The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-10-29


Apurba Krishna received his A. B.
degree and was returning home in a
boat from Calcutta. The river was
small. 1t had almost dried up by the
end of Summer. But in the month of
Straban it was full to the brim. so
much so that it kissed the feet of the
village hedges and the clumps of
bamboo trees. The sun was smiling in
a sky that for many days past had
been enveloped in the darkness Of rain
and cloud. If we could but have a
glance at the picture that lay latent
in the heart of Apurba Krishna we
could see that the ripples in the full
to the brim stream of his mind were
lit with the light of youth as they
danced in merriment.
The boat was moored in proper
place in the village CHAT. The roof of
the Apurba's brick built mansion could
be seen through the trees surrounding
it. AS the news of his Homecoming
was not known, there was no one in
the CHAT to receive him. A boatman
was about to carry the hand bag, but
Apurba asked him not to do so, and
he himself took the bag in his hand
and quickly got out of the boat in
great joy-the joy of Homecoming.
The landing place was slippery, and
as soon as Apurba's feet Struck the
ground he fell fiat in the mud, bag in
hand, And almost simultaneously rip
pies OF sweet, loud laughter startled
startled the birds on the nearby asatha
tree. Apurba was embarrassed, but he
soon regained his self-possession and
looked around to see a girl seated on
a heap of brick on the shore. She was
laughing so heartily that it seemed as
if her body would burst into thous-
and pieces. Apurba at once knew her
to be Mrinmayi, the daughter of their
new neighbors. They formerly lived
by the large river at distance, but
on account of the Entertainments of
the boisterous river they had left their
old home and built new one in the
village two or three years ago.
A good deal was heard about the
raughtiness of the girl. The men Of
the village affectionately called her
the mad girl, but the village women
were always fearful Of the danger on
her account of her VIGOROUSLY way
ward temperament. She was wont to
play with the boys of the village, and
had no use, rather had a positive
hatred, for the girls of her age. In the
children's world she was somewhat
like highway robber.
Mrinmayi was the favorite daughter
of her father, and to this may be at
tributed the cause of her untamed
overbearance.
Mrinlnayi's complexion was a shade
lighter than olive. Her wavy hair just
touched her back. Her face looked
like that of boy. Her large luminous
black eyes were destitute of bashful-
ness or fear, and there was not to be
found the least trace of coquetry. Her
stature was tall in proportion to her
age. Her physique was full, healthy,
and strong. Her physical development
was of such a nature that no one ever
felt inclined to guess her age. If such
thought could ever enter into the
minds of the villagers, they would
rave accused her parents of not having
given her in marriage before this.
Heretofore, during holidays, Apurba
had seen this free as air girl few
times. This made him think of her at
leisure, at times even when he was
busy. We notice and are attracted by
many faces, but some faces force their
way into the innermost chambers of
our hearts and occupy them outright
This is not due to physical attractive
ness alone. There is something be-
yond this which is not easy to explain
1t is not necessary to say that, how
ever sweet the laughter of Mrinmayi
might have been to listen to, it was,
nevertheless, somethwhat painful to
Apurba. He handed over the bag to
the boatman, blushed red, and rapidly
walked toward home.
AS Apurba walked along the shady
road homewrad he heard Mrinmayi
laugh continuously. He eventually
reached home with mud-besmeared
clothes and the handbag. His wild
owed mother was wild with joy to see
her son come home quite unexpectedly
and she at once sent out servants far
and near to buy special things for
dinner. The entire village soon was
in state of commotion.
After dinner Apurba's mother spoke
to her son of his marriage. He was
prepared for this for this question of
marriage was OF long standing. Apurba
deferred it by refusing to marry before
receiving his A. B. degree as was wont
of many of the younger generation.
His mother had waited so long that it
was useless to make excuses any
longer.
Let us see the bride" said Apurba.
"and then we shall decide"
I'VE have seen the bride" said the
mother. "YOu won't have to think of
il at all"
But Apurba was quite willing to
think of that himself and said; 81
can't agree to marry without seeing
the girl"
The mother was shocked and said
II have never heard more absurd
thing than this in my life" But she
gave Apurba permission to see the
prospective bride.
That night Apurba put out the light
in his room, and as be lay down on the
bed the sweet laughter of the morning
L..