The Monitor-register., 1897-02-19

Lila, sharply.
II like JONES'" volunteered Tommy.
"She never pinches me like aunty Lila,
and she tells me stories."
Ugh! What au afternoon and evening
of halma and hospitality. Six hours of
Miss Lilla's thin-lipped incessant gabble
had made Sir Paul feel as if he had por-
lidge for brains. He beat an early retreat
to his own quarters, having promised
to be ready to do escort duty the follow
ing day, and soon found himself in bed
where he slept the deep sleep of profound
exhaustion.
"Sahib," said the voice of the khansa-
nah, entering the room the next morning
with his tea and most solemn face, "the
cholera has come
"WhatP Herer' springing out of bed
Eyes. Four coolies died last night
and the sergent's wife an hour ago
Her grave is dug"
''Good God And my bearer p''
"He is better but the men sahibs have
run away"
Sir Paul walked over to the stables
empty; every heelrope was loose.
"Where is my pony ?" be demanded
"The mem sahib's ohuprassi took him
He will send him back from the mex,
rest house. He will not forget"
AYE, and if catch him he will never
forget me, said Sir Paul, with angry
emphasis.
Having visited his beale. he was
returning to the bungalow again wher
the khansamah accosted him.
"The Sergeant's wife is about TO be
laid 10 the grave. Will the sahib see itP'
you mean read the burial service
Yes of course; but have no book"
''The mis- s-sshib may have one."
Turning his eyes to the verands he saw
that it was no longer vacant. He beheld
what he might have taken for the ghos
of Miss Jones. She rose instantly anG
called out: "Keep away! Please keep
awayr
"Miss-sahib was with tie Sergeant'i
wife all night" explained the kbansmah
"Why are you here and alone ?" asked
Sir Paul.
Again the khansamah made answer
'The mem sahib and his sister tool
the two ponies and left dandy"-point
ing. mo ooolies-no QUE to carry it
Mem-sahib ride pony and take boy
Miss 'sahib take dog-ohubrassi tax.
jewel case"
II call this pretty fix that you are
left in" said Sir Paul. addressing tht
girl, his face red with anger.
"They could not help it," she pro
tested. "Mrs. Passingham was terri fec
and so was Miss Moray. They wer,
nearly crazy"
"Well, they were not too terrified tc
remember the jewels and the dog"
81 know they will send back for me
they promised to do so."
"Send!'-with angry scorn. "Who
would come here? There is only one
way out of it. You will have to walk.
The khansamah will accompany you to
the next bungalow. 1 would go with
you, Of course, only don't like to leave
my old bearer alone"
81 cannot walk" she answered, with
tears in her eyes. II upset kettle of
water this morning and scalded myself
very badly" apd she held up shoeless
foot, swathed with bandages.
Sir Paul was literally at his wits end
He stood speechless.
"You want this" she continued, hold
ing out prayer book open at the service
for the burial of the dead. "And 1 will
come with you if you will help me;" and
she hobbled down the steps.
Later as they sat together, at either
side of the veranda table, he said:
"Your name is very familiar one tc
mel saw it in your prayer book"
"Jones is familiar name to every one
l fancy"
81 mean your Christian name-Ar
morell. Is it family name ?''
Il am called after my godmother, Lady
Vane,"
Lady Vane is my aunt" A pause
"Does she know that you are out here ?'
"Oh, yes; she hears from me fire.
quently."
''She shall hear of you again very
shortly-from me-"
"Oh, no"-with a face of unmistak-
able distress. ''Please do not mention
me, or say how you have met me-"
"Why not if 1 may presume to ask.
godsister-for she is my godmother toop'
IL suppose will have to tell you," she
said, leaning her head on her hands and
looking down at the table-''and then you
will understand"
"Well, must confess that I would like
to understand"
"My father was rector of the parish
where the Vancs live-she is my mot hers
cousin. The living was small and he had
a large family. 1 am the eldest of five
girls. am %. And there are two boys.
"When my father died my mother was
left very badly off, and we had of course,
to leave the dear old rectory. My mother
took little cottage in the village, and
friends were very kind to her and helped
her to send the boys to college. My
fathers sister, who is the wife of a
planter out here, offered to take me.
Aud l came out nearly three years ago.
"My aunt is not the least like my
father. She is woman of ungovernable
temper. She took an inveterate dislike
to me.-which increased day by day, and
finally came to climax-when II
refused to marry to please her-a man l
loathed. She then turned me adrifr an d
washed her hands of me.
"My aunt and uncle went off to
Australia for six months and left me to
shift for myself. A school fellow took
me in-for time; but she and her
husband were obliged to go to England
1 could not go home, for had no money,
and | was determined not to add to my
mothers burdens.
l seemed to have no foothold in the
world when found myself with 25
rupees in third class boarding house in
Calcutta. l had advertised in the
Pioneer for situation as governess or
companion. No answers. 1t ended in
my remaining in the boarding house as
bookkeeper and help, In exchange for
board and lodging.
81 was there for more than year-for
hcln hot T..