, now that see
the difference being here has made in her /
| shouldn't be surprised if she married and left
US after all. She isn't so very lame, and she 8
a nice. sweet-tempered. handy little thing"
PATIENCE. who was laying the dinner table
unintentionally overheard these remarks. and
biushed and trembled. startled by the JOYOUS
leap her heart gave, and half afraid to contem-
plate the wonderful vista of possibilities which
Mrs. Abbott's words had opened out before her
timld eyes. For she had lost her heart and
without the slightest encouragement Among
the engineers was one who had lived for some
years IN the district He had lost his wife when
four years old, strong and hearty for one
reared In the east. but, to an eve accustomed
10 English babies, only q poor little scrap.
Jonn Graham was grave beyond his years
(which we're thirty -five), but kindly and gentle
to the women and devoted to his little lack
In his profession he was highly esteemed and
by all held TO be an upright and honorable
man, though more reserved than many of his
associates quite understood or approved. His
reserve had broken down before Mrs. Alb
potts motherly concern for his child's
welfare, and almost every evening when the
little fellow was in bed. he would come over
from his unhomelike shanty and sit smoking,
Tor the most part In silence. in the missionary's
veranda. He never omitted. however, TO nav
ms respects to Mrs. Abbott and Patience. whom
ne treated with as much courtesy as if she were
queen. and often allowed himself TO stay
while when the others were gone, chatting ON
variety of subjects with the two women-sub-
lects on which with the world at large he kent
his own counsel. 1t was a sort Of worship
which the girl gave to the tall gray. man
They were too wide apart for loye-indeed
there was something almost ludicrous in the
mere suggestion of such a thing and Patiepce's
cheeks burned when she thought of it, and she
rated herself soundly for giving way, even for
a moment to the wild flight her Imagination
had taken when she heard herself pronounced
not unmarriageable.
Mrs. Abbott had carefully kept the secret of
Patience's rejection from the gossips of Pagiri.
but she could not close the mouths of all those
young women-eye witnesses of the incident
who were now scattered broadcast through the
district as missionaries wives. Graham rarely
LETT Pagiri. where he was in charge of the
works; but Others went further afield and one
evening young Jameson came back from Pamba
with wonderful tale to tell, and brought il
straight to the engineers Office, where they
had just knocked off work.
You know that girl up at old Abbott's," he
said to his chum. while Graham, unnoticed
was turning over some papers at his desk
SWELL would you believe it. she was SO wild TO
get married that she left her good home in
Wales and came out here six months ago with
lot OF Others, In spite of her peoples wishes
to be married to one of the bachelor mission
aries-and not one Of them would have her? /
suppose they had been warned of the Eighty
sort Of young woman she was So she was i'm a
nice fix, and Mrs. Abbott had to ask her 10
come and stay with her till she could find
something to do, for the Missionary society re-
fused to give the girl her passage money back
to England"
well. she's deep one, then; she looks as
if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Where
did you hear the story?"
''Oh, fellow who had been up at Katali told
me. The missionary has the only bungalow In
the place, SO he was staying there. and Mrs.
Missionary, who was one o: the cargo herself,
Excellent authority, no doubt interrunted
Graham. perhaps you might bear something
to the disadvantage of the lady at Katali if Won
asked Miss Owen. 1t would be a valuable ad-
dition to your collection of Queer Stories and
make you a welcome guest at some houses
where gossip is thoroughly appreciated" And
Graham, who rarely spoke to his subordinates
save on matters of business, gathered up his
papers and left the two young men uncertain
whether to be more surprised or offended by
his observations.
Graham himself was disguised. He did not
believe that what be had just heard was correct
in all its details. but he feared that the main
fact. that Of Patience's having come out to
Shikarore to be married. was likely to be true
II was shock to him to find that the demure
little woman with the sweet voice and Quiet
ways. whom he had got to like almost insensi-
bly,, was after all nothing but a vulgar hus-
band-hunter, and he was panied and irritated
by the idea. His horror Of gossip forbade his
broaching the subject to Mrs. Abbott, SO he
put it away at the back of his mind and. but
for a slight shade of GOODNESS in his manner TO
Patience, it produced no outward effect.
But. keenly alive to all that concerned Gra-
hams intercourse with herself Patience
Immediately perceived the change, and,
conscious of the weak place in her armor.
concluded that the hated incident had
been made known to him. Her face began
once more to assume the careworn expression
which her kind friends had believed bauished
forever, and she no longer sang as she went
about her work Graham came no less fire.
quently to the house. and scarcely a day
passed on which Patience did not see him.
But this was now more pain than pleasure
-