The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-03-25

= NJ head of the valley
..-: O. -: III which it stands
1s~a famous junction of ways.
ABOUT IL o'clock on certain August
Smornihg sthe Weary traveller, was rep:
resented by young lady, who was
struggling Up the stony track, carry:
ing on her back solid red haired boy,
who appeared to have an excellent pair
of legs of his own, with which from
time, to time he kicked her vigorously.
z S"Oh, Tommy, dear,''
iyour poor; horse is doing her best.
! Please don't beat her.
"Perhaps you will allow T. ME Is i1el
1ieve you?'' said al pleasant voice be-
side her, and, turning her head, she
found that She had been ovverrtaken by
= . bronzed, black bearded man riding
Z stout Bhootia pony ,.,.,".,,<,
& NAY, nay!'' objected the boy, in a
o shrill, peeyish voice. may, nay, nay
mungta" ldon't want). *i>':e:':-
u 4 ''Thank you very ,much," gasped the
lady, suddenly sitting down on the
bank and depositing Tommy coolie
fashion, ''*Ias shall get on all right:
but, Tommy, you really must let me
rest for few minutes"
She was slight and fair and young,
though her face. had lost the look of
youth. IT, was q face. from which all
tight and mirth' and hope and color'had
been erased by care and climate.
A lady unquestiona bly,, and too young
to be the mother Of that great, selfish
sack, who, with his arms clasped about
her throat, was glazing truculcntly over
her shoulder,
Little beast':'' muttered the traveller,
Is he followed, leading his steed.. =
He had been ON q shooting trip into
Thibet, had parted that morning with
his two soldier companions, who were
Fastening to rejoin their regiment.
This girl staggering up the hill before
him was the first European woman he
had seen for three months. .atr.::.:,
Just before sunset there was great
hustle at the bungalow, a commotion
among the servants, betokening an i'm
portant arrival. Two ladies had ap-
peared-followed by whole cloud of
coolies. One rode pony, the other
occupied dandy, piled with red silk
cushions, borne by four gay jampan-
neis, and carried in her lap a black dog.
The veranda was soon stacked with
chairs, tiffin baskets, boxes and an air
of vitality and luxury seemed suddenly
to overwhelm the entire premises. The
lady who stepped out of her dandy,
giving rapid orders in vile Hindoostani,
was tall, fair, good-lool<ing woman,
with a long, horse-lile face, and quick,
amperious manners.
The stranger promptly recognized
her as Mrs. Eliot Passingham. Ten
years ago, when an impecunious SUBJ
altern, he had been Tilted by her cousin!
Her present companion was dark girl
of about five and twenty, with a pair of
restless black eyes and a. bright color,
who would have been handsome but for
her thin lips and expression of rooted
discomfort. She began patroling the
Veranda.
"And how is my own darling cherub,
MY angel, my goldy locks?" cried his
mother, as Tommy precipitated him
self into her open arms.
II want my things unpacked," COM
planned Lila. II want to get into tea
gown. Where is that creature, Jones?
Why is she not here?"
Zones! Jones!" called Mrs. Passing
ham, imperatively, and the girl in
stantly appeared, carrying tea tray.
''Ive been getting you some tea," she
explained.
swell, we'll, put that down, and do,
for goodness sake, hurry up those
coolies and get my box open. And
here-come and pull my boots Off" So
Aaying, she staiked into her own par
ticular hole or den.
So that pale, ladylil<e girl was Flor
ence Passingham's maid.
The sisters dined on the veranda.
as did also the traveller. They drank
champagne and made merry and ''the
girl with the boots," as he mentally
termed her, had every reason to be
called ''the girl with the tongue" for
hers never ceased.
After dinner they descended the
steps and began to trail up and down
"a - IL I'll Ill I'll tAAS oOO1Sl IdSS, CC1lh.
ing as loudly and as confidentially as if
their audience merely consisted of two
stuffed figures.
"My dear Lila" said Mrs. Passing
ham, hating to speak, and speaking
with distinct emphasis, you must re-
member that you are 2s-that we 20
home in February-and that you can
not pick and choose, You played your
cards very stupidity with Maj. Paclse-
let him slip through your fingers, and
that horrid Spratt girl snapped him up.
Take my advice -<
The stranger dared not wait to hear
It, but plunged hastily into his own
room, where he remained close pris-
oner until the two ladies' had with
drawn to bed, and he heard them call
ing "Jones." ..:....s. s>>stisz5
The following morning he was
awakened by the rain descending in
torrents. The roar" upon the roof, the
splashing in the veranda. announced
the last and worst burst of the mon
/ soon. H.. ~. ~. g. gsSs%a.s !.
II impossible to travel on such q duy.