The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-04-26

before me like the blow OF a whip.
"Please forgive me, Jack. didn' t
mean to make you angry. But it's true,
it's true!''
And Mrs. Washington broke down
completely. turned away and left her
to finish her journey in peace, feeling,
but only for q moment or two, that 1
had been an unutterably mean hound.
I looked back and saw that she had
turned her rickshaw with the idea.
suppose, of overtaking me-
The scene and its surroundings we're
photographed on my memory. The rain
swept sky Eve were at the end of the
wet weather., the sodden, dingy pines,
the muddy road and the black powder
riven cliffs formed gloomy background
against which the black and white liv-
cries of the jhampanies, the yellow
paneled rlckshaw and Mrs. Wessing
toms down bowed golden head stood
out clearly. She was holding her hand
kerchief in her left hand and was lean
ing back exhausted against the rick
shaw cushions I turned my horse up a
bypath near the Sanjowlie reservoir and
literally ran away Once l fancied I
heard a faint call of "Jack!" This may
have been imagination. Inever stopped
to verify it. Ten minutes later came
across Kitty on horseback, and in the
delight of long ride with her forgot
all about the interview
A week later Mrs. Washington died,
and the inexpressible burden Of her ex-
istence was removed from my life. I
went to Plainsward perfectly happy.
Before three months were over I had
forgotten all about her, except that at
times the discovery of some Of her old
letters reminded me unpleasantly of our
bygone relationship. By January had
disinterred what was left of our CORE
spondence from among my scattered
belongings and had burned it. At the
beginning of April Of this year, 1885, /
was at Simla-semideser Simla-
once more and was deep in lovers talks
and walks with Kitty. It was decided
that we should be married at the end
of June. You will understand, there
fore, that, loving Kitty as I did, am
not saying too much when l pronounce
myself to have been at that time the
happiest man in India.
Fourteen delightful days passed al
most before I noticed their fight. Then.
aroused to the sense Of what was proper
among mortals circumstanced as we
were, I pointed out to Kitty that an
engagement ring was the outward and
visible sign Of her dignity as an en-
gagged girl and that she must forthwith
come to Hamilton S to be measured fer
one. Up to that moment, give you
my word, we had completely forgotten
so trivial matter To HamiIton's we
accordingly went on the 18th of April,
1885 Remember that-whatever my
doctor may say to the contrary-I was
then in perfect health, enjoying we'll
balanced mind and an absolutely tran
quill spirit. Kitty and I entered Hamil-
tons shop together, and there. regard
less of the order CT affairs. measured
Kitty for the ring in the presence of
the amused assistant The ring was a
sapphire with two diamonds We then
rode out down the slope that leads to
the Combermere bridge an6 Petit s
shop.
While my waller was cautiously feel
ing his way over the loose shale and
Kitty was laughing and chattering at
my side; while all Simla-that is to say,
as much cf it as had then come from the
plains-was grouped round tie read
ing room and Peliti's veranda, | was
aware that some one. apparently at a
vast distance, was calling NE by my
Christian name. 1t struck me that
had heard the voice before. but when
and where could not at once deter
mine In the short space it took to cover
the road between the path from Hamil-
ton S shop and the first plank Of the
Combermere bridge had thought over
half a dozen people who might have
committed such a solecism and had
eventually decided that it must have
been some singing in my ears. Imme-
diately opposite Peliti's shop my eye
was arrested by the sight Of four jham-
panies in "magpie livery, pulling a
yellow paneled. cheap. bazaar rick
shaw In moment my mind flew back
to the previous season and Mrs Wes-
sington with a sense of irritation and
disgust Was it not enough that the
woman was dead and done with with
out her black and white servitors reap
pearing to spoil the days happiness? :?
Whoever employed them now thought
l. would call upon and ask as a personal
favor to change her jhampanies livery.
l would hire the men myself and if
necessary buy their coats from off their
backs 1t is impossible to say here what
s. food of undesirable memories their
presence evoked.
kitty, cried, there are poor Mrs.
Wessington's jhampanies turned up
againl l wonder who has them ncw:
Kitty had known Mrs. Washington
slightly last season and had always
been interested in the sickly woman.
t.What9 Whore S'' che asked 81