The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-10-18
First Thoughts.
.IRS SAM MOSES.

The little clubhouse of the Lantanra
district of Cey Ion presented an animated
scene. 1t was "Teevali," and all the
Tamil coolies on the surrounding tea
estates were busily engaged In celebrat-
ing their great festival, as was evidenced
by the incessant tom oming which arose
from their lines of huts, and the thriving
trade which the keeper of the arrack-
tavern was doing. Their English mas Ter
with their wives and sisters and cousins,
were gathering at the district clubhouse
for the little gymkhana meet which is in
evitable on such occasions.
The club secretary was a harrassed
man that morning, for there were
thousand and one little details to be
arranged while the weather was far
from promising.
AS he hurried past the tennis courts he
caught sight of girl who had just rid
den up, and was standing by her horse $
head waiting for her horse keeper. Good
morning, Miss Moore" he said, as he
approached. Come and let me intro
duce you to your partner in the tennis
tournament. We have just finished the
draw All, here is the very man. he
continued, reckoning to the tall man
who was passing. Miss Moore-Maior
Bradshaw" The girl started aghast for
a moment, but quickly recovered herself,
though the warm flush which rose to her
cheek betrayed her attitude of sangfroid.
ooh, you have met before, said the secre-
tary, catching her look. so much the
better. | must be off. Hope the weather
will keep up" He hurried off and left the
two together. When two young people
have been engaged and have decided to
break it off, subsequent meetings are apt
to prove little awkward, even after the
lapse of such long period of time as five
years A faint reddeuing under the
deep tan of his skin showed that Brad
shaw also found the situation a little
trying, but he smiled frankly as he raised
his hat. How do you do?" he said. 81
didn't know you were In Ceylon." The
girl laughed.
and was equally ignorant with re-
gard to YOU" she said. 81 am staying
with my cousin, Mrs. Deare, whose
husband is planter on Gangoya estate.
This is the explanation of my presence
here" 81 am staying with Jones on Par-
mettia," said Bradshaw, "only a couple f
miles from Gangoya. Funny | hadn't
heard you were there. Every one knows
about every one else here, but | only
arrived two days ago, so perhaps that
eX plains it..
The girl felt that the situation was de-
cidedly awkward. Five years ago in
Southsca she had met young Bradshaw,
then a subaltern, and after a short &C
quaintance they had become engaged.
She was in her first season and at Is
life was no serious problem. He was
arbitrary and seltconfident, and resent
ed what he was pleased to call her firta.
tions with other men, so the quarrel
came and the engagement was broken
off. 1t was little embarrassing to meet
again suddenly like this, but she must
make the best of it
81 hope the rain will keep off," she
said taking refuge in that excellent
| subject the weather.
EYES," he replied. I'VE shan't get much
tennis if it rains. am afraid you have
been very unlucky in the draw, for my
tennis has not improved.
She tripped off to the clubhouse, ant
soon reappeared in short white skirt
| and tennis shoes.
The clouds drifted slowly away, ant
the glaring hot sun poured down on thu
little gathering, but the couples undis
mayed by the heat played tennis vigor
ously. Major Bradshaw had evidently
not overestimatcd the case when he be
Titled his powers as tennis player, TO
he and his partner succumbed ignomin'
ously to couple after couple in the tour
nament.
He had improved, she thought. Hart
lines had taken away the full FRESHNESS
of boyhood from his face, and his hal
was little scanty over the temples, Blu
the expression had changed for the better
The old firmness of will was still strong
marked, but he was quoted and less il
sistent. The years which brought hir
advancement in his profession, brevet
majority and the D. S. O., had evidentl
taught him that the world could not b
nodded to his wish. 1t was with fee
of regretful surprise that she realized tt
happy day was over and it was time t
go home again.
AS she emerged from the clubhouse i
boots and habit once more, she toun
him waiting, and advanced to bid hin
good by.
81 am coming with you" he said smi
ing Mrs. Deare has had to go on, an
she asked me to see you safely home, q
it is on my way"
at is very kind of you," she said
little shyly.
mo, not that" he said, as he lifted ht
to the saddle.
Slowly they mounted higher an
higher by the narrow zigzag path leadin
to the gap whence they would decend
the bungalow on the other side of II
hills. The sun had dipped out of sigl
over the misty hills across the vale
and the great clouds came Scurrying OF
of the rising wind. The darkness can
swiftly over them as they climbed II
hillside, and the valley, far below, wit
the little clubhouse and tennis court
was swept out of sight by the drivir
mist. II am afraid we are going t
! | have a Storm" said Bradshaw at las
/ Zones promised to have a coolie with
n lantern at the gap to light us down Il
/ other side. It's ticklish work ridir
> down the side of mountain in the daI
{ by these estate tracks. hope you a
s. not nervous, Miss Moore?"
mot in the least" she said. Il ha'
done this lots of times before, | shan
mind getting wet. Here it comes" s.
continued, as the first heavy drops Oft