St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-01
He, She AND IT.


was child, from reading the story of
the temptation of Eve by the serpent.
1t seemed such a dastardly thing to
come and spoil their happy life in Para
disc. Don't you?"
He shrugged his shoulders and looked
at her with plying smile, which said:
80 you believe that, do you? Poor
little darling, what a lot you have to
unlearn."
They had not long been married. He
was an Indian civilian. holding a good
appointment as judge over large dis
trict. A portion of every year. there
fore, was spent under tents while lie
was travelling from place to place adju-
dicating cases. 1t worried him rather TO
find that the beautiful girl he had Just
married was wanting in nerve in any
one particular. Ii had been his boast
lat the woman he married should be
10 hysterical. morbid creature, full of
fears and fancies.
He had come home on purpose TO
marry. 1t did not take him very long
tn form his decision. circumstances hav-
ing favored him from he outset. Being
good looking, somewhat ambitious. of
determined will and fair prospects, he
had no difficulty in captivating the beau
tiful girl who now sat gazing at him so
pleadingly for protection. In point of
face, manners, education, she was all
he could desire. A good dancer, fear
less rlder, it never struck him she
could have what he regarded as little
short of morbid antipathy. a man of
iron nerve himself, he had no sympathy
for any display of nerves in another,
least Of all in his wife
The whole scene arose out of his tell
ing her of his contempt for a certain
lady he knew in India. who shTieked if
she saw spider.
II have no patience with such
women" he added. Il don't know
what should do if you were one of
that sort. for my district abOunds in
snakes"
She gave a SILVER and was silent. 1t
was after dinner; they were sitting III
an airy apartment looking out on a
street leading into kensingtOn Gardens
square Tomorrow they were to EN-
bark in the p. and o. steamer for India.
They had spent busy day shopping,
making those hnal preparations neceS-
saTy to 4 recOmmencement OF hOstIlItieS
against fashion, climate and duty. which
constitute Indian life for the majority
He noticed that she WAS silent and
thoughtful. She had suddenly grown
very pale.
What is it, little wOman9'' he asked.
taking his cigarette from his lips 10 sip
some coffee
His interest in studying the mental
weather chart Of her EXPRESSIVE face
had not as yet grown fiat, stale and
improbable" TO him
After some irresistible cOaxing OF his
part she told him her deadly fear Of
snakes. which amounted To a thrill OF
hOTTOr even at the very mention Of
them
1T sends \ most peculiar. weird chill
al through me" she cried frankly, max
ing sure Of hiS sympathy
Ii was this he thought most absurd
SILLY nonsense" lie said at length.
with a shade OF disappointment IN his
voice
He had not anticipated any lurking
weaknesses in a creature so finely
formed "a his wife. He felt IL as m
pleasantly as if she had revealed 10 him
some physical infiTmity. But he said.
caTeSsingiy:
ION. Phi soon cure you of this folly. /
can't have my wife prey TO such fan
cies.''
She looked at him doubtfully, then
she asked:
Howl
''Oh, you shall see those snake charm
erS performing, and I'll make you han
die one of them, the snakes 1 mean,
just TO show you how harmless they
are?''
Not if l died for it's she cried, with
determination and alarm. Her blue
eyes flashing as she spoke, and her
hands cliEching.
He grew serious. Taking the cigarette
I'm laf1 IL L.. I
at her WOnderingly. He was not the
man to accept a may where he said
yea" His will was not only law to
himself, but he made 1t so to every one
else he had to do with. His official pU-
sitiOn had something TO do with this. 1t
had trained his mind to rely Oh his
| Judgment as unerriHg, and now. having
formed his estimate of life, on what
principle it should be conducted, he was
pledged to his own conclusions.
He did not press the subject further
| just then. He had tact enough for
| that, but he made UP his mind to cure
| his wife Of her absurd fears in spite of
| her protestatiOns. He thought it only
right. Her life would have to be spent
| in 4 district of India Astounding in
| snakes. To have her rendered mental
| ~ and physically cOnvulscd with fear
would be not only injurious to her, but
a bar TO their joint happiness. Her
mOrbiGneSs must, therefore. be treated
and overcome. Having none of these
fears himself, he determined that she
should have none either. He would in
spire her with confidence.
But how? All, well, there was no
time to consider the matter Just then.
Sufficient that he knew it." he thought.
land now it must lie postponed"
"DOn't distress VOurSPlf y he said
rising. Come, put OH your things and
let us be going"
She put her arms around his neck and
gave him clinging embrace, as if she
sheltered herself on his breast from
every fear. She was SOON smiling
again. despite his rallying reproach
that she was SILLY" Then she put on
her hat and they went out to spend
their last evening with friends.
The whole subject was soon forgotten
in the varying scenes of their journey,
visiting new places, meeting new peo-
pie, all of which was so full of interest
TO her fresh mind, the ripe intelligence,
that he found pleasure in her enjoy
ment.
1t was the cold weather when they ar
rived in India, and he at once started TO
resume his appointment, under tents, in
the districts.
Tent life was full Of charm and nov
city for her. Their domestic arrange
ments recalled all she had ever read of
feudal times. Her husband might have
been one of those old barons travelling in
state with body of retaiHers. Every
thing was in readiness for them on their
arrival in camp. ObseQuious servants
bent low to welcome them. Dinner was
served in the wilderness with all the
skill of Partisan chef. Their journeys
from camp to camp partoOk Of the ma
ture, in small way, Of royal progress.
She was delighted with everything. and
her husband was gratited that she
| found the new life so congenial. Size
had evidently forgotten her fears.
For the moment she had. Nothing
had occurred to remind lrer. Her foot
had hardly touched the ground since
she had arrived. for The purposes of
walking. She had ridden or driven
| evprvWherp Hence she had no reason