Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-02-07
MAYA'S LOVE-CHARM.

broad gallery reaching to the roof
of the low-thatched building rang no
no echo to happy voices but the faint
glimmer Of a light from one of the
windows gave proof that one occupant
at least, was keeping IA vigil.
Near the bungalow, at short dis
tances from one another was 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,
Il face Drowned 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 reviewed the ey ents of the last
seven months in the minutest detail
from the day that the steamship ar
rived in Bombay with lis superior Of
ticer. Colonel Campbell, who, returning
from furlough, brought a bride and
dher most intimate school friend, Helen
Arundel
Alec Gartshore was a man who had
never believed in the strength of first
impI't ssions of love at first sight, but
there was witchery about Helen that
had Interested him from the start IL
was not her beauty-though her face.
ever yivacious and lighted up with
expressive brown eyes. was charming
in its piquant gracc-but her sweet
and iIloccnt nature was ler greatest
charm.
From tho first day they had been
thrown together. Tho colonel with n
eStr0ng affection for Alec. thought the
best kindness he could offer was the
society of his wife's dearest friends;
and the bride, Il bit selfish in her new
found happiness, was ready to share
Helen's companionshiD with another.
So at the lawn parties, teas, in long
walks and rides, the captain was ever
in attendance. and since they had
come to the jungle-a small party,
the colonel and his wife. DR.. Blake, the
army surgeon, and wife. and Helen
and Alev, with the native servants
their intimacy was still closer.
Often Helen in a sweet voice would
sing snatches Of songs. in which Alec
joined while the swishing of the pad
dies dipping into the water added to
the refrain. Halcyon days, those and
never to be forgotten,
Ayah had been secured for her. whose
duties were those of maid or duenna,
and whose dog-like fidelity and affec-
ton for her young mistress were reel
procated by much kindness and indul-
gence on Helen's part. A docile,
tractable creature, tall and 1.-THE, yet
with great dignity of carriage, eyes
dark and humid, with features regu-
lar and the full, pouting mouth of the
Oriental always CARRIED in the soft
Indian muslin Swathed about her fig
ure.
On this EVENING" tile Ayah and her
strong affection for Helen had been Il
theme for conversation and criticism
IN the little company-Helcn and the
coiOnefS wife contending that the
woman's fidelity was genuine and that
not trace of hypocrisy was in her
nature, while the men, laughing a lit
tie deriSiyely. said that after the la
dies had lived in India longer their
confidence in the faithfulness of ma
tive servants would be weakened if
not entirely lost
Helen. aroused in behalf of her SER
want, had said spiritedly: "Thank
heaven! ! am not skeptical nor can |
be made so. l trust and love my good
Ayah as | do my friends
'As you do me?" Gartshore asked
in 4 low voice as he took her hand to
say goodnight. Helen made no an
swer but her hand trembled 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 a few words,
which he gave to native lying near
and told him to deliver to Miss Arur-
del
Entering the house, the Indian gave
low knock on the door of Helen's
apartment The Ayah, her bare brown
feet making no noise On the matted
floor opened the door, took the mes
sage, and with low sadaam laid the
little miSSive in her mistress lap
Helen was seated in low wicker
chair in her little dressing-room, her
hair unbound 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 men how fatally
deluded! Beholding everywhere the
body brought to dust. yet everywhere
the more carelessly living The heart
is neither lifeless wood nor stone, and
yet it remembers not that all is van
ishing'
SO absorbed was Helen in these
words fraught with such potent mean
ing that she had not noticed the wom-
ans movements until suddenly seeing
the note she read the following words,
while soft color rose to her cheeks:
Dear Miss Arundel: Will you 90
with me for an early canter, say 5
O'Clock to morrow? l am anxious to
tell you of something. If you will go
you need send no answer. Again good
night.
So Alec Gartshore''
"Ayah," said Helen, as the woman
with her low salutation was about to
withdraw to the mat that served as
her bed outside the door of the apart
ment. "Ayah, you may wake me at
a, as go for an early ride with Cap
tain Gartshore"
The woman had stopped on the
threshold, hesitating and ill at ease.
swell, what is it," asked Helen
ROmpwl1t imD1tipntIy ss1alI mo who r