The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-07-01

| Outs1de We came upon the wh1te-
robed boy" rubbing his shoulders,
with smile Of satisfaction upon his
eace. ..s
"Sticksp inquired, sympathetically.
The boy" grinped.
"sahib make plenty bobbery." he
replied.
That night, leaning over the PROV Of
the vessel watching the glimmering.
fantastic lights in the phosphorescent
waters, Mrs. 1rinder waxed confiden-
tial, and l learned the reason of her
journey.
She was unused to travelling, hav-
ing never been fifty miles away
from home before. Ten years ago she
had loved and been beloved; but the
loved one was ineligible, and her par
ents. fully alive to the advantage Of
wool. had persuaded her to marry old
Trinder; but now that she was on her
way to India to seek out her early love.
They had always been faithful, though
they had not corresYonded THAT would
have been wrong put she had frequent
news of him froin a mutual friend.
| That he still cared for her seemed GER
tain, for he HAD never married, al
though he had attained a good posi-
| ton.
There was something touching In her
simplicity. and l felt greater inter-
est than hitherto in the little woman,
and degree Of respect for her child
like fidelity.
"You have written to say you are
comingT" inquired.
| "Oh, no! l could not do that; It
would seem like asking him to marry
me. But I know he is in Bombay;
shall see him, and then" She broke
off with happy smile: then, after
pause, continued: "You must have
| thought me stupid and unsocia BILE; but
every moment Of the day I am think
Ing Of our meeting and looking for
| ward to 1t. If the days would only
pass quicker. They are so terribly
long"
Later in the evening l reported our
conversation to the dragoon and he
took it distinctly bad, for the little wo-
man exercised a strange fascination
over him.
The WOrst-tempered Man was
source Of much annoyance to the pas
sengers generally, and especially to
my cabin passenger, who fed from his
presence. His language, too, was not
always confined to Hindustani. and al
though one could not help admiring
the breadth of his vocabulary, felt
1t my bonnden duty to report him to
the captain, who moved him to the
port side of the ship, which caused fur
ther deterioration in his temper
One morning we were awakened
with the glad tidings that Bombay
was in sight. 1t took Mrs Triuder lit
tie time to dress and collect her i'm
pedimenta; before l was up she was
on the deck, where I Joined her later.
The passengers luggage was being
drawn UP from the hold, and near the
saloon companion way sat the Worst
tempered Mans servant Upon two
portmantaux, bruised but cheerful,
counting rupees into a small canvas
bag. There were goodly number,
the price Of many heatings.
80 we are really there at last" be-
gan Mrs. Trinder. Then she suddenly
stopped and stared at something in
front Of her Following the direction
of her eyes, l encoaNtered a portman-
teau, and read tie Inscription in white
letters, "Fenth.in =. Davcnant." Then
I understood.
At that instant the Worst-tempered
Man appeared. He looked at Mrs.
Trinder, and for the first time their
eyes met; dawn of recognition broke
over him.
"Is 1t possibleT' he began.
Mrs. Trlnder bowed.
you have a timetable" I inter-
rupted, quickly; "kindly tell me what
time the evening train starts for Poo
nah."
tion Mrs. Trinder was half way down
the companion, and when went into
the cabin few minutes later she was
sitting forlorn on her cabin box, the
picture Of disappointed hopes.
The blow had been hard one
Everything seems to have come to
an end" she said mournfully. 81
don't know what to do or where to CO."
"But l do. You will come with me
to Poonah, and stay there until you
have decided on your future"
Then l returned to the deck, where
found the dragon standing by his
guncase, his face gloomy and clouded
"My leave isn't Up for week yet,"
he remarked. 80 I'm going up coun-
try for a big shoot"
'YOu won't do anything of the sort.
Mrs. Trinder is coming to stay with
me-"
And her friend too?
l pointed to the deckhouse. where
stood the Worst-teiapered Man, peg.
glass in hand and profanity OH his lips.
THAT Is he," 7 said.
The clouds cleared from the dra.
goon's face instantaneously.
NTn Shn y, H..