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

like some seeress about to utter prophecy
or incantatitn rs she began her little tale.
speaking now in broken English and now
in Tamil, her native dialect
"Ayah has in her heart great love for
her dear lady-a love like the waters that
separate missy from her home. deep and
strong. 1t is not one easy thing for ayah
to speak. but her heart say tell her love
say speak. She kEcxs that missy like
the captain very much, and he loves you.
but while missy gives him her whole heart
he cannot give her his Whole love, for that
is divideti-part to missy and part to an
other
Helen listened, growing sense of dan
ger and apprehension that she could not
iathom making her dumb, while the ayah
went on, her voice taking a dr.ary mono
tone.
In Madras there is q dark woman,
beautiful, but not like the missy. One Cay
the captain he secs this native, ard she
gives him nix that she makes from
one herb, and it caus; S him to love her..
rigid grip seemed clutching ut Iii itn's
throat and Heart. She put her Lands forth
vaguely to tear it away. Sc tried IT,
speak, but her tongue was palsicd. and
the Indian, divining nothing, continued
in her singsong minor tone.
he captain gives this Maya-fcr that
is her name-much money, silks and jew
els tor her lair, but Maya never loves Linn,
and she only gets his love by always
Shrinking the pot on about his house aid
in his wine. When he is away from her,
he hates himself and her, and his heart is
all for missy, but when he goes buck to
Maya he Will love her again.
Helen had drunk the bitter cup in all
its strength, for she could not doubt
word of the narrative. Her first great
trouble had found her alone, and she must
meet it single handed, for what comfort
could this poor child of darkness, with Lei
mystical religion, bring to herr
Moments lassed; the ayah had thrown
herself prone to the floor. Helen, pale and
shivering, gazed on the PROSTATE figure as
If it were something polluted that had
been cast Mt her 1eet by some rcceding tide
She trlcd to stand, but her sound young
limbs lacked power.
Then the distressed soul whose love was
unquestioning seemed to feel rather than
see the SORROW she had wrought, and,
shutting to 1ier feet, she tool. Helen like
babe in her arms and laid her On u couch,
trying Intellectually to sooihe by softly
stroking her face and head. Finally as
palliative she began to speak in an APP
peasing, grooming voice, as one would luiI
a child to rest. Listen, dear missy, t,
what ayah tells. She knows one medicine
man, q native. From him she will get
potion, and with it she will go to the cap.
tain's house, and the native butler, who
knows her well, will let her in to see the
house. Then it is she will secretly sprin. .
kie The floors and walls Then, when the
poor captain shall come home he sees Maya
at once in her true self, and he shall send
her from the house Then he come bach
to missy, and his whole heart will be fcl
her.
These words seemed to rouse Helen from
her apathy. Stop" she commando
sternly.
"Oh, missy" said the eastern woman
meekly, but earnestly, Il cannot work tho
charm without yonr permission. Will
dear missy consent?'
oh" answered Helen drearily, for SHIT
realized the utter impossibility of reason.
ing with this child Of mystery, there Is
no need of charms or potions or my con-
sent, for do not love this man. And nov
you may go. But watt" as a sudden
thought came to her mind, IL wish to
send note to Captain Gartshore. y And
with trembling, cold fingers that could
scarcely do her will she wrote these wor4s:
CAPTAIN GARIsHoRB-I cannot ride with
you tomorrow. HELEN ARUNDEL
Go now said Helen solemnly, he1
face like that Of some accusing spirit, go
and pray to your God for peace. ~
Long after the ayah had softly closed
the door Helen sat immovable, hopeless
and alone, the drawn lines of her mouth
indicative of her III arts pain and struggle.
Hour after hour went by. They seemed
years to Helen, and when at last the sig
nal of Captain Gartshore, the ardent sun,
sent its first rosy rays in at her window it
fell not on Helen-she was ever to he in
ON those words of wisdom:
20 worldly men! How fatally delLded,
beEolding everywhere the body brought to
dust, yet everywhere the more carclessly
living! The heart is neither lifeless wood
nor stone, and yet it remembers not ti.at
all is vanishing. mabel y, ynne in bos-
ton Transcript.