The times., 1901-06-02
That Bad Business
of Blenkinsop' S

The massacre at the legations seemed
confirmed beyond doubt. They were cry
inc If in the streets. and there was wrath
at the club.
Like most wrath which Is really hohesl'
it took the form of noise.
Men who had been up to Pekin with
Hone Grant in the old days had a great
deal to say, and were in request; they had
never expected such an innings again. and
went in and kent the field against all
comers until lunch time.
Then the talk fell on the women and
children, and whether one was justified
in taking the matter out of the hands of
the Almighty and there was unanimous
approval Of such a course, and much I'M
written history recounted of that terrible
sort that is not to be found in books, but
which happens nevertheless, and is not
uncommon in the process Of empire-build-
ing.
Coke. of the Carbineers, waxed eloquent
on the subject; he had been through the
Mutiny, where such things were, and told
q ghastly story of a golden-haired mem
sahib-but the story is not for this place.
Then, you remember that bad business
of Blenkinsop's," continued Coke, 'Blen-
kinsop of the Eightieth Bengal; l think
that was the most awful thing that ever
happened to any man.
They all remembered that business of
Bienkinsop's and said so with a shudder,
and. having had quite unusual surfeit Of
horrors, the club thinned out, and drifted
into the open air to show its bronze. and
its hollow backs, and 20 mingle its regula-
tion frcck coats with the stream of other
hot
ward, and every otherward where the sun
of London July afternoon shines "o'er
fair women and brave men"
There was one who, sitting in a quiet
corner, had taken no part in the discus
sion; he had not even heard Coke's story,
though the Majors voice was loud and
far-reaching, but the paper in his hand
was open at the recent intelligence. and
he, too. was thinking about Blenkinsop,
and that bad business" of his.
He sat, little huddIed forward, look
ing out through the heavy plate-glass
windows. seeing nothing of the passing
throng; man OF sixty-1ve perhaps, lac
quered and silvered by years of Indian
service. and with something besides in
his striking face-sOmething that was al
most uncanny.
1t was as though, having attained to
early manhood, some crash might have
come into his life, making him on the
instant prematurely aged: the interven-
ing years had never been lived at all
They had passed mechanically. and left
him an old young man. or young old
man. just as you viii; such paradoxes are
not uncommon.
Forty-three years ago. and history re-
ing dim that recollection? Do memories
like that endure through eternity?
No one who ever heard that story for
got it, and the Chinese parallel brought
II home to the man in the window, for
he had been an actor in that had busi-
ness.
The Blenkinsops' bungalow was about i
nile from the Kholpat cantorments. and
stood on high ground above the brown
river
From the gate Of the compound Won
could see the road winding like a white
snake until the huts swallowed II up. and
beyond the huts was the wall of the ma
tive town behind which the sun sanl, in
glory Of amber and crimson. throwing
the shadow Of the Brahmfn temple AL
most TO the compound wall itself; after
which came the night with Oriental sud
denness.
The monotony Of the grey plains. of the
irritating sky, of the succeeding darkness
which never varied, except during the
rams, had received an interruption of
late The Sepoys had risen!
AS yet the mutiny had not spread TO
hhoipat- and the officers of the Eightieth
Native Infantry were very confident that
the CID Blair-ka-Pultun would remain
true to their salt Mrs. Blenkinsop did
hol snare their confidence, being a wom-
an.
II would mean a great deal to her If
there were trouble; a great deal to the
Two little mites asleep in the room yon-
der behind the tattie curtains; and she
stood watching the white road anxiousIv
as the sun began to dip, as she had
watched it every day for week with
ever-increasing anxiety.
She was a pretty little woman OF the
affectionate, domestic kind: the very wife
for Blenkinsop, so everyone said, and for
once popular opinion was right
Not at all the sort of nature to come
out strong in a crisis-everybody was
equally agreed on that point and every
body was Obliged to admit that they had
been wrons-afterwards
Whit Of dust in the far distance in
creased to a cloud, which foated out on
the sunset and glowed prismatically. and
Marion Blenkinsop drew a great breath of
relief as out of the cloud grew the lean
figure OF the man she loved best of all
the world, the Adjutant of the Eigktieth
Bengal
He Jumped down almost before the
mare stopped. and there was care in the
thin dark face as he bent to kiss her.
What is it. Pat? Have they mutinied?"
Not yet, Mousie. but it's coming" he
said, speaking low lest the native groom
should hear them as he led the horse
away " Nerschoyle's not the man to hold
'em, Abbott's fool; they'll listen TO me.
perhaps, before any Of US. but I'm afraid
1T is written and then--God help ust'
she clung very tight to his side and his
strong arm was around her as they walk
ed toward the thatched bungalow that
was their home.
The large grey eyes were unusually
Drlght, ana seemed TO be looking miles
away; TO the green Sussex downs whittier
they were going in the spring when he
took his long leave; where there were
English breezes to bring color to the
cheek, and wayside flowers for little
bands TO gather-not so gorgeous, possi-
bIy. as the blossoms Of that land bur
sweeter far 70 the mothers fancy. being
of the affectionate. domestic kind
The grip frightened so convulsiveIy on
ms arm as Iney entered the duSky room
where the children slept that he looked
down at her and whispered Courage.
Mousie,' knowing in his own heart that
there might be need of it all too soon
u am not frightened, Pat" she said.
really not, dear; 1 was thinking of
them"
They stood and bent over the bed to-
gether. the father In his white linen uni
form, stained with dust and sweat. belt
ed. spurred, and besworded: the mother
IN gown less easy to remember but
.here was something pink about IL and