Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-09-12
AT PINK HOUSE.

the Eastern Bengal State railway, and
the post carried with it, besides a GER
tain number of rupees per month, lit
tie Rink house that sat very flat upon
the ground near the. railway line 1t
was also near tank and had in conse-
quence a green, dank garden, where
marigolds and poppies sprawled together
and big bushes, starred with the scarlet
shoe flower, grew in inharmonious fell
lowship with the magenta masses of the
bougainvillea. A decaying tree trunk
was glorifed by the tangled wreaths and
orange trumpets of the Bignonia ver-
nesta, and there were many foliage
plants, clumps of brightly colored leaves
boasting long Latin names, but John
Port called them, one and all, ''burning
bushes''
'Tisn't what you'd call 'omelike, "
said John Port to his pipe as he paced
among these Towering splendors, ''but
Ellen'll make difference, trust 'er."
And Ellen was on her way out, and
every throb of the steamers screw
brought her nearer to the pink house
and the green garden and the expectant
man, to whom her coming was to make
such a difference. 1t was four years
since Ellen Geo had promised to marry
John Port four years since he had gone
to seek his fortune in India He was
steady, hardworking man, and the for
tune had not been long of coming, the
monthly salary, with good prospects,
and the pink house and the green garden
In the pride of his heart John Port sent
home money, cruel sacrifice at time
when 16 rupees barely equaled 20 shil-
hngs, for Ellen's passage out.
''The ideal" said Ellen when she
received the money, and she promptly
put it into the savings bank against
rainy day. Ellen had made her arrange
ments for the voyage. She came out in
attendance on delicate lady and two
small children, and q second class fare
was gladly paid in exchange for her
services
81 only wish you could stay with
me-" said the lady, and she gave her
e5 at parting.
The marriage took place in Calcutta.
John Port was nervous and excited, and
the best coat of four years ago was al
ready little tight for him. Ellen was
very quiet and composed and wore a
gray woolen gown.
They went straight from the church
to the train, and as Ellen Travelled with
out ticket she felt that she was indeed
entering into her kingdom. Six hours
of slow progress brought them to the
little f,Inl- hnncn h; al, l,ol
nished as a man in his ignorance fur
nishes. Ellen was impressed by the four
rooms and the veranda, but her quick
eyes took instant note of the scaliness
of the color washed walls, the inferior
woodwork and the clumsy doors that
would not shut. But the servants aston
ished her beyond all things
Whatever ave got all these people
for?" she asked, as {. row of four stood
salaaming to her.
''Most mems wives as more" said
Port
'"The more shame to them. If I
couldn't manage to do the work of my
own 'ouse, after all the time I've been
general, it would be pity"
''Some of 'em you must ave, and
you won't feel much like working when
the 'ot weather comes, you'll see," said
Port, secretly filled with tender admira-
ton.
"We 'ad it 'ot enough in the Red
SEAS I'm sure" said Ellen, land as
long as was looking after Mrs. Nugent
Or doing anything for the children I
diI,,1f ,,,i1,I - hut
with my 'ands in front of me it was
awful. Keep busy, and you'll be all
right, that's what I say
She had already changed her we'd
ding dress for a serviceable blue cotton
gown, and she was on her knees as she
spoke busting the long neglected legs of
the big square table. Her sleeves were
turned up, and she wore large apron.
John watched her in approving silence.
She was certainly making difference
already. She went into the veranda to
shake her duster, and Mrs Gasparez, the
wife of ticket collector, watched her
from across the road
''Ooh thee bride is veree grand" she
said to her husband that evening "She
has brought out an English maid with
her Onlee fancy, and makes her work
80 hard alreadeep'
1t never entered into the mind of
Mrs. Gasparez that any woman could
possibly use duster on her wedding
day.
John and Ellen walked into their
garden when the sun was low, and Ell
len spied its fowery tangles with a
practical eye. cts waste of land
she said. "Couldn't we manage some
green's instead of all that 'ighbiscus?'
And John marveled at her erudition.
She had once attended series of botan-
ical lectures at Kew, organized by her
Sunday school teacher.
''Things will look more 'omelike
presently" said Ellen as she fastened
strings outside the veranda for scarlet
runners to be trained upon.
She was bending over the strings as
she spoke, and John stopped and kissed
her smooth hair q little awkwardlY. u