Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1899-04-22

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| tered from mile or so below the con-
vent to the stretch of level road by the
Saniowlie reservoir. The wretched
horses appeared to fly, and my heart
beat quicker and quicker as we neared
| the crest of the ascent My mind had
been full of Mrs Washington all the
afternoon, and every inch of the Jakkc
road bore witness to our old time walks
and talks. The powders were full OF
it, the pines sang it aloud overhead,
the rain fed torrents giggled and
| chuckled unseen over the shameful
story, and the wind in my ears chanted
the iniquity aloud
As fitting climax. in the middle OF
the level men call the Ladies mile the
horror was awaiting me. No other rick
shaw was in sight only the four black
and white jhampanies, the yellow pan
eled carriage and the golden head of
the woman within. all apparently just
as ! had left them eight months and one
fortnight ago. For an instant / fancied
that Kitty mnst ste what | saw-we
were so maryelously sympathetic in all
things. Her next words undeceived me.
"Not soul in sight Come along.
Jack, and I'll race you to the reservoir
buildings" Her wiry little Arab was
off like bird, my waller following close
behind, and in this order we dashed I'M
der the cliffs. Half minute brought us
within 90 yards of the rickshaw /
pulled my waller and fell back little
The rickshaw was directly in the mid
die of the road, and once more the Arab
passed through it, my horse following.
"Jack, Jack, dear Please forgive me r
rang with wall in my ears and after
an interval, ''It's all mistake hid
eous mistakeI'
| spurred my horse like man pos
sessed. When / turned my head at the
reservoir works, the black and white
liveries were still waiting patiently
waiting under the gray hillside. and
the wind brought me mocking echo of
the words had just heard. Kitty ban
tered me a good deal on my silence
throughout the remainder of the ride.
had been talking up till then wildly and
at random. To save my life / could not
speak afterward naturally and from
Sanjowlie to the church wisely held my
tongue.
was to dine with the Mannerings
that night and had barely time to can
ter home to dress. On the road to Ely
stun hill overheard two men talking
together in the dusk "It's curious
thing, said one, chow completely all
trace of it disappeared You know my
wife was insanely fond of the woman
never could see anything in her myself
and wanted me to pick up her old
rickshaw and coolies if they were to be
got for love or money. Morbid sort of
fancy | call it, but I've got to do
what the memsahib tells me. Would
you believe that the man she hired it
from tells men that all four of the men
they were brothers-died of cholera
on the way to Hardwar, poor devils.
and the rickshaw has been broken up
by the man himself? Told me he never
used dead memsahib's rickshaw. |
Spoiled his luck. Queer notion, wasn't |
it? Fancy poor little Mrs. Washington
spelling any ones luck except her
DwnY' laughed aloud at this point, |
and my laugh Jared on me as uttered |
it, So there were ghosts of rickshaws,
after ALL and ghostly employments in !
the other world! How much did Mrs
Washington give her men? What were
their hours? Where did they GOT /
And for visible answer to my last |
question l saw the Internal thing block !
ing my path in the twilight. The dead I
5ravel fast and by short cuts unknown
% ordinary coolies. laughed aloud a
second time and checked my laughter
for | was afraid l was going
mad. Mad to certain extent must
nave been, for recCllect that | refined
n my horse at the head of the rick
haw and politely wished Mrs. Messing
;on Good evening Her answer was
me knew only too well. l listened to
he end and replied that had heard it
III before, but should be delighted if
he had anything further to say. Some
Malignant devil stronger than I must
lave entered into me that evening, for
have dim recollection of talking the
ommonplaces of the day for five min
ties to the thing in front Of me.
tMad as a halter, poor devil, or
trunk! Max, try and get him to come
lome
Surely that was not Mrs. Messing
on S voicel The two men had over
eard me speaking to the empty air and
lad returned to look after me- They
we're very kind and considerable and
rom their. words evidently gathered
hat was extremely. drunk. 1 thanked
hem confusedly and cantered away to
ny hotel, there changed and arrived at
he Mannerings ten minutes late /
leaded the darkness of the night as an
xcuse, was rebuked by Kitty for my
hardness and sat down
The conversation had already become
eneral, and under cover of it / was
ddressing some tender small talk to
ny sweetheart when l was aware that
t the farther end of the table short,
ed whiskered man was describing, with
1uch broidery, his encounter with
lad unknown that evening.
A fox1J confoucor oopuirood NO +bo% i