The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-09-07
The Beautiful Nn1e Devil.
Confined From Page Seven.

Don't you think we mad better bid each
other good night?"
AS she spoke she rose, and followed
her example. Then she shook hands,
wished me good night and disappeared
into her own hut, her dog at her heels.
When she had gone, reseated myself,
lit another cigar and fell to work upon
my thoughts. Away in the darkness be-
yond the leaping fires Sambhur deer,
probably disturbed by our lights, was
barking to his mate, and in tree near
at hand night bird hooted dolefully.
The first sweetness of the evening had
passed, and now an unutterable melan-
0holy seemed to have laid its hand upon
it.
When my cigar was finished, passed
into my hut glanced at my rifles to see
that they were ready to my hand in case
OF need, and having disrobed myself
went to bed. Tired as was my SUM
bers were almost dreamless, and it SEEM
ed but a few minutes from the time
laid my head upon my pillow before my
servant was waking me to the newborn
day.
Immediately breakfast was over l
took my specimen cases and light
rife, and, accompanied by Allie and two
of our native servants, dived into the
forest, on collecting thoughts intent
But the profusion Of subjects was so
vast that it was difficult to know quite
where to begin. At every turn some pc.
ouliar grass, some plant some shrub
would arrest my attention, while in the
air butterflies, beetles and birds innu-
merable seemed to call upon me to catch
and catalogue,them without delay. Allie
had quite recovered her good spirits BY
this time, and having once grasped the
general idea followed her new hobby
with the same impassioned ardor that
was noticeable in everything she under
took. BY midday our cases were full to
bursting, SO we returned to the camp to
lunch. In the afternoon we continued
our work, but this time without our ma
tive followers, who, when all was said
and done, preferred chattering to work
ing, and in more ways than one were in
the way.
By the time the sun declined upon
the mountain our boxes were once more
full, and we turned our heads camp
ward, following on our homeward route
the course of the same stream we had
pursued on our outward journey. Itwas
warm work, and when about half our
walk was done we stopped on little
rise to look about us.
Allie seated herself on fallen tree, and
Iput down my boxes and took my place
beside her, Throughout the afternoon
she had been a little quiet, and must
own that my own spirits were none too
lively. Enjoyable as our excursion had
proved, it was nevertheless fact that
every day was bringing my stay in the
island nearer to its close, and under the
circumstances could not help feeling
that, my duty done, it behooved me to
be moving on as soon as possible. And
yet the thought Of leaving this woman,
into whose life had flashed like a me-
teor and whom had come SO desperate
~ to love, was agonizing to me-
Allie rolled small stone into the
foaming torrent below us and then
turned to me-
DR.. De Normanville,' she began
and it struck me that she hesitated q
good deal over what she had to say
when my agent visited you in Hong.
kong and induced you to come to our
assistance, he promised that as soon as
your work was completed you should
be returned safe and sound to the place
whence you started. Your work is COM
pleted, and now it only remains for you
to say-well, to say when you wish to
leave us. -
This speech, following on top of what
had been thinking myself, put me in
a strange position, and for minute
did not know how to answer. Then a
torrent Of words and protestations rose
upon my lips, but / pressed them back
and to gain time for reflection asked a
question.
hope that have done my work to
your satisfaction
How can you ask such thing?"
she answered promptly. "You have
worked for us as few other men would
ever have done. cannot''-here her
voice trembled little, and her beauti.
full eyes filled with tears-''I cannot
ever thank you as would wish to do. %
Either her tear laden eyes or this ex-
preston Of her gratitude must have de-
prived me Of my self control, for when
she had finished speaking my presence
OF mind completely deserted ME, and
without more ado I drew closer to her
on the tree, and, taking her hand in
mine, said, almost without thinking Of
my words:
"Alie, cannot you see that there can
be no question Of thanks between us:
Cannot you see why have worked SO
hard for you? Cannot you see that
would give my own existence to save
for you even the life Of the dog YOU
loved? Have my actions not spoken for
themselves?''
She rose to her feet, but / noticed
that she turned her face away and
would not look at me. I could feel that
she was trembling violently. In spite
Of this continued:
&c A I 49,