The herald., 1897-03-28
AFTR MANY DAYS.

"1've brcht your tea"
1t was Il voice Of the dragon that
reused me fn my siesta as he stood by
my deck cha teaoup in hand, as whole
some speciin of young England (5 feet
IL In fannelss you would meet any day
between Port Id and the gulf of Alden.
His face shoN that he was brimming
over with mar of weighty Importance,
30 gathered nelf together and prepared
to listen and adse thereon, fer, being an
old stager, wa.sed to the condolences Of
subalterns.
Fact Is, Tween hard hit" began the
dragon, sitting ,wn on the deck.
"Miss Stanton, INQUIRED sympathet-
ically, for that yhg woman, on her way
to marry plan, had worked havoc
among the unaropriated masculine
hearts.
"Miss Stantoni %. Il mean the wom-
an who sits next yott table--the one with
the beautiful eyes
my cabin COMPTON, Mrs. Trinderi
She is probably goinout to join her hus-
band" I added warhgly.
"Oh, no; she's q wow. Hunt of the
Fourth told me all out It, He has an
uncle who has place tse to old Trinder's.
and he-Hunt, mea-knew them quito
well by sight Old Triier was old enough
to be her father. He ME pile in cotton
or something of the rt and died last
year."
"Well, you know morabout her than I
do. Though she Is my ,bin companion
haven't found her PARTICULARLY so
ciable"--
"Thet's trst It. Ons;oem't eet any
'forarder' with her; she WIT talk 10 any
body"
"Well, don't go how 1 Q, mako her''-
"Bus u you were to as her to tea or
something Of the sort
"And osk you 10 meet heaof coursee
don't mind, so be here at tomorrow. Z"
And proceeded TO eoribble aote 10 Hunt
of the Fourth in consideratioof his uncle
having known old Trinder.
Somehow that tea was not ssuccess, al
though the cook surpassed hilself In tea
cakes, ana that subtle favoiof slowed
cockroaches that pervades allship's tea
was reduced to . minimum
Hunt Of the Fourth contribted many
anecdotes Of bis uncle, who new old
Trnder, but MIRA Trinder WON not be
drawn into conversation. She nswored
the dragoon's prattle with monoyllables,
her eyes fxed on the misty horiso, where
the mountain range of Sinai ws dtmly
visible.
The sound Of the dressing bell boke up
the party, leaving the dragon haied In
his object but moro In love than evr. He
was one of those men who take the CON-
plaint seldom but badly. and Mira Trader,
with her slim figure, big eyes, sweet mila
and monosynabies. was In his eyes thsper.
feotion Of womanhood, And Mrs Trkdea
was lucky woman, for I had knownshe
dragon intimately for ten years and cold
not have wished for better husband NJ.
self.
"You'u como ashore!" said tho dragon
four days later as We steamed slowly Inc
harbor at Alden, and . shoal Of dusky u
fants surrounded the chip, chanting 1
unison their chorus Of "have Q dive,
while boatloads Of woolly headed vende1
Of ostrich eggs, feathers and carved curie
from the interior prepared to squeeze thei
victims.
consented, for coaling ship IL not
delectable place; but, In spite Of all pervai
ing dust, Mrs. Trinder could not be PEI
suaded to accompany us, and we left be
surrounded by a swarm Of native mel
chants, who, with unerring instinct
marked her as an cosy prey.
The journey to the empty tanks wa
jolty and dusty as ever. Having inspecte
the few trees, we commenced our descent
and in 90 doing came across the wort
tempered man. In the course Of an oven
full life 1t has been my misfortune to fol
gather with many bad tempered mortal!
but this one could give points to any tw
other men Of my acquaintance and bes
there's nothing like a residence in the eas
for fraying out the edges Of ones temper
even those Of covenanted civilians.
He was an i'll favored, unwholesom
looking individual, with puffy checks an
watery eyes, betokening too great afflnit
for the insinuating peg. His carriage ha
como to grief on the road, and he wa
standing among the debris apostrophizin
the driver and his female relations to tt
third generation In terms that caused In
companions lip to curl with DISCUS
From one or two expressions borne aft.
US upon the breeze we learned with sorro'
that he was to be fellow passenger
Bombay.
On our return to the ship q couple I
hours later found Mrs Trinder sitting
her cabin among her purchases, wearing
very frightened expression. She was
timid little thing and about as flt to knoc
about the world alone as an unf1edge
canary, having evidently been kept in
bandbox all her life.
"They' We put O madman next door, 81
began in a low voice. "He's dreadful
violent. Listenp'
A string of Hindoostanee invective
mingled with blows falling on some du
substance, and ordinations of "Sahi
Sahibl" reached our cars through the ops
grating the headed the partition walls
the two cabins, and recognized the q
cents Of the worst tempered man.
"It's only temper" said reassuringl
you'll get used to that sort of thin
sure the boy is well paid or he wouldn
stand it. If the man swears too loudl
I'll speak to the captain"
Beating his servantl How dreadful
Let US go up on deck"
Outside we came upon the white robs
"boy'' rubbing his shoulders, with s,ni
of satisfaction on his face.
"Sticks9" inquired sympathetically.
The "boy" grinned. ''Sahib NAL
plenty bobbery," he replied.
That night, leaning over the PROV OF Il
vessel watching the glimmering, fantast
lights in the phosphorescent waters, Mr.
Trinder waxed confidential, and learnt
the reason of her journey. She was unust
to travelling, having never been so mil
from her home before. Ton years ago 81
had loved and been loved, but the love