St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-20
AN EMPTY HEART.

was prime mover, all added ito Che
cheeriness of the days passed on board
ship, until Jack was positively sorry, j.
when. landing in Bombay, he was
forced to part with the new friends,
both men and women. who had proved
themselves such COOL Sort 80
A few days. wea Is me journey up
country, and Jack reached his destlna-
| ton, large and lively station. Here
resolutions for the future. No woman
was really SO nice, or so true, or SO de-
voted. as May. His poor little girl she
must be very dull at home without him,
for he knew what the past. two years
had been to her, and he kneW>as posi-
lively as if he had been OmniScienJ that
she would continue true to him. Strange
the trust some men have in women, and
to the credit oil their judgment be it
said, they are hardly ever deceived.
Such men are like SchOolboy on parole
the sense of being trusted keeps them
straight. So Jack wrote long letters to
May, telling her what keen soldier he
had become, and how he meant to stick
to real work. and how he believed there
was "tide in the affairs of man that.
taken at the flood, leads on the fortune,n
and such like old platltuteS, and May
answered and approved and encouraged
him, and said how proud she was to
think he still remembered her. And
for little she rested in sweet content
ment, and indulge1 in day dreams of the
time when she would see him again,
perhaps a VIC, perhaps with big staff
appointment.
The cold weather passed without adj
venture. Capt Hamilton was courted
and petted, and made much of, but he
xuoc ipcanSihlo Inv oil tho woman
though one lady eXerted her influence
to get him made an A. ID. c. to gener-
al of division, and succeeded in obtain
ing him the post. AS the sun grew
fiercer and the cool evenings shorter,
and tweed gowns were exchanged for
the daintieSt of white frocks. and pun
kahs became in general request, every
body began to talk of their move 4
ments. Such and such man was
going to Cashmere in search of big
game; So-and-so preferred the manly
sport of pig-sticking at Agra, with the
thermometer at 120 deg.-"quite mat
ter of habit, you know, my dear fellow;
when you're taking exercise you don't
feel the heat"-while fair women bab-
bled of the charms of Simla, and hops d
they should meet Jack there. Their
husbands, alas! must stay in the plains,
but were too sensible to keep their
wives away FROM the hills. AnglO-In-
dian husbands are wonderfully I'M
selfish.
Capt. Hamilton had planned shoot
ing expedition for himself with a
couple of good fellows; but his general
settled to go to Simla, and commanded
his'attendance, so, nolenS vOlens, Jack
was forced to obey, and was presently
installed in comfortable house at
hot fol nf
The change seemed delightful at first,
after the scorching heat and
dust of the plains. To breathe
a bracing, clear atmosphere.
to hear the crackle of wood fire, to
I live in room with regular English
| ceiling and doors, and feel that you
were no longer at the mercy Of every
stealthily gliding, eavesdropping SER
want, was indeed good, 1t reminded
him of England, and the thought of
England brought back his yearning for
Mays society. If she were only here's
to ride with him round Jakko,
to crunch chocolates at Peliti's, to
gaze at the gorgeous sunsets, and
all by the freslde in that sweet silent
hour before dinner, when soft little
J songs are sung and tender little moth
| ings are talked, and sentimental aspira-
tionS exchanged.
| But May was not there. She sat fer
away in the dim vista of a London fog.
with the gas lamps making little Sickfys
| rings on the muddy pavement, and the
I, postman's tramp echOing Sadly outside.
Alas that she was not there! His
heart felt so empty and warm and low
ing; his arms stretched themselves SO
longingly toward her. What man ever
stretched arms longingly OF ever hati,a
fond empty heart in vain? Some oneGis
always ready to fill the void and calm
the longing. Adelaide Ripley was
worthy of the occasion. She was a
dangerous eyes and Southern
blood in her veins. She was MAJ
ture, but she was clever in the manlpu-
j latlon of men-so many had passed
through her hands. She had position,
too; nice house and comfortable IN
come and husband who was sensible
the euphemistic term for man who
sees no farther than he chooses. There
was every reason why she should wish
to gain Capt. Hamiltop's affec-
tons, and no particular cause lex
cept May why he should not
reciprocate her fancy. OF course
way. Nobody does, But he just drifted
gently, imperceptibly, unconsciously
into her tolls, hugglng the sense of his
safety and heart Wilderness. for was he
not devoted to the far-Off but much
beloved May? 1t began with those fatal
rides which promise the maximum of
solitude freSh air and the vast horizon
of hills all around) and the
minimum Of publicity "a few
friends greeting you at arrival
and departure). 1t continued with tea
and hot buttered toast and cosy talks in
the lady's boGdoir, and eliminated at
little dances and the depths of luxur-
ious box at the theater. People began
to talk. to ehaff. Adelaide's eyes grew
more eloquent, more languorous, her
| flattery more pronounced.
just then came letter from May to
say she had arranged everything, and
was prepared to sal, in November for
India. Would Jack be pleased to see
her? Would he meet her in Bombay?
Capt. Hamilton's brow clouded. He
loved May, of course, and now he was
almost sure he loved Adelaide. too!
What was to be done? He could not
put Off May; besides, he wanted
very much to see her, and he
could not tell the truth to Ade-
ever any one in so awkward dilemma?
Capt Hamilton decided to do what most
men prefer-nothing He waited for
events. He did not meet May at Bonn
bay. but he sent her nice letter, and
he stayed at Simla with Adelaide.
When he left Simla she would forget
him, and all would be right, he thought.
But Adelaide did not intend to forget
him, and as the time for her departure
drew near she informed Jack. quite in
a casual way, that her destination was
going to be his, and that her husband
was ordered to the same station. No
body ever knew how it was managed,
but the fact that their rides and their
tonc nnd thnir dannaS minht all be CON