The herald., 1894-10-31
) s,ATyPINK HOUSE.


John Port held, subordinate post on
the Eastern Bengal State railway, and
the post carried with it, besides q GER
tain number of rupees per month, lit-
tile pink house that sat very fiat upon
the ground near the railway line It
was also near tank and had in oonso-
quence green, danaz garden, where
marigolds and piessprawled together
and big bushes. starredswith the scarlet
shoe flower. grew in inharmonious fell
lowship with the magenta masses of the
ibougainvillea. "A decayiDg tree trunk
was glorified by the tangled wreaths and
orange trumpets of the Bignonia YER
nesta, and there were many foliage
plants. clumps of brightly colored leaves
lboasting long Latin names, shut John
Port called them, one and all, burning
bushes. "
+" 'Tisn't what you d call 'omelike, -
said John Port to his,pipe as he paced
among these Towering. splendors, but
Ellen'll make difference, trust 'er." "
And Ellen was on, her way out, and
every throb OF the steamers screw
brought her nearer to the pink house
and the green garden and the expeotant
man, to whom her coming was to make
such difference. 1t was four years
since Ellen Gee had promised to marry
John Port, four years since he had gone
to seek his fortune in India. He was a
steady, hardworking man, and the for
tune had not been long of coming, the
Nmonthly salary, with good prospects,
and the pink house and the green garden
In the pride OF his heart John Port sent
home money, cruel sacrifice at time
when Is rupees barely equaled 90 shil-
ilings, for Ellen's passage out.
''The ideal" said Ellen when she
received the money, and she promptly
put it into the savings bank against a
rainy day. Ellen had made her arrange
,msnts for the voyage. She came out in
attendance ON a delicate lady and two
small children, and q second class fare
was gladly paid in exchange for her
services
II only wish yeu could stay with
me-" said the lady, and she gave her
G5 at parting.
The marriage took place in Calcutta
John Port was nervous and excited. and
the best coat of four years ago was al
ready little tight for him. Ellen was
very quiet and composed and wore a
gray woolen gown.
They went straight from the church
10 the train, and as Ellen travelled with
out ticket she felt that she was indeed
lentering into her kingdom. Six hours
lof slow progress brought them to the
little pink house, which Port had fur
nished as a man in his ignorance fur
wishes. Ellen was impressed by the four
rooms and the veranda, fut her quick
eyes took instant nofe Of the scaliness
f'of the color washed walls, the inferior
woodwork and the clI.gnsy doors that
Mould not shut. But the servants aston.
dshed her beyond all things.
Whatever ave got ell these people
for?'' she asked, as "a row of four stood
ealaaming to her
Most mems wives 'as more" said
Port.
1.-The more shame TO them. If I
couldn't manage TO do the work of my
own 'ouse, after all the time I've been
q general. it would bs a pity"
Some of 'ein You must ave, and
You won't feel much like working when
the 'ot weather comes, you'll see, " said
Port, secretly filled with tetfier admira-
tion. ris=,u Asfs e.
y 1--WE 'ad it 'ot enough !; in the Red
Eeas, I'm sure, said Ellen, land as
aong as was looking after Mrs. Nugent
or doing anything for the children !
didn't mind it, but when sat down
with my 'ands in front of me it was
awful. Keep busy, and you'll be all
right, that's what l say.
She had already changed her we'd
ding dress for serviceable blue cotton
gown, and she was on her knees as she
spoke busting the long neglected legs Of
che big square table. Her sleeves were
turned up, and she wore &. large apron.
John watched Ter in approving silence.
She was certainly making difference
already. She went into tho veranda to
shake her duster, and Mrs. Gaspares, the
wife of ticket collector, watched her
from across the road
"Och, thee bride is veree gzand, l." she
said to her husband that evening. "She
has brought out an English maid with
ker. Onlee fancy, and makes her work
30 hard alreadcei''
1t never entered into the mind of
Mrs. Gasparez that any woman could
possibly use duster on her wedding
day.
John and Ellen walked into their
garden when the sun was low, and Ell
len spied its aowery tangles with q
practical eye. TITS waste Of land. -