The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-17
Wos II
WelbY?


European Telegraph Company's service, L
did not mean to drift into a seni-engage-
ment with his sister. nevertheless this was
the upshot of my visit.
Jack and I were old-time chums; our
friendship dated from the days when we
were at old DymocSe's Academy together
and he. a delicate. sensitive little chap. had
depended upon me to fight his battles for
him
After Dymocke's our paths separated
widely; he went TO public school and col
lege. had to begin at once to support my
self. Burdened with many olive branches.
the dear old governor, even with the best
will in the world, could not give to any Of
his sons more than start in life.
After some years chance. or fate, brought
me across Jack welby once more. The
delicate boy had grown into delicate man.
but he was as lovable as ever. and my
heart went out 10 him in fuller measure
even than of old. The renewal Of our boy
hoods friendship was a joy to both of u.s.
We met In town, and then Jack urged me
TO go down with him into the country and
be introduced to his family. There 1 found
an exquisitely pretty feminine edition OF
himself, and succumbed accordingly. This
brought the one perfect holiday of my life
TO "a close; for Squire Welby refused to
sanction any engagement between me and
Rose, on the score of her extreme youth,
although / know that the smallness of my
salary was a greater bar still. Her years
would increase. but there was small pros
pect Of my income keeping pace
Jack wrung my hand. Tied. old boy,
there's nobody / would so gladly welcome
as brother. but ii won't do: Rose is not
made TO endure hardship, and she is such
a child, too"
'sNo. it won't do / said slowly. "or, at
least, not for years. My position may not
always be what it is now
But you will not bind her to any en-
gagement?"
mo; 1 will take my chances when the
time comes
But Rose declared ST will never. never
marry any one else If you do not come
back. will DE an old maid
Just at that time appointment was
offered me. Arriving so apropos, and be-
ing of nature to carry me far away from
Rose, / have always suspected Squire
welby. or Jack. of having had a hand in
1t. 1t was quite in accordance with my
tastes at the time. and l sent an instant &C
ceptance.
Shortly after I left England to take
charge of the telegraph station at Ormara,
BeIoochistan.
Ormara is situated In the wild and savage
Mekran Hills, which extend some distance
into the Arabian sea, forming a hammer
headed promontory of bold and precipitols
cliffs. 1t is place of which it may truly be
said that IL is a waste land whittier nj
man comes or hath come since the making
of the world Nevertheless. the wierc
loneliness of the situation, its desolate ard
uncultivated aspect, were so consonant will
my feelings when thought of those van.
ished summer days and OF the witcherJ
which had made them so bright. that con.
ceived gloomy delight in the savagery III
Its appearance.
Ormara, the little settlement in which L
and four or five others, were the only Eng.
lsh, and indeed the only European resi-.
dents. lies within the promontory, almost
hidden from sight in one of it's angles.
The telegraph station crowns the sum.
NIT or hill just above the village witt
the boundless ocean on one side, and the
almost illimitable waste of mountain Land
on the other. Here, for many q long day
with no companions but the young clerks
under me. with few resources or amuse.
ments. and with much leisure time on my
hands, / spent a monotonous and unevent
full life. broken only and again by the
arrival of an inspector. or the passing oil
some distant ocean steamer.
- Somewhere about twelve months had gone
by when. one day. to my surprise and joy
received letter from Jack welby an
nouncing his intention of coming out Il
Ormara. He declared himself to be fas
cinated with my descriptions of the grand
eur and sublimity of the scenery, ETC., AM
as his health had been less satisfactory
even than usual of late. he had a desire Il
try the effect of life I'm Ormara and the ali
of the Mekran hills. He was ordered abroa'
somewhere, and preferred to join me rath
er than go to one of the recognized healtl
resorts where he knew no one.
He came out in a semi-official capacity
and a suitable abode was found for him II
the village. He brought me a touchingsIit
tie note from Rose, begging me to take car,
of dear JGck" for her sake.
Life became quite another thing for mt
in Ormara after Jacks arrival. We wer,
as much together as our several not 20,
arduous duties would allow. We talke;
much Of the future and 1 learned that IN.
or his dearest wishes was for me so t,
aofdhCC NY pAOlcSSlOu llldl we mlSn
become in fact brothers we had so Ion,
been in heart. He was to return to Eng
land at the end of six months, and to re
peat the experiment another year If nj
health was sufficiently improved to just;
fy IL.
The simplicity and monotony of our ex
istence seemed to suit him 10 a nicely: h
grew certainly stronger as the month
PASSED by. The time of his departure wa
drawing near when suddenly somethin
Happened that quite upset ali our calcula
items
My clerks and 1 were gathered in the lit
tic telephone office one morning. Ere
Btrvey was on duty, and. seated at one O
the instruments, was carrying on a jocula
conversation with one of his friends a
some distant station. the other two lad
enc | were engaged in a game of DUNN
whist. Fred occasionally breaking in wit
some absurd remark. when suddenly GU
native servant rushed in with terror de
picted upon his swarthy face bearing
letter In his trembling hands. He hande
this TO me with a profound saIaam
Whew! What's in the wind now. won
der?" calculated Marry Edwards. a joll
young fellow OF nineteen years.
Enough and 10 spare" replied, as afte
reading the note L passed IL on to him.
IL was from the apothecary of the .3is