The Florence daily tribune., 1898-04-28

"Ho,p beautiful It all Isl" said allie,
looking up at the thinking stars.
ready resounded the chatter of pots and
pans.
Full Of curiosity to see in what sort
of comfort Allie travelled, l entered my
own hut and was amazed at the COM
pleteness of the arrangements, A com
Portable bedplace, with mosquito cur
tains, occupied one side, a square of
mating covered the floor, portable
wash hand stand stood near the bed,
while against the opposite wall, neatly
arranged in rack, were my guns and
specimen cases. By the time I had
washed off the stains of travel and ex-
changed my riding costume for lounge
suit the native gong had summoned us
to dinner, and Allie and l, meeting on
the terrace, entered the center hut to-
gether.
II had been surprised at the COM
pleteness Of the arrangements of my
own hut how much more astonished
was now. Indeed had it not been for
the walls, which were covered with
some peculiar sort of tapestry, and the
different ceiling, l should hardly have
known that we were not in the bunga-
low at the settlement. The white cloth,
the glittering glass and silver. the costly
ornaments and the profusion of dishes
were the same, and when the same i'm
passive servant entered to wait upon us,
clad in his usual white livery, my as
constituent was complete. Allie was in
exceptionally good spirits, and for this
reason the meal proceeded in a most de-
lightful fashion.
When it was over, we drew our chairs
outside into the gathering gloom and
sat watching the firetiies dashing in and
out amid the tangle of dark forest
across the plateau. 1t was indeed a
night to be remembered. Overhead the
tropio stars shone in all their beauty !;
around US were the unfathomable depths
Of the forest; from the right sounded
the tinkling music Of stream: while
now and again out Of the darkness
would come the deep note of some forest
animal or the melancholy boot of an
owl or other night bird.
"How beautiful it all ISL said Allie,
looking up at the winking stars. Then
as if to herself eff only We could al
why's be as peaceable as this. how much
happier we should ber'
"Do you really think we should?" l
answered. Don't you think it is the
wild unrest and turmoil of the world,
to say nothing Of that constant strug-
Cling, which make existence SO sweet
to us?''
"Ah, you speak of your own worldp'
she said sadly. "Think what my world
is-continual plotting, endless striving,
with always the one great dread of cap
ture hanging over me. Oh, DIR. De Nor
manville, you little know the sort of
life leadi"
"Then why do you go on with it? II
only might
/ checked myself suddenly. Another
moment and the fatal words would have
passed my lips But to see her thus and
not to tell her of my love was almost
more than could bear. kept tight
rein upon myself. however. and Gram
med the words back into my heart. She
had paused and was looking sway to-
ward the dark forest.
why do l go on with it?' she an
swered, few moments later because
l must. Because there is no one else to
guide and care for them but me-"
"But surprising you were caught?
They would have to shift for themselves
them
II shall never DO taken alive-that
is, except by treachery. No, Dr. De
Normanville, come what may, can
never forsake them. My duty lies before
me, and as l have endeavored to do it
in the past SO must strive to do it in
the future. But it is getting late, and
we have travelled long distance today.
Don't you thiok we had better bid each
other good night?''
AS she spoke she rose, and followed
her example. Then she shook hands,
wished me good night and disappeared
into her own hut, her dog at her heels.
When she had gone, reseated myself,
lit another cigar and fell to work upon
my thoughts. Away in the darkness be-
You'd the leaping fires Sambhur deer,
probably disturbed by our lights, was
barking to his mate, and in a tree near
at hand night bird hooted dolefully.
The first sweetness of the evening had
passed. and now an unutterable melan-
choly seemed to have laid its hand upon
it.
When my Cigar was finished, passed
into my hut, glanced at my rifles to see
that they were ready to my hand in case
Of need, and having disrobed myself
went to bed. Tired as was, my slum-
bers were almost dreamless, and it SEEM
ed but few minutes from the time 1
laid my head upon my pillow before my
servant was waking me to,the newborn
lay.