Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-12-07
THE AYAH.

happy voices, but the faint glimmer of a light from one of the windows gave proof that one occupant, at least, was keeping a vigil.
 Near the bungalow, at short distances from one another, were pitched tents, like silent sentinels Ut 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, a face browned 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. Tho won- derful beauty of the night-which, almost as brilliant as the day, was a 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 tram quil influence of the scene, and a 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-fro;n the day that the steamship arrived in Bom- bay with his superior officer Colonel Camp bell, who, returning from q furlough, brought bride and her most intimate school friend, Helen Arundel.
 Alec GartshOre was a man who had never believed in the strength of first inn pressions or love at first sight, but there was witchery about Helen that had in 1erested him from the start. It was not her beauty-though her face, ever viva cious and lighted up with expressive brown eyes was charming in its piquant E,,-r Irr was her greatest charm. From the first they had been thrown together.
 The object of the journey to the jungle was twofUld-thc colonel had come to in -pect wild horses that were being trained for army use. and as the camp was de 1ightfully 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, swarthy Indians on the so miles journey, that 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 ill the water added the refrain. Halcyon days these and never to be forgotten! Upon Hclen's arrival in India an ayah had been secured for her whose duties were those of a maid or duenna, and l whose Goglikc fidelity and affection for her young mistress were reciprOcated by much kindness and indulgence on Helen's part \ dOcile trictable creature, tall and 1.-the, yet with great dignity of carriage, eyes i dark and humid, with features regular and the full pOuting mouth of the orien, tai, always garbcd in the soft Indian mus lin swathcd about her figure. On this evening the ayah and hel strong affection for Helen had been [ theme for conversation and criticism ir l the little company, Helen and the colonel: I wife contcndinS that the wOman's fidelity was genuine. and that not a trace of hy I pOcrisy was i'll her nature. while the men | laughing little derisivcly, said that after the ladies had lived ill India longer theil confidence in the faithfulncsS of native 1 servants would be weakened if not entire ly lost.
 Helen, aroused in behalf of her servant 1 had said spiritcdly: Thank heaven! \ am not skcptical, nor can be made so. trust and love my good ayah as I do my friends "
 As you do me-" Gartshore asked in { low voice as he took her hand to say good | night. Helen made no answer, but hcl hand tremblcd in his close grasp. Alec thought of his question and Helen: silent reply as in his revcrie his thought: had drifted hack 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 tC l Miss Arundel.
 i Entering the house the Indian gave | low knock at the door of Helen : apart ment Tho ayah, her bare brown fec making no sound on the matted floor opened the door, took the message ant xx-itb lai6 1,,iS ir. | in her mistress lap.
 Helen was seated in a low wicker chai | in her little dressing room, her hair un bound and falling in luxuriant masse | over her shoulders. Her eyes were fixc( | pensively on the pages of Selections From I Buddha. - and these words were sinking deep, deep into her heart ''Oh, worldl. men. how fatally deludcd, bcholding ev erywhcr the body brought to dust, ye | everywhere the more carclOssly living l The heart is neither lifelCsS wood no 1 stone, and yet it remembers not that al l is vanishing!''
 ! So absorbed was Helen in these word traught with such potent meaning tha | she had not noticed the woInan's move ments until suddenly seeing the note sh read the following words, while q soft col or rose to her cheeks:
 | DEAR Mss ARUNDEI-Will you go with m | for early clntcr, say at , tomorrow? I all | anxious to tell you Of something. If you vii go, you need send no answer. Again goo, | night. ALEC GARTsHoRE.
 "Ayah, said Helen as the woman, witt her low salutatinn, was about to withdraw to the mas that served as her bed outsid the door of the apartment, ''ayah, yol may wake me at i, as l go for an earl ride with Captain Gartshore.''
 The woman had stepped on the thresh old, hesitating and i'll lt ease.
 Well, what is it:' asked Helen, some
 what impatrntly. ~Tell me what yo wish"
 Nothing, ,.missy- Ayah wish for moth ing, but ayah wish to say something t missy-wish very mucb.''
 | As no familiarity is attempted by thes
 servavnts of the tropics. it was with grea
 difficulty the woman begged for the intel
 view. Helen saw the trepidation and pi
 jed her.
 My good ayah, tell me what it is yo
 desire. Do you need money, or are yo
 WAY of the jungle life and wish to T.
 turn to Madras:''
 An, no. memesahib,' ' expostulated tt
 Indian. ''Ayah wishes no greater happ
 ness than to be near you. No money aya
 requires, nor her heart longs for the bcal
 tiful city. It is one little story she wish, | To tell you, ana her rlchIy tlnteu SKI flushed, and her gentle eyes looked trol bled Do you love the captain, de; ladys''
 How dare you ask such a question cried Helen indignantly. You displea
 me greatly. ayah-''
 Forgive me, '' was all the woman sa as, kneeling. she put her forehead to u
 hem of her mistress gown.
 Helen's was sympathetic and tend
 heart, and, seeing the utter abasement the Indian, she relented, and, putting h, hand softly on the ayah's head, she sai
 II will hear your little story
 It was n vivid, glowing picture that u
 candles in the queer twisted eastern cal
 dlesticks ligh;ed up. Helen, in a loo
 white wrap, wns seated before Il mirru
 her eyes fastened on the wOman's rcfle