Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-05-04


pause I'm sure it's all a mistake-a
hideous mistake. We shall be as good
friends some day Jack, as we evei
were
Ny answer might have made even
man vince. 1t cut the dying woman
before me like the blow Of a whip.
"Please forgive me, Jack | didn
mean to make you angry But it's true
it's trueP'
And Mrs. Washington broke down
completely. | turned away and left her
to finish her journey in peace, feeling,
but only for moment or two, that
had been an unutterably mean hound.
| looked back and saw that she had
turned her rickshaw with the idea. !
suppose, of overtaking me.
The scene and its surroundings were
photographed on my memory The rain
swept sky 1--WE were at the end of the
wet weather., the sodden, dingy pines,
| the muddy road and the black powder
riven cliffs formed a gloomy background
! against which the black and white liv-
/ cries of the jhampanies, the yellow
paneled rickshaw and Mrs Wessing-
ton S 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 | turned my horse up a
bypath near the Sanjowlie reservoir and
literally ran away. Once / fancied |
heard faint call of "Jackl' This may
have been Imagination never stopped
to verify it. Ten minutes later ! came
across Kitty on horseback, and in the
delight of a 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 /
went TO Plainsward perfectly happy
Before three months were over / 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-semideserted Simla-
once more and was deep in lovers talks
and walks with Kitty 1t was decided
that we should be married at the end
Of June. You will understand, there
fore, that, owing Kitty as / did. am
not saying 700 much when | pronounce
myself to have been at that time the
happiest man in India.
Fourteen delightful days passed al
most before noticed their fight Then.
aroused to the sense of what was proper
among mortals circumstanced as we
were, | 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 for
one. Up to that moment, | give you
my word. we had completely forgotten
30 trivial a matter To Hamilton we
accordingly went on the 18th of April 4.
1885. Remember that-whatever my
doctor may say to the contrary was
then in perfect health, enjoying a well
balanced mind and an absolutely tran
quill spirit. Kitty and entered Hamil-
toms shop together. and there. regard
less of the order Of affairs, | measured
Kitty for the ring in the presence of
the amused assistant The ring was
sapphire with two diamonds We then
rode out down the slope that leads to
he Combermere bridge and Peliti's
shop.
While my waller was cautiously feel
ng his way over the loose shale and
Kitty was laughing and chattering at
NY side; while all Simla-that is to say, .
Is much Of il as had then come from the
grouped round the read
ng room and Peliti's veranda, was
lware that some one, apparently at a
1ast distance, was calling me by my
Christian name 1t struck me that |
had heard the voice before, but when
md where | could not at once deter
nine In the short space it took 10 cover
he road between the path from Hamil-
on shop and the first plank Of the
Jombermere bridge | had thought over
half a dozen people who might have
committed such a solecism and had
decided that it must have
been some singing in my ears Imme-
lately opposite Peliti's shop my eye
vas arrested by the sight of four jham-
,anies in ''magpie" livery. pulling a
fellow paneled, cheap. bazaar rick
haw. In moment my mind flew back
% the previous season and Mrs. IVES
ington with a sense of irritation and
lisgust Was it not enough that the
woman was dead and done with with
,ut her black and white servitors reap
bearing to spoil the days happinessI
Whoever employed them now l thought
would call upon and ask as a personal
ayor to change her jhampanies' livery.
would hire the men myself and if
buy their coats from off their
,acks. 1t is impossible to say here what
/ food of undesirable memories their
evoked.
kitty, cried, "there are poor Mrs /
Washington jhampanies turned up
Igainl wonder who has them nowg'