The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1907-03-27
ARAAEE
By NRS. 3 N. CROKER


" NHoN WIN N
was suggested as my future home, l
accepted the proffered invitation, n
sailed eastward-the bride OF a clever
young civil engineer.
Our home was & comfortable White
bungalow in excellent repair. 1t
stood between the ruins of an OLD fort,
and a large building enclosed by a
high wall, over which waved the tops
of palms. and tulip-trees.
That was once the Residency, e.
planned Mr.. Bethune, a young f"ieEc
of my husbands who came occaS212'
ally TO see us. Il believe it has Wo2'
derful grounds full OF manSoes i
tamarind trees. Think of such waste.
Now it belongs to a rich zemind2r-a
Brahmin-who shuts himself up win
his belongings to the fourth genera
ton, and keeps a temple and a priest
am sorry you have not better neISh-
bors!"
Perhaps we may become friendly,
answered. Il should like to see an
Indian household"
You will never do that here. THESE
west-coast Brahmins are eltraordi-
narily strict. They have il all their
own way in these parts, and look on
Europeans as the mud under their
feet"
One day / rode into our compound
lust at noon. The house was under q
spell of noontide quiet-only a wan
dering wind from the sea stirred the
heavy palms, and rustled among the
jack-fruit. l happened to glance ID
passing at a large fig-tree o~verhaa@ine
the wall which enclosed the zernlh
dar's domain; there, shining anoAs
the green leaves like a flower, oes
cried a white face-the face OF a Slr
of my own age. 1T must De maslh
ton" | said to myself, not a Ht'ie
startled.
looked up again; yes. 1t was SUI
there-a colorless, beautiful lace
framed in quantities Of soft colder
hair The vision was about to with
draw. but | held up my hand with
gesture of entreaty.
ooh. doa't go!" l implored. II"
not seen a white woman TOT thre'
months. Please stay, and tell me VIVA
you are doing in there.
FL was a-watching for a-you," sn'
answered, speaking with peculiar oe
liberation. as if English were an ur
familiar tongue; Il do watcn 10 Sc
vou every day when they"-and sh
ierked her head ckward ar
asleep-after food"
Who are they"
People in here-where hve-a
ways"
But surely you are a European
thew are natives" / objected.
NJ mother was a native; of Maj
caste-a Brahmin woman; these al
her folk"
"Do Won like being shut up?"
mol" she answered quickly. "Ol
you are so young and happy, and ire
1T makes me glad to look at you!
But you must come and look at n
here. at home l shall be thankful Il
your company. I have many n
hours"
~ also. But no. no, mol can nev'
go to you"
How old are you" l questioned.
sixteen, l think"
"You look older; and your name!
"Aralee they call me-my rather
name was Memo"
And where is he"
81 wish | knew! He left this sevt
years ago. He may be dead-like n
mother-but something says n
Every day / watch for him-and eve
night I pray that he may soon return
and tears rolled down her face.
perhaps he will. Do you know an
thing of him?"
"Not much. Since I was small,
can recall him here. He bought th
bungalow-it Is his-and he spe
much time here, and in the fores
From him l learned English, al
when he was laid up with a brok
leg he taught me to read. Oh, l d
love him! and / rode on a pony by I
side, and he told me tales of fairi'
How happy / was! Then he was call
away to England-and has never col
back. After a long while my Un'
Narayana came to live here, then
mother died, and-that is my life."
81 want to do something for yo'
I cried. Can / not come to see you
well, l tell you something. In thu
DAYS Narayana, the zemindar. a
most of his mankind, go to the or.
yearly festival, to battle and to of
sacrifice. He will be away about t
or three weeks. You go and see RI
his wife, and the womenfolk-t;
and fiatter and please-wear all "
Iewels-and then she will let ,