The suburban citizen., 1900-06-09

<NAlRS2GMyM sne ana my terrier
tx - xA Nip shared my un-
Sl5TWN0NZlX divided affection,
6INNWTM%Y yet Nip held first
n SsesFSHSS7vlV place in my esteem.
n n SASAASNIl When remem.
lA.sisSs.sssAsg@ZsH b cred Rhoda's
- - mother, thought
otherwise, for in years gone by, when
we were both subalterns, Jack Tray-
ers and 1 had loved the same girl
We both wooed her, but Jack won
her fairly; he and 1 were none the less
friends, yet the day when we stood
side by side at his child-wife's open
grave under the scarlet glory of the
gold-mohur trees was the bitterest in
my life. She left one little girl, and
in good time Jack forgot his grief and
married again. His veranda was full
of merry voices and the patter of tiny
feet. but 1 remembered always, and
so Rhoda, for her mothers sake, was
dearer to me than anything on earth.
Time had not stood still since those
days. We had gone home with the
regiment, and now it was commencing
its ten years of Indian service again.
Jack commanded and L was senior
major; Rhoda was grown up, and had
come out under the wing of the second
Mrs. Travers.
Tue second year after we had
arrived in the station the gunners
gave a ball. When I arrived the ball
was already in full swing and the first
person l saw was Rhoda Travers.
"What on earth are you doing
here?" 1 said. "Why are you not
dancing Rhoda?"
81 am dancing" she answered,
tucking her arm into mine, with
you"
"But I'm not a dancing man."
81 know that, don't l, Major Dick?
you've never danced with me yet.
Take me into the veranda quick.
There's Mrs. Travers looking at us.
You see, she wants me to dance with
old Sir Henry Lushington, and said
my programme was full"
"Well?"
"Well, it isn't-quite. Sir Henry
pursues me from Dan to Beersheba,
and Mrs Travers has quite made up
her mind that I'm to marry him, aud
that he'll propose tonight"
''The idea is preposterous; the
mans old enough to be your grand
father Well, how about the pro-
gramme?"
Rhoda handed it TO me.
"WhOt on earth are all these blanks
for? Stop, though, there's a hierogly-
phic against them"
"Well," said Rhoda, "Pm-Tm
keeping them for some one, but till
he comes I'm engaged to you. See?
Major Dick" with a coaxing change
of tone, where's Alist-Mr. Grahame
to-night?'
"Alistair Grahame," said, with a
sudden fash of comprehension, "why
out in the district at Kotanhulli; he
said he would be back for the ball.
"When did you see him last"
"Ihe morning he left. And all
those dances for him, Rhoda? Do
you mean to tell ne"
Rhoda nodded violently and be-
came absorbed in the study of her
programme.
"Good heavens! How blind I've
beenl I'd no notion Of it, Rhoda,
has he--?"
eyes, he has, interrupted Rhodal
Fl was to have his answer next day,
then he was ordered off into the dis.
trict suddenly, and L haven't seen
him since. I've been so wretched /;
Major, dear, do you think he'll come
tonight"
"Of course he will" I answered
cheerily; che gone out to some beastly
little village along the river. He said
he would put up at Kotanhulli bun
galow and be back by o.night.
Rhoda, dear, I'm awfully glad.
Alistair's right good fellow and you
will make him jewel Of wife"
The shadow deepened in the girls
eyes as the evening wore on and
there was no sign of Alistair Grahame
Next morning ] left the station for
a months leave on the Hills, and ten
months later / picked up a Times Of
India in the library, only to be star
tied by the announcement Of the total
disappearance OF Mr. .Alistair Grahame.
All efforts to find trace of him had
been unavailing, and it was feared he
had met his death by foul means.
Alstair Graham had been a friend
Of mine, though many years my
junior, aud it cut me to the heart to
think that my little Rhoda should
have her life's happiness 80 suddenly
snatched from her. / gave up my
leave at once on hearing the news,
and returned to the station to see
what could be done. All efforts,
however, seemed unavailing.
Nothing had been seen of him since
the day he left cantonments for Kotan.
hulli bungalow. He took no servant
with him, only coolie to carry his
traps and who, of course, was not to
be found. Tho old butler at the bun.
galow swVre he had never been there