The herald., 1896-02-02

| Itdm6dUl6 Dub W T0SOue.
The enemy dragged into position tive
six-pounders, themselves keeping ou
of range almost entirely. and com
menced firing. Their aim was poor
and soon ceased for some reason, and
instead an assault was made and kept
up on the gate as before, with the same
| loss to them, while we had five or sia
wounded myself among the number
| Night closed in. They now attempted
| to burst the gate with heavy ram
made of trees locked together. but il
WAS SO clumsy and our aim WAS so good
that nothing came of it. We could not
make out this reason why they discon-
tinued their artillery fire, and were
never able TO learn the reason.
This strange state OF things con-
tinued two days longer, we had five
more wounded, one young nleoe OF
Mrs. Challoner, when at last we saw a
movement in their ranks, and that in
Vulnerable bundles of nullah grass
and dry wood were being piled up
all round our walls. with the idea Of
smoking our little fortress so as as to
lessen the deadliness of our fire, and
finally to sutfocate us. In less thar
an hour a huge pile was against the
building on the windward side; it was
ignited, and we now fought almost
blindly, aud almost choked by the
penetrating, pungsnt vapor. l closed
all apertures on that side, but it did
not seem TO mitigate the evil. We
ware almost exhausted. We feared
that Kerapors had fallen and hence
the failure of succor.
I had just hurriedly made my
rounde, and saying all could to cheer
the helpless ones, when / went up on
the roof, and with the aid Of my field
glass looked in the direction of help.
My eyes wafered 80 badly l could
make out nothing, but staggered and
almost fell as heard trumpets sound
ing. I was in high fever, my head
was almost splitting with pain, and /
really thought was delirious.
But help was close at hand. My SER
want had reached Kerapore, only to
find it almost in as bad a fix as we were,
owing to great uprising Gni assault
on our position there. 1t was only
after hard fighting that the trouble was
over and it became possible to relieve
US. And now q strong detachment
came swarm:ng up the heights. The
natives made plucky stand, especially
on the plateau surrounding us, but in
an hour all was over. Challoner had
his wife in his arms, and everybody
was congratulating everybody else and
wishing each other happy New Year,
for it was New Years day.
Shortly after this / was inv lidsd
and sailed for home. For the first few
days at sea l was so weak as to be una
BILE to go to the table, much less to go
on deck, but one day could stand the
confinement of my cabin no longer.
reached the deck all right, aud was
presently introduced by the captain to
a young lady named Adele Wygsnt, the
orphan daughter and only child of q
California engineer who had plans to
irrgate the desert lands of his native
state and had gone to inspect the vari-
Gus modes of irrigation in the east and
especially those OF the government in
the northwest provinces in India.
Adele's mother died when she was an
infant, her father had not remarked,
and so she had become his insep-
erabls companion. AS she grew to
womauhood she had become
a necessity to him, as he was con-
sumptive. He had caught cold six
months before and died after only a
few days illness. The orphan girl WAS
now going to Butte county, California,
to an uncle on her mothers side who
was engaged in mining. she told me
very frankly she had been longing to
meet me, as she had mot Mrs. Cnal-
loner, who had told her 1 would be on
the same vessel.
Thrown thus together, and with
many common subjects. Of interest, it
is no wonder / became enamored of
the lovely Californian and her charm
ing ways. Her chief topic was her
native state and its beauties, and the
joy she felt that her many trials we're
over and she was in fdture to live in
her own land and among her own peo-
pie.
My health so rapidly improved that
by the time we reached London l
could walk with ease and endure some
fatigue. The time came for US to say
farewell What her feelings we're with
regard to me l could not guess, and I
felt somehow that this was not the
place to WOO her. In her home and
among her own people was the proper
one. 70 do so now would seem like
taking advantage Of her lonely posi-
ton.
She was met at London by friends
with whom she would spend few days
prior to sailing for America. called
at the house where she was staying
and had nearly an hour in her COM
pany. When it came time to leave
she put her hand in mine and clasping
it said "If you ever come to Califor-
MIA, l hope we may meet again." l.
could only mutter few words in re-
ply and take my leave.
In quiet little Dsvonshire village
completely recovered in few months
my usual health. My leave was almost
up. + hated the thought Of returning
to India. My heart was in California
with the lovely Adela. I was my own
master in every way, was possessed OF
an ample fortune. Why should 1 not
follow my hearts dictation? In short, 1
eold out, took passage to New York
and San Francisco via Panama.
The voyage was unevantful, and one
lovely autumn morning I saw the
glories of the Golden Gate. The mex t
day [ started for Grass Valley, where
learned that Mr.. Brainerd, Adela's 3
uncle, had disposed of most o. his in
terests in Grass Valley and had gone
to live in San Francisco. Thither l
proceeded and had no difficulty in
finding my love. How she glowed and
sparkled as we met, to her, 80 uaex-
pectedly! l must see how lovely her
own California was and taste it's hos
pitality. saw her almost daily. We
nd @lx,