The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-08-31

d6Cu anu 1uul6Sut uesh-DuiA6 oaS Ws
marking the end of the first stage, the
beginning of the second.
Ram Nath refined In with a flourish
and lifted raucous voice, hailing the
syce, while Amber. painfully olsen
gaging his cramped limbs, climbed
down and stumbled toward the veran-
da. The abrupt transition from vio4
lent and erratic motion to solid and
substantial footing affected him I'M
pleasantly, and with an undeniable
qualm; the earth seemed to rock and
flow beneath him as if under the in
| fiuence of an antic earthquake. He
was for some seconds occupied with
the problem Of regaining his poise,
and 1t was not until he heard an Eng
Hshwoman's voice uplifted in accents
Of anger, that he remembered the
other wayfarer with whom he was to
share his tonga, or associated with
the whitehead figure in the dark door
way of the bungalow with anything
but the khansamah, coming to greet
and cheat the chance-brought guest.
Where is that tongawallah who
deserted me here last night?" the
woman was demanding Of Ram Nath,
too preoccupied with her resentment
to have eyes for the other traveller.
who at sight of her had stopped and
removed his pith helmet and stood
staring as Il he had come from a
land in which there were no women.
Where" she continued, with an i'm
perative stamp Of daintily-shod foot,
SIS that wretched tonga-wallah? 2"
"Sahiba," protested Ram Nath, with
a great show of Difference, "how
should I know? Belize he is in Bad
shah Junction, whittier he returned
very late last night. being travel-worn
and weary, and where left him. be-
Ing sent with this excellent tonga to
take his place."
you were? And why have / been
detained here, alone and unprotected,
this long night? Simply because that
other tonga-Yallah was a fool, amS8
to be imposed upon in this fashion,"
What am /" whimpered Ram Nath.
ito endure the wrath Of the sahiba for
fault that is none of miner"
Il beg your pardon, sir" said the
girl, turning to Amber, "but it is very.
annoying" She looked him over; first
with abstraction, then with puzzled
gathering of her brows, for he was
far from her thoughts-the last per-
son she would have expected to meet
e., <1,o+ v,1onn opd xynrxy afpaaf,1a1Jxy dfc
guised in dust and dirt besides. "The
tire came off the wheel just as we got
here, late yesterday evening, and In
trying, or pretending to try. to fit 1t
on again, that block-head of a tonga
wallah hammered the rim with a rock
as big ass his head and naturally
smashed It to kindlingwood. Then.
before gould stop him, he flung him.
self on the back OF pony and went
away, Saying that 1t was the will OF
God that he should return to Badshah
for better tonga. Since when |
have had for company one stable
seye, one deaf-and-dumb patriarch OF
ia khansamah and 80. the usual
| dakshungalow discomforts - insects,
bad food, and a terrible fear OF da-
colts"
'T am SO sorry. Miss Farrell" Am
Der put In. IF I had only been
mere
The girl gave q little gasp and sat
down abruptly In one of the veranda
chairs, thereby threatening 1T with
instant demolition and herself with a
bad spill; for the chair was feeble
with the burden Of It's many years,
and she was quite substantial young
person. Indeed, so loudly did 1t croak
protest and a warning that she I'M
mediately arose In alarm.
"Mr. Amber!" she said; and.
We'll
You'll forgive me the surprise?"
he begged, going up on the veranda
to her. II myself had no hope OF
finding you here"
But she protested, with a pretty
flush of color-"but ] left you In the
States such little while ago!"
'fYes?" he said gravely. TT seems
SO long to me. And when
you had gone, Long Island was very
lonely place indeed" he added, with
calculated impudence.
l. Her color deepened and she sought
another chair, seating herself with
gfngerIy decis5nn. I'm sure you
don't mean me to assume that you've
followed me half round the world?"
why notT He brought another
chair to face her Besides; haven't
seen anything Of India for .
good many years"
Mr.. Amberl"
"Ma'am? s' he countered with Affect
ed humility.
You're spelling It al. 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 hirting
with me-or pretending to."
I'm not" he declared soberly. AS
matter Of solemn fact + had TO