Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-06-16

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Q Q eeeee o o Q Q o Q eeeeees
1t had been a blazing hot day, even 70
Ceylon. 1t seemed as if the sun woult
never set. When at last it neared tn
horizon, a breath of wind sprang up sut
half dozen men lounged on TO the veran
da of q bungalow and stretched them
selves full length on the chairs and rugs
cooling drinks, cigars and a black boy
within reach. A mass OF flowers wer,
lifting their tired heads in the garden
now that the heat of the sun was NJ
longer scorching their little lives out
flowers, the color of which one seldom
sees In any quantity in sober England
scarlet cactus, pOmegranate, masses Of
purple passion flower, the latter clingine
in wild confusion tn the rail of the We
randa. Strangely out of keeping with tbs
rest was a little bed of mignonette which
grew close TO the house. so that its fra
grant breath came through the windows
in the evening hour.
| There was silence until the sun had
quite disappeared, and then:
why on earth, Wilson," said one man
sleepily, do you keep that little mon
grel?"
Sentiment. my dear fellow, senti-
ment." was the reply from the man who
formed the center of the group. He was
| stretched full length on a chair which
was hardly long enough TO allow of six
feet four inches. He was slightly built,
and his thin face and slender hands were
nearly as brown as the little brown dog
curled up on his lap. His blue eyes were
half closed, and his large planters hat
was pushed off his forehead to enable
him to catch the first breath of evening
air
Sentiment All, indeed. did not know
that was in your line" with laugh.
Did you not, Dalton? Now you are
enlightened. | am very sentimental. That
is why I grow mignonette. 1t reminds
me of home''
There was silence for a minute. vi
sions of green fields. brooks and bluebells
rose unbidden before their eyes. Then at
last:
II wish you would not talk about
home" said lad fretfully, when it is
so beastly hot. Tell me how you got the
mongrel, Wilson. That will pass the time
till it is cooler
Wilson looked at the boy, and his mind
few back to the hours of honesickness
he had endured during his first year in
Ceylon, then "All right, French" he
said, but there is nothing much to tell.
About year ago it was a hot day
like this. piping hot, and | had been stay
ing with the LOgans. About 6 in the
evening ! was crossing the river, three
miles off, a cool breeze sprang up. and l
stopped bit to cool the horses legs.
When ! reached the other side. | saw
the coolies were carrying their bundles
up the hill-it was carrying day, you
see-and as ! watched l thought how
grateful | ought TO be to Providence for
having made me white
Brown, you mean"
THAT is the sun, not Providence. Don't
interrupt. Then l saw jolly
little beggar not more than 6 years old
trudging along by his mothers side. He
was jolly little beggar, quite naked, ex-
cept for a. string of beads around his
waist and bangle, and in his arms he
held this" touching the sleeping puppy
lightly with his hand). ''As l looked l
saw it was bit of pull for him, and he
plodd,l on so pluckily that | told his
mother to give him lift up behind me
on the horse. You see, it was powerful
hot
Don't apologize said Dalton, 1--WE
all know you"
Wilson took no notice. :.sThat is nearly
the end of the first part. We did not talk
much. He patted my horse and gurgled
to himself as we rode along. When we
neared the lines, l asked hlm his name.
'Carupen,' he said. Then | asked him
what he called his dog. and j patted it
and said it was a nice little thing"
How could you SO perjure yourself?
II think it is Il nice little thing" Sc
renely. "Carupen said its name was
Paappy, and then the little beggar add
ed, 'Nummu Dhurai sunada, ithi nulla
jathi mai
(which, when interpreted, MEANS"
said the boy from home, 1.-The dog is
good breed, isn't it, master:"
Il laughed and put the little chap
down, but somehow he looked bit visit
full, so l called after him, 'Dhurai thinks
he is fine breed
He grinned from ear to ear and went
in.
about four months after l was told
one evening that woman from the lines
wanted to see me.
Which is your child asked.
"'Dhurai will remember, he had a ride
on Dhurai's horse
st is odd,' went on Wilson dreamily,
"the ride should have impressed them so
much, but l was sorry when | heard the
little fellow was iii. ! remembered how
he had looked that day. in the sunlight,
dressed in his beads and his puppy clasp
ed TO his naked little black body, so l
told the woman | would go with her at
once.
"Ie was very bad when got tbare,
but gave him some stuff and he revived
bit. 1t was hot night, and | lifted
him up in his blanket and held him in
MY arms TO let him get some air. Poor
little chap. he held on tight to my finger
with his little bit of hand, nearly as
thin as mine, and it had been so plump
the day he held the reins. At last he
said, 'Paappy Dhurai.' His mother
brought it, and he stroked it, and then
he said sleepily: 'Dhurii keep Paappy.
Dhurai think him good breed, and he
gave Carupen ride That was all. He
did not speak again. l suppose he got
bit confused at the end. poor little chap,
so l kept the puppy"
81 don't think he was much confused"
said French. ''He was pretty clear, !
should think, and knew what he want
ed"
There wes moments pause, and
then:
81 don't think he is such a bad little
beast, after ALL" said Dalton. Lets
have look at him. ."-Crampton's Maga-
zine.
Nothing to Live For.