Smyrna times., 1893-07-26
HIS WEDDED WIFE.


Among all Of Rudyard Kiplings remarkable
stories of India, none is more amusing than the
following.
Shakespeare says something about
worms, or it may begiants or beetles,
turning if you tread on them too Sc
verely. The safest plan Is never to
tread on a wOrm-not even on the last
new subaltern from home, with his
buttons hardly out of their tissue paper
and the red of sappy English beef in
his cheeks. This is the story Of the
worm that turned. For the sake of
breVity we will call Henry Augustus
Ramsay FaiZannie 1.-The Worm"
although he really was an exceedingly
pretty boy, without hair on his face,
and with waist like girls when he
came out to the Second "Shikarris"
and was made unhappy in several
ways. The "Shikarris" are high
cast regiment, and you must be able to
do things well--play banjo, or ride
more than a little, or sing, or act-to
get on with them.
The Worm did nothing except fall
off his pony and knock chips out of
gate posts with his trap. Even that
became mOnOtonous after time. He
objected to whist, cut the cloth at bill
lards, sang out of tune, kept very
much to himself aud write to his
mamma and sisters at home. Four of
these five things were vices which the
"Shikarris" objected to and set them
selves to eradicate Everyone knows
how subalterns are, by brother subal-
terms, sOftened and not permitted to be
ferociOus. 1t is good and wholesome
and does no one any harm unless TEN.
pers are lost and then there is trou-
Bile. There was man Once-but that
is another story.
The "Shikarris" shikarred The
Worm very much, and he bore every
thing without winking. He was good
and so anxious to learn, and flushed so
pink that his education was cut short
aud be was lett to his own devices by
every one except the senior subaltern.
who continued to make life a burden
to The Worm. The senior subaltern
meant no harm, but his chaif was
coarse, and he didn't quite understand
where to stop. He had been waiting
too long for his company, and that
always sOurs man. Also, he was in
love, which made him worse.
One day, after he had borrowed The
Worms trap for lady who never exis.
ted, had used it himself all the after
noon, had sent note to The Worm,
purporting to come from a lady, and
was telling the mess all about it, The
Worm rose in his place and said, in his
quite lady-like voice. THAT was a
very pretty sell; but Ill lay you 9
months pay to a months pay when
you get your step that work a sell on
you that you'll remember for the resi-
of your days, and the regiment after
you when you're dead or broke" ."
The Worm wasn't angry in the least
and the rest of the mess shouted.
Then the senior subaltern looked at
The Worm from the boots upward anC
down again, and said: Done, Baby.
The Worm took the rest of the mess tc
witness that the bet had been taken
aud retired into book with a sweet
smile.
Two months passed and the senior
subaltern still educated The Worm
who began to move about a little NOR,
as the hot weather came on, | hav,
said that the senior subaltern was II
love. The curious thing is that th
girl was in love with the senior subal
tern. Though the Colonel said awfu
things, aud the Major snorted, an,
married captains looked unutterabl
wisdom, and the juniors scofed, thos
two were engaged.
The senior subaltern was so please,
with getting his company and his &C
ceptance at the same time that he for
got to bother The Worm. The gir
was pretty girl and had money Ofhe
own. She does not come into thi
story at all
One night at beginning of the no
weather, all the mess except TIL
Worm, who had gone to his own roou
to write home letters, were sitting o.
the platform outside the mess house
the band had finished playing, but n
one wanted to go in. And the Car
tain's wives were there also. The foil
of a man in love is unlimited. Th
. senior subaltern had been holding fort
on the merits of the girl he was en-
gagged to, and the ladies were purrin
d approval, while the men yawnet
when there was a rustic of skirts |
the dark and tired, faint voice lifte
itself:
"Where's my husband ?"
, did not wish in the least to reHe,
on the morality of the "Shikarris,
but it is on record that four me
jumped up as If they had been sho
y three of them were married men. Pc
haps they were afraid that their wiv,
had come from home unbeKnowns
The fourth said that he had acted Q
the impulse Of the moment. He e,
planned this afterward.
. Then the voice cried "Oh, Lionel
Lionel was the senior subaltern's nam
A woman came into the little circle
light by the candles on the peg table
stretching ont her hands to the dal
where the senior subaltern was al
sobbing. We rose to our feet, feelil
~ that things were going to happen al
ready to believe the worst. In Ii
bad, small world of ours one knows
". little Of the life of the next man, th