The record-union., 1891-03-01
CHAPTER II.

Subsequent to the foregoing conversa-
ton / was seated in the schoolroom, oc-
cupied with little Cyral, when Mrs Dun
lap, the housekeeper, entered hastily, and
in a great fiutter, without the least ex-
PLANTATION, exclaimed:
''They have come!'
/ looked at her inquiringly.
Whom ?''
"rhey-the Indians"
Again ! repeated, Indians"
'Yes, the East Indians"
"Ohp' ] replied, smiling, "you mean
Miss Tarrant, Sir Lional's cousin. She
is not an Indan.''
"Wel," said Dunlap. with a nod, .'the
one that | was ordered To show to the
west wing was an Indian sure enough,
black as''-looking around for compari-
son-'as that dress you're wearing."
"Ohn' l said, a light breaking upon
me, .'it must be her maid or servant of
some sort"
Perhaps. but the idea of person hav-
ing an Indian TO wait on 'em. 4 Negro is
bad enough, Lord knows. But an Indian
ugh ~
am not giving to gossip, nor encourage
servants to do so, but l could not help
my curiosity getting the best of me, and
asked, did you see Miss Tarrant ?n
mo. She was in the library and had
her back turned when Lady Glandour re-
quested me to show the Indians to the
rooms"
felt disappointed. A devouring curl
oslty was coming over me regarding the
girl from India.
well, we will see her soon enough, no
doubt, as she Is TO remain at the court
God forbid,'' calculated Mrs. Dunlap,
starting for the door.
The next morning or so l did not join
the family ut meals, refusing Lady CLAN
dour's kind messages TO do so.
Once passing hurriedly through the
halls | ran almost against queer old
black woman dressed in true Oriental
costume, which, / concluded, must be
Miss Tarrant's attendant. And one day,
passing through the drawing-room, saw
her, Almost instantly | knew it was her
She was sitting, or, to be more explicit.
reclining upon Il low velvet couch, and as
| entered she started, ever so slightly.
An involuntary exclamation escaped me,
and l covered both eyes with my hands +;
then, feeling ashamed and endeavoring to
master my feelings, addressed her.
Excuse me; Miss Tarrant, believe.r
Yes with Il quick glance of survey.
And you, presume, are the governesS?'
bowed i'll acquiescence. My eyes were
riyeted upon this girl, or woman The
barbaric splendor OF her beauty was APP
palling. ! never saw human creature
anything like her. The hair which grew
i'll stubborn criSpy strands from the low.
white forehead, was the oldest, most
beautiful hair L ever saw-not one color,
but mixed gold and brown 1t was the
| strange, beautiful mixture, dark brown
| and light gold, that formed the remarka-
BILE charm OF this magnificent face. Her
complexion was of downy whiteneSs.
| The eyes-where had seen anything like
them before? Somewhere; but when or
where. l could not then think Yellow!
Yes yellow as saffron; and now,
even as | write, / tremble with
a feeling of dread, for the
glorious. grand eyes. were not as yours,
nor mine, dear reader. The pupils, in
stead of being round or oblong. We're mar
row, straight, black slips, slanting down
wards. The heavy lids Were only partly
| lifted, as she indolently stretched her
sell, ,lanimal-like patiently submitting to
my scrutiny. ON the lobe of the right
ear, upon the left temple and almost at
| the end of the chin, were three large
| brown moles. One hand was i'll plain
! view, and the smooth, tapering fingers
We're beautiful To behold; but the nails
grew thick, and ended in long sharp
| point at the tips. She was clothed in
| brown and yellow spotted gown, of some
| rich Eastern fabric.
! Her appearance was so striking, so
| terribly bizarre, that 1 stood without
uttering word.
She smiled through her half-shut eyes,
evidently pleased and Q good deal amused
at my perplexity.
III you are looking for Lady Dora you
will most likely find her in the library,''
she said, and stretched herself again lazily
upon the couch.
| AS if under "a spell reluctantly took
my eyes from the wonderful face and
slowly left the room. My heart was beat
! ing strangely, and my will seemed paral-