The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-09
Owing to Circumstances.

Owing TO Circumstances.
There were three Of them in the play
ing Of this little comedy-or tragedy.
she-the first she the one most con-
cerned-was dark-eyed and lissome and
altogether lovable. with name unmis-
takabiy Irish and voice that was as
absolutely country born"
treWin. being very much of a grif-
fin, did not hear this defect until it
was explained to him later By the usual
well Intentional feline creature. and
then 1T was a little too late-for Rose.
Meanwhile he had liked it. there is
certain note of appeal i'm the accent
when the speaker, who is also young
and pretty, is pointing out TO YOU the
SHOWS and the various peaks. and telling
you TO ride rather slowly down that
narrow track. because for new Corners
it is somewhat risky, and then takes it
herself at eallop, which displays alike
her perfect form and perfect riding.
Frewin, town bred and hardly across
a saddle until he came to India looked
upon the girl who could do this thing,
with the edge of the khud (the descend
ing side of a mountain road1 breaking
with each thud Of her pony hoofs, as
something superior even to himself,
which was about the highest compi-
ment he could pay. Pitchforked into the
G.. S. with very little knowledge Of the
Mtil4 III general ana none VA lldt Ef tl Di
India in particular he had come out to
be a small spoke in the great govern
mental machine. Happily-or otherwise
depends upon the point of View-he
did not know his own insignifcance
even when posted TO the Nara station
which was a far cry from Simia and
the upper ranks of the heaven born.
His almighty egotism, plus his superb
ignorance Of the small change Of life
and the ways of the world. caused his
bearer to name him. within the second
days service, when detailing F'rewin TO
"a select audience of friends. the "Chcta
burra sahib' (the small great MASTERY
while the other c. S. men. with finer
irony. had dubbed him the Sub janta"
CALI knowing which, not knowing,
Trewin went on his way. fulfilled his
duties with a thorOughness almost prig-
gish in so young boy, and occupied
his spare hours riding with Miss Rowan
Rose Mary lit reminded him Of con-
vents and sweet simplicity and things
like that-and at q later stage he wrote
some scrappy verses to her as NV
Rosemary without apology to Ros-
setti.
Besides the dark eyes the bright face
that surely changed some 20 times a
minute. the gravely gay temper. there
was nothing Irish about Rose. She had
never been home that great journey
which s0ftcns the lot Of even the coun-
try bred.
Her father had been a.typical regi-
ment doctor. who died as he had lived.
very gay and very poor. A sister. mar
now. who came uD to Nara Hills fer
the hot weather. was Roses guardian
and supporter.
Tx may be placed to FreWin's credit
that the knowledge of Miss Rowan S
monetary position. common property in
the narrow little station. did not in
nuence him. he was rather careful
young man. and still suffering from the
effects of having been too well brought
w. but he was not mercenary. More~
over. as the cvnics of Nara would re-
mark. there was an elderly brother-in-
law. with many rupees and no children.
To was November when FreWn was
gazetted to Nara. consequently there
were few people in the station. and the
fact that Mrs. Burton Roses sister, ne.
manned up throughout the winter was
an acceptable one TO the new conner
Not that Frewiu tried to convince
himself that he frecuented THE Deo-
dars' for the pleasure of meeting fat
Mrs. Burton. who perspired even tn
December. and whose converse ton was
strictly limited to the wicked ways of
the servants the SHORTCOMINGS of her
neighbors. and the weather. He owned
alike to himself and the club. that Miss
Rowan was pretty and rode we'll and
could talk Of India and its ueoule even
lL she were totally ignorant of all things
English. and could not appreciate the
difference between am NJ T. and a.
county councillor So he, in his heavy
way taught ner a little concerning
England, and she, unknowingIy. taught
him many things Indian, and society
as known in Nara, having gone down
20 Calcutta. there We're fewer venom
tipped tongues to wag.
Not that Rose would have cared if all
Anglo-India had risen to forbid her in
tercourse with this youthful civilian
who represented to her the whole glory
ri the British empire and the perfection
OF mankind She adOred with an un-
reasoning alteration which would have
peen Foolish and suDerhuous in the
heroine of penny novelette,
She was only twenty. and life so fas
mao meant to her convent school and
Nara, with occasional weeks at Luck
now. ana one whole fortnight of dissi-
patton in Calcutta
Moreover. she had the nature of a
saint rather than firt and it was her
amazingly angelic temper which most
won Frewn- A man likes that sort Of
Griselda girl-untn it pals. and he
wants change
So they rode and danced and dined
together throughout the four months
winter, while Mrs. Burton beamed pro-
pretty ard conveniently went to sleep.
There was no definite engagement.
but Just the mutual understanding