The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-02-03
TI-RHADA.

T-Rhada was only little Nepalese tea
gatherer, small and strong and brown, with
two great braids of jet black hair coiied
about her head.
Despite her dark skin she was very pref
ty, as Nepalese girls go; not the least of her
marks of beauty were her large, brilliant
ewes. But she did not know that she DOS
sessed charms uncommon to her race, for
her mother and sisters were always too
weary of tea gathering to think of beauty,
and Nepalese men are not given to compli-
uenting women.
In the tea fields of Darjeerling, IN the
very heart of the Himalayas, she was toll
ing among the fragrant plants where for
centuries her ancestors had toiled before
| her.
She had been there throughout every
day of the tea season, every one Of the fif-
| teen years Of her eventless life, and the
thought had never entered her head that
she would ever be anywhere else, nor that
, there was an anywhere else" for that
matter.
But this day in particular a party of
| tourists was wandering about Darjeer-
| ling, and they at length came into the
plantation, where one of them, a young
Enghshman named Mainwaring, spied her
| out.
Good looking young niger, that" he
said, jerking his thumb in the direction of
| Ti-Rhada.
Perhaps remarked his companion;
'fbut beauty in woman is always a relative
quantity. They are or are not good look
ing, according to your taste and condition
of susceptibility. The divine Blanche, now,
might not agree with you"
The divine Blanche. fortunately, is
1900 miles away, so don't see what she
has to do with It,"
Try not to be impatient, Mainwaring,
but the eyes of 6ve-and-forty do not see
all things as do the orbs of five-and twenty.
am an older man than you are, and'-
And what?"
Nothing, perhaps, and perhaps great
deal. But the others are hurrying on
toward supper and we must not detain
them. Come on"
The sightseers passed out of the planta-
ton without being seen by Ti-Rhada.
Mainwaring came back to the tea fields
for another look at the young niger"
the following morning; and he came alone.
Ti-Rhada was a bit startled at finding
him suddenly close beside her, with that in
his gaze which she had never seen in mans
eyes before.
Not wishing to alarm her. Mainwaring
turned away.
His friend, Colonel Fritch, was on the
hotel portico when he came in.
Been hunting up more niggers?" he in
CURED.
Mainwaring bowed stiffly and entered
the hotel without answering. He was not
only annoyed but indignant. Fritch was
an ass. He was dignifying the merest
nothing in the world. Whom could it
harm if he had gone back for second
glance at the little Nepalese? What was
she or any other Hindoo woman to him?
They were interesting to look at, and he
should continue looking at them all he
pleased, and if Fritch had anything more
to say about it he would cut the Fritch
party, stay at Darjeerling as long as he
wished and go away when he got ready.
The next morning he made a third trip
to the the fields.
This time after persistent exertions, he
managed to engage Ti-Rhada in converse
ton. That is, he prevailed upon her to
listen to his questions and remarks and TO
make occasional little monosyllable an
swers thereunto. This was not very edi-
flying, and had the girl been less pretty
Mainwaring would have voted it all
bore; but it was very pleasant to see her
red lips shape themselves into varying
word frames, and there was a suggestion
of music about the words themselves.
Mainwaring's pilgrimages to the planta-
ton were numerous, but not another word
did Fritch say about Ti-Rhada.
Il thought you people were only going
to stay here a week, " said Mainwaring to
Fritch one afternoon when Ti-Rhada had
been particularly interesting, and her
white admirer in consequence was particu-
larry amiable
We find Darjeerling very pleasant and
refreshing" was Fritch's reply, land so
none of US are in a hurry to get away; but
if your young blood is gathering impa-
thence for an immediate hegira, I'll call
the clan together and we will HE us
hence"
oh, am in no hurry about going-or
that is, it doesn't concern me in the least
whether we 90 or stay But it had oe-
CURED to me that your original plan was
being varied
The next day Mainwaring suspected
that Ti-Rhada was glad TO see him, and by
He was pleased nightly. Surely he must
have some strength of character when
both heather and civilized women were
attracted by himl
In little time a change came over Ii
Rhada- She not only listened and assented
when Mainw8ring talked but talked her
self, and for an uneducated little heather
she talked well.
-,1-. tI..
mated, but somehow he felt constrained
TO delay demonstrations of affection.
Down in the dark depths OF Ti-Rhadas
eyes there was that which showed that
love, TO her, would be no light thing.
Three weeks from the day he 1rst saw
her, by which time It was her wont to
greet him with A beaming face, she met
him almost sullenly one morning.
After dint OF much coaNing he vormed
out Of her that her dearest friend. girl of
about her own age, had lost her lover.
Still worse, IN abscouding he had taken
her future with him, for she was now an
object Of contempt and derision 70 her en-
tire tribe.
What will she do now" asked Main
waring, endeavoring 70 muf1e the stab che
disclosure was 20 his own purposes.
XIII herself" said Ti-Rhads stolidly.
What else is left for her 10 do?"
why, in my country she would XIII her
lover"
''Yes' 1t is unlike India then. I should
like TO live in your country"
~ am glad you dent live there" To
s2onded Mainwsring quickly. IL should
be afraid OF you"
Silence seemed morsel SO much sweeter /
hon S,,a,cb IN the svs-l'c ,,s1..a 49, --,o---