Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-11-30
is::t3s. THE AYAH.

The bungalow in the white radiance Of
the moonlight seemed deserted Its broad
gallery, reaching to the roof of the low
matched building rang no echo to happy
voices, bat the faint glimmer of light
from one of the windows gave proof that
one occupant, at least, was keeping vigil
Near the bungalow, at short distances
from one another, were pitched tents, like
silent sentinels at their post, keeping mute
watch.
AT the opening of one of these stood the
quiet figure of a man of strong athletic
build and military hearing, face Drowned
by the fierce Indian sun and clear cut
Saxon features. He looked every inch a
soldier" Divers were the thoughts that
held Captain Gartshore's fancy on this
calm and peaceful night.
He had just left the merry company at
the bungalow and gone to his tent to
sleep, but sleep was impossible The won
derful beauty of the night-which, almost
as brilliant as the day, was duplicate
robbed of the intense heat and mellowed
by gentlcr radiance-held him spell
bound. An agitation of mind that had
possessed him passed away under the tran
quill influence Of the scene, and serenity
stole upon him like some invisible power,
irresistible and not unwelcome.
He reviewed the events of the past seven
months to the most minute detail-from
the day that the steamship arrived in Bonn
bay with his superior officer Colonel Camp
bell, who, returning from a furlough,
brought a bride and her most intimate
school friend, Helen Arundel.
Alec Gartshore was a man who had
never believed in the strength of first i'm
pressions or love at first sight, but there
was a witchery about Helen that had in
terested him from the start. 1t was not
her beauty-though her face, ever viva
cious and lighted up with expressive
brown eyes, was charming in its piquant
grace-but her sweet and innocent nature
was her greatest charm. From the first
they had been thrown together.
The object of the journey to the jungle
was twofold-the colonel had come to in
spect wild horses that were being trained
for army use, and as the camp was de-
lightfully situated as well as heathful he
had decided to make a pleasure trip of it.
Gartshore had caused his canoe to be
brought on the shoulders of stalwart,
swarthy Indians on the 80 miles journey,
budO IlClCn anu uCj llhO Olu wy dSSIS,
might glide down the winding river to
that poetry of motion.
Often Helen in sweet voice would sing
snatches of songs in which Alec joined,
while the swishing of the paddles dipping
in the water added the refrain. Halcyon
days these and never to be forgottenl
Upon Helen's arrival in India an ayah
had been secured for her whose duties
were those of a maid or duenna, and
whose doglike fidelity and affection for her
young mistress were reciprocated by much
kindness and Indulgence on Helen's part
A docile, traCtable creature, tall and 1.-the,
yet with great dignity of carriage, eyes
dark and humid, with features regular
and the full pouting mouth of the orien.
tai, always gal Oed in the soft Indian mus
lin swathed about her figure.
On this evening the ayah and heI
strong affection for Helen had been q
theme for conversation and criticism in
the little company, Helen and the colonePt
wife contendng that the woman's fidelity
was genuine, and that not trace of by
pocrisy was in her nature. while the men