The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-07-31
J Owing to Circumstances.
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T BY Florence N. Bailey.
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THERE were three of them in the
/ playing of the little comedy-or
tragedy. She-the first ''she," the one
most concerned-was dark-eyed and
lissome and altogether lovable, with
a name Enthusiastically Irish and
voice that was as absolutely country
born.'
Frewin, being very much of a
"grifffiin;' did not hear this defect until
it was explained to him. later by the
usual well intentioned feline creature
and then it was little too late-for
Rose.
Meanwhile he had liked it; there is
a certain note of appeal in the accent
when the speaker, who is also young
and pretty, is pointing out to you the
SHOWS and the various peaks, and tell
ing you to ride rather slowly down
that narrow track, because for new
Corners it is somewhat risky, and
then takes it herself at gallop, which
displays alike her perfect form and
perfect riding.
Frewin, towh-brcd and hardly
across saddle until he came to India,
looked upon the girl who could do
this thing, with the edge of the khud
(the descending side of mountain
road) breaking with each thud of her
pony's hoofs, as something superior
even to himself, which was about the
highest compliment he could pay.
Pitchforked into the C. S., with very
little knowledge of the world in gen.
eral and none whatever of India in
particular, he had come out to be
small spoke in the great govern
mental machine. Happily-or other
wise-depends upon the point of view
he did not know his own magnif-
canoe even when posted to the Nara
station, which was far cry from
Simla and the upper ranks of the
heaven born.
His almighty egotism, plus his SUI
perb 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 detail
ing Frewin to a select audience of
friends, the "Chota burra sahib' (the
small great mastery, while the other
C. S. men, with finer irony, had dubbed
him the Sub janta" Gall knowingly;
which, not knowing, Frewin went on
his way, fulfilled his duties with a
thoroughness almost priggish in so
young a boy, and occupied his spare
hours riding with Miss Rowan-"Rose
Mary''-it reminded him of converts
and sweet simplicity and things like
that-and at later stage he wrote
some scrappy verses to her as my
Rosemary" without apology to
Rossetti.
) Besides the dark eyes, the bright
face that surely changed some twenty
times a minute, the gravely gay tenn
per, there was nothing Irish about
Rose. She\ had never sheen home'
that great journey which softens
the lot of even the country bred.
Her father had been a typical regi-
ment doctor, who died as he had
lived, very gay and very poor. A
sister, married to a wealthy trades
man of Lucknow who came up to
Nara Hills for the hot weather, was
Roses guardian and supporter.
1t 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
influence him; he was a rather care
full young man, and still suffering
from the effects of having been too
well brought up, but he was not mer-
cenary. Moreover, as the cynics of
Nara would remark, there was an
elderly brother-in-law, with many
rupees and no children.
It was November when Frewin was
gazetted to Nara, consequently
there were few people in the sta
ton, and the fact that Mrs. Burton.
Roses sister, remained up through
out the winter was an acceptable one
to the new conner. -. !,
Not that Frewin tried to convince
himself that he frequented '.Ths
Deodars" for the pleasure of meet
ing fat Mrs. Burton, who perspired
even II December, and whose CONVEX
sation was sirictly limited to the
wicked ways Of the servants, the
shortcomings Of her neighbors, and:
the weather. Ne owned, alike to him
S4t :