Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1900-02-03

dream Bisesa or her old handmaiden
who had thrown the object letter had
detached the heavy grating from the
brickwork of the wall so that the
window slid inside. leaving only
square Of raw masonry into which an
active man might climb.
In the daytime Trejago drove
through his routine of office work or
put on his calling clothes and called on
the ladies of the station, wondering how
long they would know him IL they
knew of poor little Bisesa. At night,
when all the city was still, came the
walk under the evil smelling boorka,
the patrol through Jitha Megji's bustee.
the quick turn into Amir Maths gully
between the sleeping cattle and the
dead walls and then, last Of all. BIZ
sesa and the deep. even breathing Of
the old woman who slept outside the
door Of the bare little room that Durga
Charan allotted to his sisters daughter.
Who or what Durga Charan was Ire.
jago never inquired. And why in the
world he was not discovered and knitted
never occurred to him till his madness
was over. and Bsesa- But this comes
later.
Bisesa was an endless delight to Ire.
jago. She was as ignorant as bird,
and her distorted versions Of the rumors
from the outside world that had reached
her in her room amused Trejago almost
as much as her lisping attempts to pro-
nounce his name-Christopher. The
first syllable was always more than she
could manage, and she made funny lit
tie gestures with her rose leaf hands. as
one throwing the name away. and then,
kneelng before Trejago, asked him, ex.
actly rs an English woman would do.
IL he were sure he loved her Trejago
swore that he loved her more than any
one else in the world. which was true.
After month Of this folly the ext.
gencies Of his other life compelled Ire
jago to be especially attentive to a lady
Of his acquaintance. The news few in
the usual mysterious fashion from
mouth to mouth till Bisesa's duenna
heard of it and told Bisesa. The child
was so troubled that she did the house
hold work evilly and was beaten by
Durga Charan's wife in consequence.
A week later Bisesa taxed Trejago
with the Irritation. She understood no
gradations and spoke openly Trejago
laughed. and Bisesa stamped her little
feet-little feet. light as marigold flow.
ers. that could lie in the palm Of a
mans one hand
Much that is written about "oriental
passion and impulsiveness" is exagger-
. sted and compiled at secondhand. hut
, little of il is true, and when an Eng
lishman finds that little IL is quite as
r startling as any passion in his own
. proper life Bisesa ragged and stormed
and finally threatened to kill herself II
Trejago did not at once drop the alien
. memsahib who had come between them.
Trejago tried 10 explain and to show
her that she did not understand these
; things from a western standpoint. Bi
, sesa drew herself mp and said simply
e 81 do not l know only this-it i
not good that l should have made yol
dearer than my own heart to me, sahib
Q You are an Englishman. l am only
u black girl'-she was fairer than bal
e gold in the mint-"and the widow o
u . black man.
a Then she sobbed and said; But. o.
u my soul and my mothers soul. Low
you. There shall no harm come to yo'
whatever happens to me.
Trejago argued with the child an
Al tried to sootho her. but she seeme
quite unreasonably disturbed. Nothin
would satisfy her save that all relation
ie between them shonld end He was I
!" 20 away at once And no went AS n
dropped ont at the window she kisse
" his forehead twice. and no walked HON
a. .l..:...