Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-01-12

said Sir IhOmaS. Then turning 10 my Ia- ther, with smile, You see, Kilburnie, my motives are selfish after all"
 "I4s was ready to wager, your motives do you honor, Sir Thomas" answered my father stoutly, land he were no son of mine, who, going to India, would not exert himself to do what you wish"
 With that my father looked at me as if to say: "Therc, now, speak up. There's something to your taste perhaps"
 1T need hardly assure you, Sir Thomas" I said, clearing my throat, for my excite ment was great, 1T need hardly assure yon that if ever set foot in India my first busi- ness will be to find Donald"
 Thank you, my dear boy" responded Sir Thomas, while his voice shook and his eyes glistened. Thank you. Only pray remember that should you change your mind you will not let this generous prom ise to me in any way hinder you. will not accept your service on any other condi- tion."
 "Never fear, Sir Thomas. Never fear," answered my father for me. Make your self quite at ease on that score. If he changes his mind, he will tell you so frankly"
 My hearts thanks to you, Kilburnie," murmured Sir Thomas. You have made me 50 years younger. My spirit-ah, me! But there, there. Shall we join the ladies2 I daresay they are feeling rather lonely" And we rose and left the room.
 My dear Isabel" cried Sir Thomas, with the glee of a boy, as we entered the draw ing room; 'come here, child. I have news for you" She rose instantly and met him with pretty look of expectation on her face.
 MT Andrew is going to India and will search out Donald" continued Sir Thomas. tE'Tbnra'S In tr1oH1an child"
 Isabel turned toward me, her eyes gleam- ing with dewy, wistful brightness and her hands shaking with a sudden tremor. so that I would fain have taken hold of them to comfort her.
 "Oh," she said, advancing a step nearer me, and speaking in low voice which l fancied was meant for my ear alone, If you could only get tidings of my brother cannot tell how grateful should be. But the news that you are even to try seems too good to be true. How can we ever thank you? What can we ever do to repay you?" And I, with my hot face and leaping heart, certainly could not tell her.
 The joy that gave Sir Thomas and Isabel new life filled me also with an exquisite delight, but when they were radiant with hope and happy by anticipation, my dear mothers face blanched so that my glad ness was checked by the duty of comfort ing her. In this office Isabel came to my help with the sweet words and winning ways that were all her own, and by dint of our unceasing perseverance in looking at the sunny side of things and keeping the dark out of view, in a little while my moth CT smiled through her tears, owning, with a fervent embrace, that it was good for young men to go out into the world and try hazards with fortune. Few have such friends, Andrew" she said, looking toward Isabel, while clinging to me. And would not stand between you and distinction far less would I hinder you from doing a worthy action" And then she and Isabel laughed and cried together, while I chewed my thumb in a corner, and there was an end of objections.
 It must be understood that was not to go solely as Sir Thomas emissary to seek out Donald 1 was going primarily on my own naccount-to push my own fortune-and Sir Thomas mission was, as he was pleased to put it, "a mere act of charity done to a stranger out of the goodness of my heart" Yet in truth the charity and goodness were all on the other side, Sir Thomas furnish ed me with letters of introduction to the best known and most influential men in Bombay, besides writing many private and special letters in my behalf which did not sec My career was to be a mercantile one that, on mature consideration, being thought to afford the easiest and speedest way to affluence for one of my talents.
 ''The richest Europeans in India are mer- chants and bankers said Sir Thomas ''and they are all, as the saying is, self made men. The days of the East India company are over. There are no fortunes being made in that service now, though" in significant voice, ''it was not always ST Rnt IDHin iS a NDiHa fialH anI fhaSa at ters, Mir. Andrew, will. think, put you in position to choose according to your tastes I have no advice to offer except not to be in too much haste to decide"
 For what Sir Thomas had specially at heart all provision was made both in letters and in money. Of the last there was to be absolutely no stint l was to spend as much and as long as I should think proper, or in other words as long as there should be the faintest hope of tracking Donald.
 My bankers shall have full instructions in the matter" said Sir Thomas, "and in the meantime we must not forget prelimi- nary expenses" Whereupon he insisted on my taking in ready money and bankers drafts sum that seemed to me fortune. Finally, as l was in great glee with my prospects and protested against delay, it was arranged that in exactly three weeks from the date of my homecoming was to sail from London in the steamship the Pearl of the Orient, commanded by Cap tain Rogers, who, being friend of Sir Thomas, was charged to provide for my comfort on shipboard.
 And so the ultimate decision was made. l was to lift anchor and set sail for the un- known, as so many did before and so many will do after me. How 1 fared there how the reality belied all dreams and anticipa- tions, how fate mocked at wisdom, made naught of forethought and plaything of me it will be the business of succeeding pages to tell. Coming events cast no shad- ow before, and in the meantime was eager and happy.
 How the three weeks passed I cannot very well say. l was q frequent guest at The Films and saw good deal of Isabel, whose presence I learned to bear without shrinking or shaking. She talked to me of her life in India, and also of her brother, for whom she had the warmest affection and admiration.
 "They may tell you stories about Don- aid" she once said. They may say he was a scamp, and all that, for it is easy talking. But don't believe them. He was high spir- tied, that was his fault, and my father crossed him. His worst sin was to become a soldier when his friends wanted him to be something else, and the records of the war office show he was no coward He saved the British colors when the enemy broke a British square, and he has done many brave thing since. If he had re mained in the army, he'd have got almost any rank, but he hadn't peace to do that, and it's since he left it we have lost trace of him."
 She never missed chance of speaking about him. He seemed to fill her whole soul, to be her only thought, a circumstance that secretly piqued me not little.
 "Oh," she would often break out in the most irrelevant way, If you could only find my brother, if you could only find Donald, I should be so grateful to you. But in deed, indeed" and here she would look in my face till I thought saw visions of heaven, II will be just as grateful to you