Morris tribune., 1899-04-15

dear Then, without moment s
pause: "I'm sure it's all mistake-a
hideous mistake. We shall be as good
friends some day, Jack, as we ever
were /"
My answer might have made even a
man vince 1t cut the dying woman
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 a moment or two, that |
had been an unutterably mean hound.
| looked back and saw that she had
turned her rickshaw with the idea, I
suppose, Of oYertaking 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 ana 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 I turned my horse up
bypath near the Sanjowlie reservoir and
literally ran away. Once | fancied I
heard 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 a long ride with her forgot
all about the interview.
A week later Mrs. washington died,
and the inexpEessible burden of her ex-
istence was removed from my life. I
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 unpleasant1y 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, 1886, ]
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, loving Kitty as l did, I am
not saying too much when I 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 circumstance as we
were, l 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 to be measured for
one. Up to that moment, give you
my word, we had completely forgotten
so trivial a matter. To Hamilton's we
accordingly went on the 18th of April,
1885 Remember that-whatever my
doctor may say to the contrary was
then'in perfect health, enjoying 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, I measured |
Kitty for the ring in the presence of |
the amused assistant. s, The. ring was
sapphire with two diamonds We then |
rodesout down the slope that leads to |
the Com bermere bridge and Peliti'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 SinIla-that is to say, |
as much Of it as had then come from the
plains-was grouped round the read
ing room and Peliti's veranda, was
aware that some one, apparently at
vast distance, was calling me by my
Christian name. It 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-
IONS shop and the first plank Of the
Combermere bridge l had thought over
half dozen people who might have
committed such a solecism and had
decided that it must have
oeen some singing in my ears. Imme-
liately opposite Peliti's shop my eye
Vas arrested by the sight of four jham-
oanies in ''magpie'' livery, pulling a
Yellow paneled,' cheap, bazaar rick
haw. In moment my mind flew back
10 the previous season and Mrs. Yves
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
oearing to spoil the days happiness9
Whoever employed them now thought
would call upon and ask as personal
avor to change her jhampanies livery.
would hire the men myself and if !:
necessary buy their coats from off their
'acks 1t is impossible to say here what
food of undesirable memories their
'resence evoked.
"Kitty, cried, "there are poor Mrs.
Vessington's jhampanies turned up
gaini wonder who has them nowr
Kitty had known Mrs. Washington