The Portland daily press., 1894-11-10
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, atleast, 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 man of strong athletic
build and military bearing, face Drowned
by the fierce Indian sun and clear cut
Saxon features. He looked 'eyery inch
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
4 defful beauty of the night-which, almost
as brilliant as the day, was a duplicate
cobbed of the intense heat and mellowed
II by a gentler radiance held him SPELL
bound. An agitation of mind that had
possessed him passedaway under the tran
V qnil influence of the5scene, and a serenity
|, stole upon BIN like some invisible power,
n irresistible and not unwelcome. ;r ~
!. He reviewed the events of the past seven
months to the most minute detail -from
the day that the steamship arrived in Bom3}
bay with his superiorieffice Colonel Camp
bell, who, returning from 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 i'm
pressions or love at first sight, but there
was witchery about Helen that had in
terested 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
grace-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 twofold-the colonel had come to in
spect wild horses that were being trained
for army use, and as the camp was de-
lightfully situated as we'll 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 sweet voice would sing
snatches of songs in which Alec joined,
while the swishing of the paddles dipping
in the water added the refrain. Halcyon
Fqdays these and never to be forgotten re- q
|al Upon He1en's arrival iii India an ayah
HAD been Secured for Her whose duties
/ were those ofq IS maid. or duenna, q and
/ whose doghike5ffdelitya affection for her
young mistress were rec appreciated BY much,
kindness and indulgence on Helen part.
+ A docile, tractable creature, tall and 1.-THE,
yet with great dignity of carriage, eyes
! dark and humid, with features regular
/ and the full pouting mouth of the orien-
& tai, always CARRIED in the soft Indian mus
din swathed about her figure.
b. teOn this evening the ayah and her
strong affection for Helen had been a
theme for conversation and criticism in
the little company, Helen and the colonel's
wife contending that the woman's fidelity
was genuine, and that not trace of ny
pocrisy was in her nature, while the men,
laughing fittle derisively, said that after
the ladies had lived in India longer their
confidence in the faithfulness Of native
servants would be weakened if not entire
ly lost.
Helen, aroused in behalf of her servant
had said spiritedly: THANK heaven! l
am not skeptical, nor can be made so. l
trust and love my good ayah as do my
friends"
s.As ycu do me?' Gartshore asked in a
low voice as he took her hand to say good
night. Helen made no answer, but her
| hand tMemb led in his close grasp.
| Alec thought of his question and Helen's
silent reply as in his reverie his thoughts
had drifted back to the events of that
| evening, and rousing himself he hastily
wrote q few words which he gave to ma
| tive lying near and told him to deliver to
| Miss Arundel.
Entering the house, the Indian gave q
| low knock at the door of Helens apart
ment Tho ayah, her bare brown feet
! making DO sound on the matted foor
opened the door, took the message and
| with u low salaam laid the little missive
| in her mistress lap.
| Helen was seated in low wicker chair
| in her little dressing room, her hair un-
| bound and falling in luxuriant masses
| over her shoulders. Her eyes were fixed
| pensively on the pages of Selections From
| Buddha" and these words were sinking
deep, deep into her heart "Oh, worldly
| menl how fatally deluded, beholding ev-
| erywhere the body brought to dust, yet
| everywhere the moro carelessly living.
| The heart is neither lifeless wood nor
stone, and yet it remembers not that all
| is vanishing!"
| So absorbed was Helen in these words
fraught with such potent meaning that
she mad not noticed the womans move
| ments until suddenly seeing the note she
| read the following words, while soft coll
| or rose to her cheeks:
| DEAR MISS ARUNpEL-Will you go with me
| for an early ccuter, say at tomorrow? am
anxious to tell you Of something. If you will
| 90. YOU need send no answer. Again good
| night. ALEC GAkTsHoRE.
"Ayah, said Helen as the woman, with
her low salutation, was about to withdraw
| to the mat that served as her bed outside