The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1907-03-27

,ointing-sGualid, not to say dirty, full
# natives, and sleek white cattle,
carts. ~ploughs, palanqulns and mol
,oue odors. noticed a temple, in
which was a frightful squat figure of
IN idol, daubed with red and reeking
With rancid ghee. Indoors, all was
lin. there was a dense atmosphere of
ill and incense; faded Sarland5 hung
N doorways, and many Eyes watched
a Leu, .ECUnrish WC"i"1-
s seated cross:cgged on q st2-AS
bed; her hair was adorned with god,
her arms with many bangles, Eer nose
and ears with jeweled rings. Sire wore
a rich orange silk saree (the Brahm!r
colOr), and vas evidently pleased at
rly visit. The ayah Interpreted win
volubility, and many women listened
to our conversation. She asked my
zee. number of my children, my nus
binds income, what | paid my ser
v2lts. and why we came to Ahno-
more? She piled me with chlld-sh
ruest:ols about England. and OK
mined and tried on all my ornaments
cae b. one. l presented the amber
beads. and casually, before leaving,
preferred my request that the girl VINO
lived with her might now and then
sDend a day with me, as | was sc
lonely.
"Of a truth, | see no harm" she
answered, for she mopes, and grows
thin and ugly: but she must see no
men. Promise that, by your God, n
our gods"
No men,, except my husband" l
amended.
After long whispering and discus
sion l gained my point, and departed
in high glee, and high, | fattered my
self, in the estimation of my hostess.
Aralee duly appeared the neXt morn
ing, conveyed in a closed ~palanquin.
: When she stepped out, | saw that she
! was unexpectedly tall and slim. She
: looked half frightened, and as | took
= her hand and kissed her, her eyes
were trimming with tears.
oh, you are good." she whispered
l land make me SO, SO happy
1t was pitifully easy to please and
{ entertain the poor girl; everything
she saw was a novelty and a delight.
j Aralee informed me that she had read
a good deal. She told me that she
feared to forget the English tongue
| and when she paced the garden alone
a she often talked it aloud to herself
The girl had but one friend-her ole
e ayah; and her future was an ever
e haunting horror. Narayana, her uncle
was acquainted with a rich Rajah
who, alas! had heard of her.
{ She had no parents or friends; ant
: these very pretty young girls arr
i much valued by the Rajahs in thei
zenanas.
Il Sooner than accept that life, l vii
e kill myself" she declared. 1.-The ayal
/, knows of an end, both swift and sure.
do not say such dreadful things
" Aralee," l demonstrated; there is n
fear-we will protect you"
= "Ah, you do not understand m
uncle! He is immovable as a stone
n as secret as the sea.
re had once seer Narayana, the zen
indar-a tall, stately person. wit
high-bred features, a pale, wheatel
H. colored skin, and piercing eyes. Hi
&c mien was impassive, his air aloof an
%forbidding.
Re Aralee talked of her father, and h
vi passion for sport. He had EVIDENT
~ gained the poor child's heart. H
memory still burned brightly, in spit
of absence and silence. With respe
to her mother, she told me that 81
was beautiful as a lotus flower, b
= that of late years she had. wept muc
and faded and faded away. Poop
$ said she died Of a decline.
Thanks to little gifts and civil me
sages, Raw, the zemindar's wife, a
corded me the company of her ME
day after day. Robbie, who had be-
%. duly introduced to my treasure troy
ry was amazed at her beauty; but as 81
was painfully shy in his society, al
scarcely lifted her eyes or opened h
~ lips, he thought her dull.
Her face is the face of an Engli
} girl" he remarked, but her mind
lis oriental. Her soul is asleep"
mt Remembering my solemn promise
is. never sent for Aralee when there W
no any prospect of a visit from Mr..
thune; and, marvellous to relate,
lid did not tell him one word about I
MS new friend. To keep such a hea
es. secret was to me pain and grief. /
led something at the back of my mind
me forced this silence. He was a de
Gle impulsive, warm-hearted boy-she v
my forlorn and lovely.