Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-20

turning to Amber, but Il is very annoy |
ing She looked him over. first with
abstraction, then with Il puzzled gather
Ing of her brows. for he was far from
her thoughts-thn .ast person she would
have expected to meet in that place. and
very effectually disguised in d1st and
dirt besides. The tire came off the
wheel just as We got here, late yester-
day evening. and ~ trying. or pretend
ing to try. to ~ II on again. that block
cead OF n tonga-wallah hammered the
rim with a rock as big IS lbs head and
naturally smashed IL to kirdling wood.
1nen, before 1 could stop him, he flung
himself on the back of a pony and went
away, saving that IL WAS the will of God
that he should return to Badshah for
better tonga. Since when | have had for
company one stable scye, one deaf and
dumb patriarch of khansamah and
the usual dak-bungalow discomforts
insects. bad food and a terrible fear of
dacoits.'
~ am so sorry, Miss Farrell Amber
put in. IF l had only been hero
The girl gave a little gasp and sat
down abruptly i'm one of the veranda
chairs. thereby threatening il with In
slant demolition and herself with a bad
spill: for the chair VAS feeble with the
burden of its many years and she was
quite substantial young person. Indeed.
so loudly did il croak a protest and a
warning that she Immediately arose I'm
alarm.
Mr.. AMBER she said, and We'll
You'll forgive me the surprise?" he
begged, goin,, up on the veranda To her.
Il myself had ne hope OF finding you
here"
But" she protested. with pretty
flush of color-''but I left Won in the
States such a little while agoi'
"Yes?" he said gravely. II seems so
long to me. ." And whyn YOU had
gone Long Island was a very lonely place
dence.
Her color deepened and she sought an
other chair. seating herself with gingerly
decision. I'm sure you don't mean me
round the wOrld?'
why notr' He brought another chair
to face her. Besides, haven't seen
anything Of ." A" India for a good many
years"
MIR AMBER
Ma ann" he countered with affected
humility.
You're spelling it all. was so glad
to see you'd have been glad to see any
white man. of course"
Much obliged. I'm sure"
And now you're actually flirting with
me-or pretending to"
I'm not" he declared. soberly. AS
a matter of solemn fact, had to come to
India
You had tor
ION matter of serious business
Please don't ask me what just yet; but
it's very serious. to my way OF thinking
This happy accident-I count myself a
very happy man to have been so fOrtu-
nate-only makes my errand the more
She regarded him intently. chin in hand
her brown eyes sedate with speculation
for some time. Il believe youv been
speaking in parallels" she asserted. at
length. IF I'm unjust. bear with me;
appearances are against you. There
isn't any reason 1 know of why you
should tell me what brought you
here
There's every reason in point of fact.
Miss Farrell, only L can't explain
just now"
Very WELL" she agreed. briskly. lets
be content with that. I am glad to see
you again. truly, and-we're to travel on
to Kuttarpur in the same tonga?'
IF you'll permit
After what I've endured this awful
night wouldn't willingly let you out
of my sight"
"Or any other white man."
She laughed, pleased. II presume you're
wondering what I'm doing here?"
you were to join your father in OAR
jeeling, 1 believer" he countered, eau
tious.
but 1 found he'd been transferred un-
expectedly to Kuttarpur. So of course,
l had to follow. / telegraphed him day
before yesterday when i was to arrive AT
Badshah Junction. and naturally ex-
one meet me, but I presume the message
must have gone astray. AT all events
there was no one there for me and l had
to come on alone. It's hardly been
tonga -wallah behaved precisely as though
he had deliberately made up his mind to
delay me- - And the tonga's nearly
ready; 1 must lock my kit bag"
She went into the bungalow. leaving
him thoughtful. for perhaps But the
back of Ram Nath. as that worthy busted
himself superintending the Harvesting In
of fresh ponies. conveyed to him no sup
port for his half-credited hypothesis that
this accident" had been carefully plan
ned by Labertouche for Amber's especial
benefit.
He vexed himself with vain specula-
TONS for il was perfectly certain that he
would get nothing in the way of either
denial or confirmation out of Ram Nath;
and. presently, acknowledging this. he
called the khansamah and ordered a peg
for the sake of the dust in his throat
The girl joined him on the veranda In
due course. very demure and sweet to
look upon in her travelling dress OF light
pongee and her pith helmet. whose green
under brim and puggaree served very
handsomely to set off her fair colorihs.
If she overlooked the alteration of his
eyes she was rather less than woman,
for il was in them. plain to be seen Tor
the looking. The khansamah followed her
from the bungalow, staggering under the
weight of her box and kit bag, and with
Ram Mathis surly assistance made them
fast to the front seat while AMBER
gave the girl his hand TO help her TO her
place and lifted himself to her side IN
mute glow of ecstasy. Fate. he thought
with reason, was most kind to him.
They ratified headlong from the COM |
pound making for the distant hills OF
blue The girl drew down her puggaree. |
with its soft. thin folds sheltering the
pure contours of her face from the dust
and burning sun-glare. He watched her
hungrily, holding his breath as the
thought came to him that he was seated
elbow 10 elbow with the woman who was
to he his wife. his hand still a-tingle |
with the "Reminiscences of her gloved fin |
gers that had touched IL SO transiently. |
She caught his intent look and smiled, |
her ewes lustrous through the yelling.
She was very tired after her night-lons |
vigil and after a few words of common /!
place as they drew away from the sta |
ton he forebore to weary her with talk, |
and a silence as sweet as communion
heightened between them as the stage |
heightened. He was very intent upon
her presence; the consciousness of her
there beside him seemed, at times. al
most sufYocating. He could by no means !
forget that she had In curious way
been assigned to him-set aside to be his |
WIFE, the partner OF all his days: and
she tolerated him kindly. all unsuspicious |
of the signific ance of his advent into her
life. If she were made to suspect, |
to understand what effect would II have
upon their rc.ations. slight and but lately |