The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-01-03

I1C UUS UtCJ OIt tftD CnICSHOtCt.
distinction-a man who had been his
superior officer at his first country sta
tion. His host was Sir Edward Moul.
ton now, K. c. S. /. and a mem
ber of council. You must have been in
India yourself in order fully to appre-
ciate the exalted dignity OF IA ,nomber
of council. He lived in q yc-y fino house
on Malabar hill, with a very fine view
of the sea and the city, ard was sup
posed to keep the very best horses, to
drink the very best wine and to give
the very best dinners in the whole Pres
idency.
When Phil Gilman arrived at Sir Ed
wards door, half an inch deep in gener-
GUS dust from the lavish hospitality of
the Great Indian Peninsular railway Ga
line which endows every traveller free
of charge with a small landed estate to
carry away home with him), he was
met on the threshold by dream of
beauty in a loose white dress which
fairly took his breath away. The dream
of beauty was tall and dark, lovely
woman OF that ripper and truer lowell
ness that only declares itself as charac-
ter develops. Her features were clear
cut and delicate and regular, her eyes
large and lustrous, her lips not too
thin. but rich and tempting; her brow
was high, and surmounted by luscious
wealth of glossy black hair which Phil
never remembered to have seen equaled
before for its sickness of texture and its
strange blue sheen, like steel or the
grass of the prairies. A apeenly grace
distinguished her mien. Her motion
was equable. AS once the sons of God
saw the daughters of men that they
were fair and straightway coveted
them, even so Philip Gilman looked at
that dignifed stranger and saw at the
first glance she was a woman to be
loved, soul high throned, very calm
and beautiful
There was much excuse for him, He
had been living FOR three years in an
up country station, where he had never
once seen real live white woman, and
under such circumstances the mere sight
of ones fellow countrywomen (believe
one who has tried) IS delight and
joy to one. And then she was SO beau
tifgl with such high type Of intellec-
tual beauty; no mere fluffy haired
schoolgirl, with red cheeks and lips,
but genuine woman, with soul in her
face and pervading sense of grace and
dignity in all har movements. When she
stepped forward and smiled and held
out her hand to him, Phil's heart sank
instantly. To think that in world
which ihQloses such infinite possibilities
as these he should have tied himself
down blindfold-for it was really blind
fold-to 55 years of pretty Aggie Qs:
wald
The vision of beauty stepped forward
and held out one frank hand.
"Mr. Gilman?'' she said inquiringly.
"Ah, yes, thought so. Ny ppeleis SO
sorry, but he had 70 so out. and he ask
ed me to receive you. You've heard my
name, dare say I'm his niece-Miss
Trevelyan.
Phil accepted the proffered hand with
some Slight misgiyings-ha was go very
dusty--and I blush to write it, but
something much like little thrill of
delight ran through him at touch of her
slender fingers. If poor Aggie (at Port
Said) could haze seen her lover just
that moment she would have turned
back that very day and returned by the
homeward bound mail to London,
though, to be sure, poor Aggie herself
was that moment engaged in very
desparats aud heartfelt Irritation with
but I viii not anticipate
Phil looked down at his coat and
stammeEed eut feebly some inarticulate
apology.
"I'm really not fit for ladies' soci-
ety." he murmured, with a glance at
the landed estate. From Puma here
is so terribly dpsty!''
Frada arevelyan smiled. ooh, we've
all done it ourselves, she answered.
81 came from Puma last week, so ]
know how to sympathi2e with you. One
feels as if the Indian ocean didn't hold
enough water ever to wash one quite
clean again. won't ask you into the
drawing room now and keep you sitting
there in discomfort. You'd better coup
to your own room at once, and as soon
as you've got rid of the first few layers
a cup of tea'll be ready down here for
you"