Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-02-07

gentle eyes looked troubled. ado you
love the captain, dear lady?"
"How dare you ask such a Quas
tion?" cried Helen Indignantly. ''You
displease me greatly, Ayah."
! Forgive me-" was all the woman
said, as kneeling, she put her fore
head to the hem of her mistress
gown.
Helen's was sympathetic and ten
der heart, and seeing the utter abase-
ment of the Indian, She relented,
and, putting her hand softly on the
Ayah's head, she said: II will hear
your little story"
1t was a vivid, glowing picture that
the candles in the queer twisted East
ern candle-sticks lighted up. Helen,
in her loose white wrap, was seated
before mirror, her eyes fastened on
the woman's reflection; the latter had
arisen from the floor, her plant form
swaying to and fro as she brushed
her mistress hair;she looked like some
sceress about to utter a prophecy or
incarnation as 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, love like the
waters that separate missy from her
hOme-deep and strong. 1t is not an
easy thing for Ayah to speak, but her
heart say, tell her love say speak
She know that missy like the captain
very much, and he loves you; but
while missy gives him her whole heart,
he can not give her his whole love,
for that is divided-part to missy and
part to another"
Helen listened, a growing sense of
danger and apprehension that she
could not fathom making her dumb,
while the Ayah went on, her voice
taking dreary monotone.
in Madras there is a dark woman,
beautiful, but not like missy. One
day the captain sees this native, and
she gives him drink that she makes
from one herb, and it causes him to
love her."
A rigid grip seemd clutching at
Helen's throat and heart. She put her
land forth vaguely to tear it away.
She tried to speak, but her tongue
was palsied, and the Indian divining
nothing, continued in her Sing-Song
minor tone.
"The captain gives this Maya-for
that is her name-much money, silks
and jewels for her hair. But Maya
never loves him, and she only gets
his love by always sprinkling the po-
ton about his house and 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 back to
Maya he will love her again."
Helen had drunk the bitter cup in
all its strength, for she could not
doubt q word of the narrative. Her
first great trouble had found her alone,
for what comfort could this poor child
OF darkness, with her mystical religion
bring to her?
Moments passed; the Ayah had
thrown herself prone on the floor.
Helen pale and shivering, gazed on the
PROSTATE figure as if it were something
polluted that had been cast at her
feet by some receding tide, she tried
to stand, but her sound young limbs
lacked power.
Then the distressed soul. whose love
was unquestioning. seemed to feel
rather than to see the sorrow she had
wrought and shutting to her feet she
took Helen like a babe in her arms
and laid her on couch, trying inef-
fectually to Soothe by softly stroking
her face and head. Finally, as pal
liative she began to speak in an APP
peaSing grooming voice, as one would
lull child to rest
Listen, dear missy, to what Ayah
tells: she knows one medicine man.
native. from him she will get q
potion, and with it she will go to the
captains house, and the native but
Ter, who knows her well, will let her
in to see the house; then it is she will
secretly sprinkle 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 back to
missy, and his whole heart will be for
her"
These words seemed to arouse Hell
ell from her apathy.
"'StOp!' she con handed sternly.
ooh, missy said the Eastern wom-
an, meekly, but earnestly. 81 can not
work the charm without your permits
sion. Will dear missy cOnseIt?"
"Oh;" answered Helen drearily, for
she realized the utter impossibility of
reasoning with this child of mystery,
"there is no need of charms or po-
tons or my consent, for l do not love
this man; and now you may go. But
wait" as sudden thought came to her
mind. 81 wish to send a note to
Captain Gartshore,' and with tremb-
ling. cold fingers, that could scarcely
do her will. she wrote these words:
Captain Gartshore: l can not ride
with you tomorrow. Helen Arundel
$50. now" said Helen, solemnly,
her face like that of some accusing
spirit; go and pray to your God for
peace. boston Transcript.