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

less scorn, turned and fled through the
blu stering night.
This, then, was the bride.elect of her
Sahib, her hero, her demi-god among
men-this smiling, insolent, pink-faced
Missl The strong rush and roar of the
storm through the forest mercifully
drowned the passionate sobs which
racked her body half through the
night.
The sun rose on green, babbling-
world next morning. Prismatic hues
flashed from the swaying pine-boughs;
birds, brooks, and cicadas waxed gar
moist tissues of the rocks, the little
brown kraft (viper), with others of his
Shiny kindred, slid stealthily, only to
vanish at once amid the moist
green verdure of the hower-beds.
Away over the plains, white, hillowy
mass of cloud gave promise of the triple
tyranny of mist, mildew, and maxim
toshes.
Brodie ana his guests were easily astir,
and the latter were in their saddles by
eight o'clock.
AS her host lifted Edith Lindon to
her Arab she reminded him laughingly
of some English violets he had promis-
ed her overnight.
"Please don't trouble about them
now, though" she added sweetly; "I'l
forgive you for forgetting them!"
But Brodie was already in the ver-
anda.
won't take me two minutes to pick
them" he called back as he went.
He had made hobby of his little
garden and there were certain flowers
kept sacred even from Dhunnu's zeal
Gus fingers. Now, therefore, Brodie
knelt down bareheaded in the sunlight,
and plunged his hands hastily among
the dripping violet leaves. The violet
beds being at the back of the house,
and the horses in front, he was alone
or apparently so. AT all events he
was quite unconscious of pair of Gag
er eyes that devoured his face from
within the sheltering shadow of two
great deodar trunks.
But those eyes, in spite of their alb
sorption and the tears that were in
them, saw what his did not-a slimly,
living streak of brown, within half
foot of his left hand. In flash Sunia
was at his side, and her brown hand
was laid on his, not one second too
soon.
Brodie sprang to his feet with a
startled cry, and made futile lunge at
the vanish snakeling, whose name is
Death.
Then he turned TO Sunia.
"How didst see the reptile? Why,
great God?-there's a blood spot on
her handl Did he bite thee, child?"
"Aye, Huzoor, he bit me-and-I
die. But what matters it, 80 that the
Sahib lives--to make marriage with the
the white Miss? And IL pay my
debt"
She swayed where she stood, and a
little culver convulsed her frame.
Quick as thought Brodie's arm went
around her, and sharp little sob es-
capped her as she leaned all her light
weight upon IFS strength.
"Kohi hal! Nizam Din!" he shouted.
"Take these flowers 10 the Miss
sahib, and tell the Sahibs to go for
ward. l cannot come. l will send a
letter. And see, bring me at once cof-
fee of the blacklist, and the flask of
brandy from my dressing-case. RUM"
Then, with voice and face all tender
ness, he turned to the dying girl.
"Walk, child, walk-for the love of
God! The brandy may be here in
time"
But she resisted his efforts to hurry
her forward.
NAY, Sahib, have chosen, and-I
die. When my lord taketh to him a
Memsahib, and goeth hence, then what
shall come TO this slave? Death is easy,
and II pay my debt"
A sudden suspicion flashed into Bro
dies mind. Sunia's whole loving soul
was in her eyes, and he read it like an
open book.
"There stands no debt hetwixt us,
Supiajee; and what meaneth this tai Z
of M smhshibs? i take no Miss-sahib
to wife"
but the white Miss who came
who spoke"
Her voice broke, and she shuddered
again.
Poor child, poor child" Brodie NUT
tered under his breath, "it seems too
strange" Then aloud: "But, Sunia,
child, the white Miss was naught to
mcknight. Lo, she is gone, and l
shall not see her more. But see, here
is the brandy. Drink, thy Sahib COM