The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1911-08-31

Se7NN ohu iIIh ASoCA' usitA y Hil ehIC W >
marking the end of the first stage, the
beginning of the second.
Ram Nath refined in with 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 VIC
lent and erratic motion to a solid and
! substantial footing affected him I'M
pleasantly. and with an undeniable
qualm; the earth seemed to rock and
| flow beneath him as II under the in
| ttuenCe of an antic earthquake He
was for some seconds occupied with
the problem of regaining his poise,
and it was not until he heard an Eng
lishwOmaa'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 tonga-wallah 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 if he had come from a
| land in which there were no women
Where" she continued. with an i'm
perativc stamp Of a daintily-shod foot,
is that wretched tonga-wallah?
"Sahiba,' protested Ram Nath. with
a great show of Difference, how
should | 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 tGrga-wallah was a fool, am I
70 be imposed upon in this fashion? ."
What am l." vhimpered Ram Natn.
TO endure the wrath Of the sahiba for
fault that is none Of mino?"
4 beg your pardon, sir" said the
gicl, turning to Amber but it is very
annoying She looked him over. first
with abstraction, then with q puzzled
gathering of her brows, for he was
far from her tnoushts-tde last per
son she would have expected to meet
in that place. and very efectuany dis
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 il
on again, that block-head OF a tonga.
wallah hammered the rim with a rock
as big as his head and naturally
sm ashed it TO kindling- wood Then,
before I could stop him, he flung him
self on the back of pony and went
away, saying that i was the will of
God that he should return to B2d8hah
for a better tonga Since when
have had for company one stable
scye, one deaf-and-dumb patriarch Of
a khansamah and the usual
( OAK bungalow discomforts - insects.
bad food, and a terrible fear of da-
colts"
Il am so sorry, Miss Farrell" Am
Der put in. IF I had only been
here
The girl gave little gasp and sat
down abruptly in one of the veranda
chairs, thereby threatening it with
instant demolition and herself with a
bad spill; for the chair was feeble
with the burden of its many years,
and she was quite substantial Young
person. Indeed, so loudly did it croak
a protest and warning that she i'm
mediately arose in alarm.
Mr.. Amber" she said and,
Well ;"
You'll forgive me the surprise ~
he begged. going up on the veranda
to her. Il myself had no hope Of
finding you here"
But" she protested, with a pretty
flush Of color-"but I left you in the
States such little while ago"
Yes" he said gravely. 1t seems
so long to me And when
you had gone Long Island was a very
lonely place indeed" he added, with
calculated impudence.
Her color deepencd and she sought
another chair. seating herself with
| gingerly decis'~1 I'm sure you
don't mean me 20 assume that you've
! followed me half round the world?"
Why not?" He brought another
chair to face her Besides. | haven't
seen anything of India for a
| good many years"
'Mr. AMBER"
"Ma'am?" he countered with affect
ed humility.
You're spelling it all w2s 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 firtini
with me-or pretending to-"
I'm not" he declared soberly "a,
a matter of solemn fact had t.
come to India"
You had tor
"On a matter Of serious business
! Please don't ask me what, just yet.
but It's very serious, to my way o
thinking. This happy incident
!