The herald., 1922-06-08
The Native,
Ayrith
By CALVIN HENDRICKS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


band, Marcie?"
Both. Walter Is certainly as much
in love with you as when he married
you, but / would resent husband
bringing me to this unendurably des-
olate spot-no society, no comfort, no
future, nothing but wallowing natives
and a hot, blistering SUM-"
"Yet we hope for a future, sister
dear" said Blanche in her CHEEKY, op-
timistic way.
Very humble, indeed, was the pres
ent position of young Walter Burton.
He had been an under clerk in the en-
ploy Of the government. A congress
man took a liking to him and had Sc
cured for him his present position as
consul at BeirOn, an obscure city In
India. Just married, ne and his wife
had been there now for about half a
year. Mrs. Marcia Burnham, the wild
owed sister Of Blanche, was visiting
them.
81 pity you, Blanche" she now said,
glarring sourly at the fiat, uninterest-
ing expanse Of low habitatiOns and
treeless plains before her. 81 have GER
tainly outdistanced you, older though
am. Next month. as you know, am
to marry Count Toliferi. They say he
Is very rich"
"For mercy's sake here" shouted
Marcia, sharply, staring down the
road. There is that phllanthrOpic
husband of yours with new pension
er In tow, fancy" .-.--..-~-
"walter, how can you interest your
self in these ignorant, worthless peO-
ple?" chided Marcia. "Your clothing
is covered with dust from contact with
that fellow"
"a poor fellow, indeed" replied
Walter. pityingly. "You will not won
der at his condition when l tell you
that I found him lying by the way
side, creeping on hands and knees,
bound for Calcutta"
"why did he do itr' inquired the
widow, with Indifferent curiosity.
"As a penalty. He was starving
and stole a measure of meal. The law
put him at a year Of hard labor. The
priest Of his sect fined him twenty
taels, or the horrible ordeal he was
undergoing"
-And you paid his fine, I inferT
spoke Marcia, contemptuously.
81 could not resist doing It," replied
Walter.
The widow left them few days
later to meet her afflanced husband at
Naples. The native. Ayrith. whom
Walter had taken under his protecting
wing, became domesticated as a CRATE
full, loyal servant.
Walter was a good deal surprised to
find how useful Ayrith became to him
as the weeks passed on. Most Of the
consular functions consisted In pass
ing upon export duties and the stand
ing Of business houses IN the district.
II was remarkable how well Ayrith
was posted on these details. One day
he came to Walter, evidently full OF
some subject that interested him
greatly, for a half suppressed excite
ment was visible IN his manner.
"Sahib," he said. 81 learn"
Learn what, Ayrith? inquired Wal
ter in his kindly way.
"The guilds-those who export the
wicker, the bamboo, the beads, the
tinsels. They laughed at your country
the great land I love because you
are Of there. They boast to pay but
little duties, because they say mate
rial raw and goods fancy when 1t Is
really fabrics"
That night the consul went over his
tariff files. He made an important dis
covery.
Walter fully reported his discovery
and opinions to the authorities at
Washington. Just two months late-
he came into the house with fiutter-
ing strip Of paper II his hand.
"Look, Blanchie;,' he said buoyantly.
"Our ship has come I'M"
"Your discoveries will lead to a
change Of classification" the official
letter read, shat will increase import
duties over 100000 year. You are
transferred as consul general to Sing
apore at four thousand dollars per an
num-"
II was under widely changed resi-
Dental conditions that Mrs. Burnham
dropped in upon them Unexpectedly
few weeks later. The Burtons Occu-
pied a beautiful bungalow, set in the
midst Of a lovely garden.
"How superb" pronounced the ca
Drtc;ous Marcia "I wOuld he content
to live in this earthly Paradise for
ever"
"You will be surely welcomed as
permanent guest" declared Walter,
chivalrously. "But how about the
count?"
"a count of no account" reported
Marcia with a wry face. Luckily I
found il out In time. And your serv-
ants-how different to those at that
half-civilized settlement. The man
who carried in my traps was quite
dignified."
"You do not recognize himT in
auired Blanche with a quizzlcal smile.
"Why, no." replied her sister with
a puzzled air.
HE Is Ayrith."
"You mean the man whom you res
cued from that horrible penance at
the old post?"
"The same Through him. my dear