The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-07-06

mo question of your going in to-
night" he said to young Lincoln, as
they looked out upon the drenched
landscape. eth be little awkward
for your sister Tia Ugh, I'm afraid. But
if she doesn't mind using my room, she
is more than welcome to it, such as it
is; and / think my little grass-cut girl
could manage to act as ayah for once
in a way. You two fellows can have
the second room; and ! shall sleep like
top on the lounge in here. only
hope your sister won't be abominably
uncomfortable"
"Oh, rather not. Awfully good of
you to give her your room. She'll be
as right as a trivit, thanks" responded
the other, with brotherly unconcern.
"She's not faddy sort at all. Rather
enjoys little upset of this sort than
otherwise"
And it appeared that he spoke the
truth.
at wiz be capital fun" the fair
Edith declared with certain naive
frankness which did not i'll become her,
but which nevertheless Jared little
on Brodie's unaccustomed ear. "And
l shall see the little Himalayan beauty
after ALL Will she really consent to do
ayah for me, do you Think" This,
with pretty laugh, and an arch look
at Brodie, which missed its mark alto
gether.
"She will obey my orders, OF course"
he returned, with grave politeness.
But his assurance on this point prov
ed a trife premature. For once in
her life, Sunia was disposed to be re-
bellious. When the order reached her
that she should cleanse herself to the
best Of her ability, and carry hot water
and lamp to the Miss Sahib's room,
she sent answer fatty: "Tell the Sahib
that cannot do this thing" But the
courage of despair is too often the mere
effervescence of conscious weakness;
and, even as she spoke, Sunia knew in
her heart that love and long habit
would, in the end, compel her to eat
her own brave words.
At the first sound of Brodie's voice
calling her from the back veranda, she
dashed headlong across the rain-splash-
ed compound" and flung herself,
dripping, at his feet.
"Oh, my lord, forgive thy slave that
she spoke unseemly words in the Bit
terness of her heart. Let the Sahib
command what he will, il shall be
DONE"
Then she uprose and faced him, in
all the fullness of her wonderful beauty;
her hands clasped, her small frame
a-quiver with emotion held bravely in
check.
Brodie was not little mystified by
hnr rol, ato IN
Linden. But her words and manner
stirred him strangely, and he would
willingly have annulled his order, were
it not that he shrank from encounter
ing Edith Lindon's arch comments,
fanked by Col. Poden's mercilessly
quizzical asides. AS it was he spoke
soothingly.
81 make no command, Sunia. l ask
only that thou shouldst do this thing
because that it would be shameful
talk that Miss-Sahib should be alone
in my house, having no woman to wait
on her-and that thou knowest."
at is enough, Sahib. l go. What
pleasure hath this slave in life, save to
do the Huzoor's will?"
And she departed, fulfilled with
righteous resolve, but very sore at
heart.
Edith Linden was not more light
minded than others of her sex and age
but she was young and attractive; and
perhaps not without reason-very
we'll satisfied with herself and with the
world at large. She was just now en-
gagged, pleasantly enough, in "doing"
India; because it is the correct thing to
''do" India in these days-to roll BON.
bay, Delhi, a native state or two, and
scraps of the Himalayas, into one great
dust.coated pill, and swallow it whole,
to be reprodnced-with harmless nee
essary embellishments-at western dim
ner-tables, for the benefit of the great
uninitiated.
She regarded her present predica-
ment chiefly in the light of an excellent
anecdote to be added to an already
well-stocked list. To complete it there
was but one thing needful-a sketch of
Sunia herself. But on that point Bro
die had proved politely obdurate, and
Edith was fain to content herself with
taking mental photograph of the girls
as soon as opportunity should offer.
Hc plOCcbs Cuthlicu SOOu utdl VI
frank British staring on Miss Lindon's
part, when, at length, Sunia presented
herself, with the necessary hot water
and towels. 1t did not, however, oc.
cur to the Western girl that the "wild
little Hill creature" could possibly re-
sent being inspected. Therefore, she
inspected her carefully, and not with
out evident admiration.
But-for all her barbaric dress, and
her peculiar prejudice in the matter of
cleanliness-Sunia was human. A dull,
hot flush burned through her brown
skin, making her look more enchanting
| than ever; but she preserved her
Sphinx'like gravity of expression.
The goat-hair necklace, with its
rough gems and silver pendant, capti-
waited Miss Lindon's fancy. 1t would
look charming, thought she, on her
'curio" table at home. Happy thought
Perhaps the girl would sell it.
With the frantic assurance of a
spoiled child, she stepped up to Sunia,
and laid light, irreverent finger upon