New-York tribune., 1895-02-10
THAT NIGHT AT PUKKAPORE


nounced that Miss Gwenny was really expected,
and the Colonel went down to Bombay to meet
her. there was great rejoicing at Pukkapore.
Every male thing from the Brgad!er to young
Dubbs. rejoiced, his own account partly, and
also on that of Mrs. Travers, the Coloners wife,
whose eldest daughter Gwenny was.
Mrs. Travers was the mother and confidante
of everybody; year before she had been home on
sick leave. and it was her return that the
photographs made their appearance. and began
70 be one of the recognized interests OF the
station. Have you seen the Coloners girls
photos?' (Which do you like best, the one in
the riding habit or the one with her hair down.?
Isn't that sailor-hat vignette awfully fetchng?
People had hardly got over these comments and
criticisms before it was announced that Gwenny
was really on her way OUT and then. Of course.
out came the photographs again with renewed
Importance that one might decide. now that she
was so near. what Miss Gwenny was actually
like.
When the date for he~ sailing was fixed. Mrs.
Travers began TO fuss about fixing up her room.
'She must have the pink room, Charles; it VIII
want a lot Of doing up but shall begin at once.
and
Not the pink room my dear. said the
Colonel. from behind his paper, the niue one
beyond ours is more suitable
Indeed. no. that's much too small for any
Young lady. and | should like the dear chi.u 10
have q pretty nice cool room that she can "aIN
about In WHY at school she had tiny httle
cubcle like a cabin and girl thinks so much
of her ovn room can't think why you've
preiudice against the pink room-t will want an
entire turnout for the servants have crammed
it with things like a go-down, but you wait TIL
Rosina and have got it into order, and you'll
be quite astonished how pretty II will be.
"rd rather she had the smaller one per-
sisted the Colonel. and though he did not give
any reason his face perturbed look. which
was out of keeping with the trifiing occasion of
difference. but his wife had rustled away to take
counsel Of Rosna the little Portuguese lady's-
maid and the pink room might be looked upon
as a settled question.
BY the time the Colonel started for Bombay
the room was ready, and very pretty 1t was; the
rather faded pink Of the walls had been re-
newed there a brass bedstead, and white
aspinalled furniture. white curtains and PINK
sash-ribbons TO tie them up; new mating. and
bookcase. and a shelf for photographs running
around like a dado. Mrs Travers and Rosina
even aspinalled the huge wooden cupboard built
into the wall. and made smart pattern OF
Christmas cards to outline the panels; then all
admire it. and talk about Gwennys coming.
Wasn't this where"- Mrs. Trent said and
then stopped; Mrs. Boge, the doctors wife had
trodden on her gown.
Yes" Mrs Travers hastencd to explain. full
Of her own proves. this was where We used TO
keep all sorts Of stores. and boxes and things;
the room was much too good for that, only the
Colonel filed it UP with things the year vas at
home / had such work to clear IL. but Rosina
and / have worked wonders. don't YOU think?
Mrs Boyle assured her that the effect was en-
chanting; Mrs. Trent held her tongue and eX-
amined the curtains; and then they all went 10
tea.
Two days after Gwenny arrived. and week
later every one agreed that neither the
riding habit nor the sailor-hat portrait was IN
IL" with the Miss Gwenny who sat smiling III
her mothers drawing-room. making that always
pleasant place a perfect paradise to the Briga-
djcr who was disconsolate widower OF eight
months standing and to young Dubbs and to
all the various grades. ranks and varieties, civ!i
ana military who filed the wide interval be-
,yoen that zenith and nad!r Of Pukkapore mae
society
r., beauty Of Gwenay Travers was that she
smiled on all alike. and that is very great and
,nconmon poin: of beauty. especially in Ind
,omp5us cd bore. Dubbs was timid young ass.
Mrs BogIe was good-natured gossip and Mrs.
Trent a NAL Il propos tattler; but one and all
,,calved the same pleasant treatment-friendy.
modest sincere-from the Colonels daughter
end tho first week Of her arrival sped merrily
oloro with a continuous round OF merrymaking
7, welcome the young lady who had galvanized
the dull little place into life. Then, as natural
consequence came a who, crop OF proposals
r-on; everybody all directed at the self-same
ladv The BrigadIer took to wearing primrose
gloves without graduating toward Hope Reborn
By any os the legitimate stages of half-mourning'
and then as suddenly left for Cashmir: little
Dubbs. after gallOpng his red pony. Ructiohs'
over from cantonments five days a week on
some excuse other TO the Coloners house
turned his steed's head about. and was me
gloomily cantering in the opposite directoh
when every one else was going TO The tennis
ground 1t was the same with nearly every
body, and everybody felt little low and re-
dictionary In consequence. and applied for leave
almost in a body After that there was a gen.
erai settling down. and Gwenny Travers and
her mother began TO taste the sweets OF nome
Nfe and companionship; the elder woman gre"
Young again in her daughters society, and both
the Colonel and she felt tnat the years that were
past the struggles and anxieties Of their earlier
married life were nothing now that "the girl
had come home.
It was Major Danvers. the COoners right-hand
man. who first discovered that Gwenny was not
looking herself at all, in fact had altered very
considerably In the couple Of months she had
been in Incia. fact whcb>her father and
mother. in their increased happiness. had never
obgerved At first he kept the matter to him
sel' and watched the girl closely. wondering II
any love affairs which had been common prop
erty on the Station had really affected her. and
sighed TO think OF certain long-deferred expecta'
tons at home which kept him poor man and
a bachelor. Presently he made so bold as to ash
MIS-. Travers If the heat were not very trying to
MISS Gwenny: she had grown 50 pale and 81