Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-12-07
THE AYAH.

- 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, but 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 bearing, 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 a duplicate
robbed of the intense heat and mellowed
by a gentler radiance-held him spell
bound An agitation of mind that had
possessed him passed away under tho tran
quill influence of the scene, and serenity
stole upon him like some invisible power,
Irresistible ard not unwelcolne.
He reviewed the events of the pasts 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 q fnrlough,
brought q 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
tcrestcd 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
race-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 twofnltl-the colonel had come to in
7pect wild horses that were being trained
Tor army use. and as the camp was de-
ightfully situated as well as healthful he
had decided to make a pleasure trip of it.
Gartshore had caused his canoe to be
brought On the shoulders of stalwart
swartby Indians on the 80 miles journey,
chat Helen and he, like old voyagers,
might glide down the winding river to
that poetry OF motion.
Often Helen in a sweet voice would sing
snatches of songs in which Alec joined,
while the swishing of the paddles dipping
III the water added the refrain. Haicyon
lays these and never to be forgotten!
Upon EcIsn's arrival in India an ayah
.iad been secured for her whose duties
we're those of "a maid or duenna, and
whose doglise fidelity and affection for her
young mistress were reciprocated by much
Kindness and indulgence on Helen's part
A docile, tractabie creature, tall and 1.-the.
let with great dignity Of carriage eyes
lark and humid, with features regular
and the full pouting mouth of the orien-
al always garbed in the soft Indinsi mus
III swathed about her figure
On this evening the ayah and her
,trong Affection for Helen had beer. a
.hemc for conversation and criticism in
he little company, Helen and the coionels
fife contending that the woman's fidelity
las genuine, and that not a trace Of n.y.
pocrisy wa. in her nature, while the men,
laughing a little derisiyely, said that after
the ladies had lived in India longer their
confidence in the faithfulness of native
servants would be weakened if not entire
iy lost.
Helen, aroused in behalf of her servant,
mad said spiritedly: Thank heaven!
I'M not skeptica!, nor can be made SO.
rust and love my good ayah as do nay
riends."
AS you do me?" Gartshore asked in
low voice as he took her hand to say good
night. Helen made no answer, but her
hand trembled in his close grasp.
Alec thought of his question and Helen
silent reply as in his reverie his thoughts
had drifted back to the events of that
evening, and, rousing himself, he hastily
wrote few words which he gave to a ma
tive lying near and told him to deliver to
Miss Arundel.
Entering the house, the Indian gave a
NV knock ut the door Of Helens apart
.llent The ayah, her bare brown feet
making DO sound on the matted floor,
opened the door, took the message and
with low salaam laid the little missive
i'll her mistress lap.
Helen WIS seated in a low wicker chair
in her little dressing room, her hair I'M
bound and falling in luxuriant masses |
over her shoulders Her eyes We're fixed |
pensiyely on the pages of Selections From |
Bliddha," and these words were sinking |
deep, deep into her heart ''Oh, worldly |
men! now fatally deludtd, beholding EVIL
erTwhcre the body brought to dust. yet |
everywhere the more carelessly living. |
The heart is neither lifelcss wood nor !
stone, and yet it remembers not that all |
is vanisiing''
So absorbed was Helen in these words |
fraught with such potent meaning that |
she had not noticed the womun's move
ments until suddenly seeing the note she |
read the following words, while soft COL |
or rose to her checks:
DEAR MISS ARUNDEL-Win you go with me |
fer IL early c;-nter, say at tomorrow am |
.:,---.ous to t. Il you CT something If you will ;
night ALEC GARTsHORE.
'Ayah, said Helen as the woman, with !
her low s;tluti,ion, was about to withdraw i
, the mat That served as her Led outside |
tho door of tho apartment, "ayah, you |
ray wake me at 4, IS I Ga for an carly |
Lee with Captain Cartshore.'
The woman had stepped On the thresh- |
old, hesitatiag ard III at case.
We'll, What is it, asked Helen. some
what inpatientiy. Tell me what you |
wish
Nothing, missy. Ayah wish for moth
ing. but aysih wish to say something te /
missy-wi. h very much. 3"
As no familiarity Is attempted by these
Servants Of the tropics, it was with great i
difficulty lie W. man begged for the inter-
view. Helen saw the trepidation and pit
led her.
My good ayah. tell me what it is yoa
desire. Do you need money, or are you
weary Of the jungle life and wish to re-
turn to Madras?''
All, no. mcmesahib," expostulated the
Indian. 'Ayah wishes no greater happi-
ness than to be near you. No money ayah
requires, nor her heart longs for the beau
tiful city. 1t is one little story she wishes
10 tell you,'' and her richly tinted skin
flushed, and Lor gcn.le eyes looked trou-
bled. do you love the captain, dear
iady7''
How dare you ask such question:
cried Helen Indignantly. You displease
me greatly, ayah.'
Forgive me, - was all the woman said
lis, kneeling she put her forehead to the
hem OF her mistress gown.
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