The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-23
..she is a very beautiful woman, Helen"

s.Sha is a very beautiful woman, Helen.
..-ss I. suppose there could not be two
,r,rions about that, my dear. She is
,,ssu-iful woman, and a good one, what's
(which l can't say for all the hand
come women know. Pood Joan! she was
horn under an unlucky star. I think hers
&c ore Of the saddest stories L ever heard.
psrbaps when you get to knowe her, as
,.ou will by and by, you may get her to
,ou Won the history Of her life. could tell
q, won myself. only that she might not like
&, She is curiously reserved towards
strangers
NV friend whipped up her pony, and we
talked of other things. We were driving
in a small two wheeled cart along one OF
che prettiest roads of lovely little hill
station in India, when the above CONVEX
sstion took place. I was newcomer to
che Mace. NV friend, Helen Barnard, had
invited me to stay with her some months,
and / had accepted her invitation with
great glee. and had been in the place about
a week. Helens husband held a response
bic position, and she herself was in con-
sequence one Of the leaders of society in
s.. She was no longer young, but she
was a good-looking woman, and knew how
TO make herself popular. Indeed, many
people said her husbands high position
was entirely owing to her tact and general
popularity, and certainly there could be no
doubt as to who possessed the larger share
Of the brains and general attractions.
Robert Barnard was Woodworking and
dull but he showed his wisdom in giving
his wife the reins of government, and ac-
cepting with gratitude all the good Tor
tune which she had always brought him.
That he also worshiped his wife goes with
out saying, and though so utterly different
from each other in every respect, the Bar
nards were as happy a couple as one could
wish to find in India or anywhere else.
had known her all my life and since my
fate had brought me out 10 India, too,
had found her advice and help invaluable
The woman about whom we had been
speaking was also a guest under the same
hOspitable roof as myself
Joan Farquiiaf was widow, about thir-
~ years of age, and as beautiful as an an
gel She had been out in India before, but
under what circumstances 1 did not then
know. She had been a widow about seven
years, and Helen Barnard and she were
fast friends. That is all l knew of her when
l arrived, and it was some time before I
heard from her own lips the story of her
life. No one living in the same house with
her could fail to be struck with the Sweet
ness Of her nature, and her unfailing good
ness of heart. Men raved about her, ana 1
think there was scarcely a bachelor in
the place who had not laid his hand and
heart at her feet at some time or another.
And the extraordinary part of it all was
they remained staunch friends even after
she had refused them. They spoke of her
as an angel, and the an who would have
dared to give way TO one disparaging SEN
timent with regard to her, would have
found life scarcely bearable afterwards
And not only were the men her firm al
dies, but the women shared the same in
fatuation. They forgot for once to envy
her her triumphs. and no jealous feelings
or hard words ever came to the surface in
reference to Joan Farquhar. She, on her
part bore all this popularity with the
same unassuming gentleness of bearing
which characterized her behavior at all
dimes She took little part in the gay do
lhss OF the station, and never saw her
al ball Naturally one wondered what
the history of such a woman would be
and longed to hear the story, of the exis-
lence of which ! was certain from what
Helen had told me shortly after my ar
rival in the place.
Two months passed and I knew little
more about her than I had done at first.
One thing puzzled me. On a certain day
IN the week she always drove out by her
sell went away eactly at the same hour
every week, and was never prevented go
l4s oy rain or any other unpleasant
change in the weather
l asked Helen where she went to. but
She gave me no satisfactory answer, and
grew more puzzled than ever
~ ldsJ one day l heard Joans story
one mad not been well. and had stayed
away from several festive gatherings in
oIuer 10 be with her, and to help her
through the weary days which, by the
ooc-or orders, she was condemned to
'!rAu confined to her room.
q "e bafnards were engaged to dine out
i UH certain particular evening, and
1"gush Helen had intimated her extreme
s. ,.-'A,s Hess 10 stay at home and send Rob-
~ lone with her excuses, both Joan and
.nS9eI mad insisted on the rulfillment of
the engagement and l had seen her mack
q e. up IN her jinrickshaw, and safely
'' ,Si yea on tc her dinner party.
Il ne" we settled ourselves down in cosy
,9--i-oI1 Ior the evening. We did without
, riaps as we both preferred the CHEEKY
w., vi the fire alone Mrs. Farquhar
500 'gIIs IN a long armchair, clad in
~ PRESSING gown of white silk, with
,ie curious silver trimming on it. She
- d large palm leaf fan in her hand to
CO., Aef face from the fire, and I was
lg.-eHt TO sit huddled up on the tiger
a T f'H rug at her feet, and just admire her.
irte- - we began to talk of things which
p,esled us both. Suddenly she said:
. 6,,e.atriee. what is to-day?''
su. w e1hesday, DEAR the 21st," I az
,s.- AA! She remarked Then. do you
e5 ,.'.A taey will let me out on Friday?''
oyy,sol II can prevent it," I answered.
v5, Ky my dear Joan, do you want to kill
~ '-sei of course, you won't be allowed
s3, ~ OUT on Friday. Whoever heard Of
S5, 9paSm of pain passed over her face
+. 'onSlng in me to know what caused
nm ~ me better of me. I laid my hand
W, "eIs and said: Dear Joan, why must
5, 80 out on Friday? These terrible
g, 10 the rain and the cold can't be
Tor you. Let me go for you instead,
e- stronger than you. If it must be, let
h, an answer she shook her head gent
i7e men, after a pause, she said, with
Sentleness in her sweet voice:
M. -''Ie Beatrice, you could not go for
-,. and do not imagine, dear. tnat
"1 martyr of myself in going It Is
-lt1teSt plea gl1~p Tr1rarx- wool lo~7 p