The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-04-17

Mrs. Turtle watched the spoliation Of her
nest, helplessly Tapping on her broad
back, whittier the sticks of the Dicnickers
had landed her. Many having no real love
Of sport in their hearts, and looking upon
the occasion as affording opportunities
for Irritation, wandered about in couples,
and of these we're Melvill and Jessie. At
ter few commonplaces neither SPOKE,
though each OWNED the thought upper
most in the others mind. and Jessie, with
love-sharpened instinct, knew the words
trembling on the mans lips, and longed
for, yet half dreaded, his speaking But
1t was not until they reached ruined
shrine and stopped on its steps to rest
that the words were spoken and her de-
sire fulfilled.
| IT loved you from the first evening ]
saw you at the bandstand. l tried TO
keep away, but II was no good"
And Jessie, in the glimmering dawn of
happiness, forgot to ask why he should
have kept away.
ITO think that it was quite a chance
my coming to India! Had it not been for
Mrs. Swintcn we should never have met
'And should never have gained your
! love. I feel eternally grateful to her
"And-about the future?"
LET us talk of the present that is ours
| As the prophet says: Who can foretell
the event of anything.
Your leave is nearly up, but you won't
hurry away now?"
| 1--WE got an extension"
| "That's good-then eve can go together
| He held her at arms length, and look
| ed into her eyes for the space of 10 Sec
onds. do you mean it?" he asked slowly.
Yes, of course. But Why?" The ques-
toner looked puzzled.
"Then we will go. But are you quite
sure?'
"sure of what? Of loving you?-of
course am-now and ever
He stopped the words with a kiss
| &c
fighting against fate"
mot the least-but what is that?"
A sea mist had crept over the sands
and surrounded the two standing on the
steps Of the shrine. There were sounds Of
light foot steps in the distance and the
rustic of siiken draperies and low voices
a party of women had come to pray at
the shrine, and were kneeling and laying
their offering before It, They Frustrated
| themselves with many applications and
filled the air with their voices.
1T is time to go back now, OF the others
| will be looking for u.s. said Jessie as she
took a step forward. Come" But Mel
will neither moved nor answered; he stood
with his arms folded staring at one of
the women who kept a little apart from
the others. Jessie went nearer and touch =
ed his arm, across the ring of mist be-
tween them. What is it?' she asked.
He removed her hand gently. wait, "
he said in an altered voice. Listen to
| what nave 10 say, Lnen 90 what you
will. I am an utter brute, weak fool
only loved you"
But what has the woman to do with
it? Do you know her?'
mo; but at first sight she reminded
me of another wuman-nly wife It's
an old story, and not particularly edify-
ing one. l married her-foOl that l was
10 years ago at Nunipore. She left me,
and I haven't seen her for years. l could
have got free if I tried, but there seemed
no particular reason until l met you.
Then 1 made every effort TO trace her,
but without success, and whether she IS
alive or dead I don't know. Tonight I
forgot her existence. I'll go away at
once
And yet you" the girls voice broke.
II was mad. For heavens sake forget
it all! I don't ask you to forgive me
words would be Of little use. Day after
day 1 kept hoping that some evidence Of
her death would be found, and at one
time there seemed to be a clue, but it
came to nothing, and tried to leave you
without speaking: but now-good- bye"
Jessie stretched her hand across the
mist, tears blinded her eyes, and she
could see nothing. Indignation would
come later on; now she could only feel
a dead pain and an unspeakable hatred
for the unknown woman.
Ten minutes later they rejoined the
turtle hunters. The drive home was a ST
lent one. hundred questions as to the
turn events had taken rose to Mrs. Swim
toms lips, but something in the girls face
kept them unspoken. At last the bunga-
low was reached, and Jessie wished her
hostess goodnight abruptly.
Pm going home next mail" she said.
Melvill returned to the shrine. The wo-
men had finished their prayers and were
taking their departure with much ceTo-
mony. He stood gazing at them Tetrac-
ing his past bit by bit Some seven years
before his wife had vanished into, the vast
unknown of native India, and he, rejoc-
ing to be free, thought little of 1t, for
before his marriage was many months
old he realized his fatal error. Now he
felt that he would give most of his pos
sessions In this world and compound his
hopes of the next for one piece of salts
| factory evidence concerning her fate and
because such evidence was not forthcom-
ing two lives must be wrecked.
| A sound reused him from his rev5riC
squatttng mohonless on the ground was
his sails holding his Arab pony. "Take the
mare home, I return not tonight" he
said. He waited by the shrine little
longer then turned his steps inland. down
the dusty road through the sleeping can
comment, to where the tram-lines run to
the great native city, with it's crooked.
narrow streets, mysterious houses and
teeming life. He scarcely knew what he
was doing certainly not where he was
going; the impulse to do something, any
NA@AAA9 " S9SepS the PRESENT. lillptlieu MIN
| EDWARDS
AS the stars paled before the first streak
of dawn everything stirred into life, Men
arose from their sleep, adjusted their pag-
ris, and went forth to their work; women,
brass lotahs on their heads and babies
on their hips prepared to fetch water;
pariams skunk growing away; the morn
ing shone upon a scene of indescribable
squator fifth and brilliant color.
'Sahib!' an aged crone, wrinkled and
hideous, with gray hair struggling over
her bleared eyes, placed herself in his
way. ''Melvill SahihV
| What is it?' he exclaimed Impatient
ly, wondering that she should know his
| name.
In bygone years the Sahib spoke not
| SO, whined the woman, when Rance
What knowest thou of Ranee?" almost
shouted Melvill selling the skeleton
wrists and making the glass bangles
! chink,
I was as a mother to her the child of
my dead sister,!
A CLEAN of recognition dawned upon
| Melvill as he looked at the old woman,
| who 10 years before had delivered her
| l4-year-old niece into his keeping for q
| goodly sum of rupees.
Where is she now?' he asked, hold
ing her tightly, lest she should vanish
through some open doorway.