Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-20

edge that their friendship had reached a
height where silence Is permitted-be-
comes even the purest form of expression
At the bottom of the compound they
reached a large. low-built building. evil
IDENTIFY once a dwelling place. overgrown
with wild plants and half in ruins, whose
dim outlines stood out against the dark
ening background Of trees and sky. The
door stood open, and must, indeed. have
stood open for many years. for the broken
hinges were rusty and seemed to be cling
ing to the torn woodwork only by the
strength of undisturbed custom
Stafford came to halt
THAT is where he began, and then
abruptly left his sentence unfinished.
Yes" she said, 1T is here. l don't
think, as long we live in India. that
my guardian will ever have 1t touched.
He calls it the Memorial. My father was
his greatest friend. and the terrible fact
that he came too late to save him has
saddened his whole life
Stafford looked down at her. The light
from a lantern which Mrs. Carmichael.
with great dexterity. had fixed among
some overhanging branches. fell on the
dark features, now composed and thought
full. She met his glance in silence. with
large eyes that had taken into their
depths something of the surrounding
shadow. He had never felt so strongly
before the popularity of her fascination
perhaps because he had never seen her In
a setting which seemed so entirely a part
OF herself The distant music. the hum
of voices and that strange charm which
permeates an Indian nightfall-above all.
the ruined bungalow with it's shattered
with their sharp contrasts Of laughter
and tragedy, had formed themselves into
background which belonged to her. SO
that she and they seemed inseparable-
On. Lois. little gtrl!' Stafford said.
gently. Il have always thought Of you
as standing alone, different from every
thing and everybody, stranger from an
other world. irresistible, incomprehensible.
have Just understood that you are part
and Parcel Of 1t all. child of the sun and
flowers and mysteries and wonders. 1t is
who am the stranger
Hush! she said. in voice of curious
pain. Hush! Let us go back. We must
uance-whether we will or not-''
He followed her without protest. The
very rustic Of her muslin skirts over the
fallen leaves made for his ears q new and
fantastic music.
Close behind them wandered the two
captains, Webb and Saunders, arm in
arm. At the entrance to Col. Carmi-
chaefs Memorial Webb stopped and, strik-
ing a match against the door, proceeded
to light his cigar. The tiny fame lit up
for an instant the languid patrician fea-
lures.
"A cigar is ones only comfort in dull
affair like this he remarked. as they
resumed their leisurely promenade. law
full wine wasn't it?''
Awful. The colonel is beginning to
put on the curb-or his lady. It's the
same thing"
TT will be better when the club comes
into existence said Webb. blowing con-
solatory clouds of smoke into the quiet
air.
'It is to be hoped SO. Spunky devil.
that Travers. Wonder how he means to
do the trick. He knows how to pick out
a pretty partner. anyhow"
THAT Cary girl? Yes. Wait till the
heat has dried her up, though. She'll be
a scarecrow. like the rest OF them. By
the way. what were her people?'
Heaven knows-something in the D. p
W., 1 believe. The mother was dressed
in the queerest kit.
II heard her talking about the gentle
men," remarked Webb laughing. as
they went up the steps Of the bungalow
together.
The Memorial was once more left to its
shadows and silence. At the edge OF the
compound a group of natives peered
through the fencing, watching and lis
tening. Their dark faces expressed neither