Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-05-17
The Native,
Ayrith
By CALVIN HENDRICKS
1IIIIIlIIIIIIiIIIlIiIIIIIIIIIlIIIIIIIIIIIIlIIN III

Blanche"
"Do you mean of home or of nus
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 hot, blistering sun"
yet we hope for a future, sister
dear" said Blanche in her CHEEKY. op-
timistsc way.
Very humble, indeed, was the pres
ent position Of young Walter Burton.
He had been an under clerk In the em-
pioy Of the government. A congress
man took a liking to him and had Sc
cured for him his present position as
consul mt Beiron. an obscure city In
India. Just married, ne and his wife
had been there now for about half
year Mrs. Marcia Burnham, the wild.
owed sister of Blanche, was visiting
them.
II pity you, Blanche" she now said.
glanciTg sourly at the fiat, unintereSt-
ing expanse Of low habitations and
treeie.sS plains before her. II have Ger
tainls outdistanced you. older though
am. Next month as you know, am
to marry Court 'roiferi They say he
Is very rich"
'7'or mercyNs sake here" shon,ed
Marcia sharply. staring down th'
rcad "rhere Is that philanthrnpie
husband OF yours with a new pension
49, in tow, fancy"
walter, how can you interest your
self In t''rse ignorant, worthless peo-
ple?" chi,'ed Marcia. +Your cIothinC
rs covered with dust from contact With
that fellow"
"A poor fellow, indeed" replied
Wnlter. rityirglv. "You VIII rot WON
der at mis- condition when I tell Won
that found him lying by the way
side. creeping on irands and knees,
bound fsr Calcutta"
"Why did he do it," inquired tl,~
widow with Indifferent curiosity
"As a penalty. Tie WIS starving
and store measure of meal The 'av'
put him at year of hard tabor T's~
priest OF his sect fined htn twenty
taels. or the horr1hte ordeal he was
undressing"
"And YOU paid h1s fine. infer?-
spoke Marcia, contemptuous1y.
81 could not resist doing IT." replied
Walter
The widow left Them few days
later to meet her financed husband at
Naples The native. Ayrith. wh"m
Walter had taken under his prOtpctir~
wing became domesttcated as a grats
full. loyal servant.
Walter was good deal surprised te
find how useful Ayrl'h became to htrN
as the weeks passed on. Most Of The
consular functions consisted in pass
ing upon export duties and the stHnd-
Ing of business honSes In the iistrcT
II was remarkable how well Ayrith
was posted on these details. One dav
re came to Walter, evidently fun -
some subject that interested him
greatly, for n half suppressed excite
rrent was visible In his manner.
"Sahih," he said 81 learn"
"Learn what. Ayrlth?" inquired Wal
ter in his kindly way.
"Tho guilds-those who export tNe
wicker the bamboo the heads, thf
t'sels They laughed at your countrr
the great land I love because Won
are OF there. They boast to pay hrt
little duties. because they say mate
rial raw and goods fancy when It ie
really fabrics"
That night the consul went over MS
tariff files. He made an important ~
covpry.
Walter fully reported his discovery
and opinions to the authorities ~
Washington lust two months '"t"r
he came into the house with tnttpr |
ing strip Of paper In his hand.
Look, Blanchie" he said buoyantl~ |
"Our ship has come in"
"Your discoveries will lead to |
change of classification" the official |
letter read, "thnt will increase import
duties over $4,000 600 year. You ore
transferred ms consul general to Si"g |
apore at four thousand dollars per nn.
mum"
II was under widely changed ="
Dental conditions that Mrs Burnn"c |
dropped in upon them unexpectedly |
few weeks later. The Burtons oc""
pied beautiful bungalow, set In IT,
midst Of lovely garden. Il
'TIow superb" pronounced the ~
PRECIOUS Marcia. ~ would he conte"'
to live In this earthly Paradise for
ever"
"You win he surely welcomed rs
rrrmanent guest" declared Wa''e"
chivnlrously. 'But how about tn"
count?'
"A count of no account" reported |
Marcia with wry face. "Lucki'v
found il out In time. And your sorry
ants-how different to those M that |
half-civilzed settlement The mani
who carried in my traps was quite |
dignlfied."
You do not recognize him?" in !
uuired Rlnncha with q uuyZical smile |