The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-08-03
|, TALBOT MuhDy-WNu SERVICE

were enemies, at sight, as charmed
to meet each other as match and
powder barrel. Lynn knew it in
Stantly.
Then Aunty arrived. After that,
there was nothing to do but to listen
to Aunty's distant condescensions.
She was wonderful. Even Rundhia
admired her spunk. Dressed in
formal evening gown on purpose to
make Lynn feel ashamed of her
self, tapped and strapped by the doc
tor until she could hardly move, in
torture from the twisted ankle, she
proposed to dominate that compa-
ny. She did, until Norwood subdued
her. She wasn't used to being
snubbed by mere captains.
"What do Engineer officers do?"
she demanded.
Nothing" he said, Except an
swer questions. Why? I might lend
you a man who can do things"
The Maharajah was interrupted
by the arrival of the Bengal doc
tor, followed by servant with big
blue goblet on tray. The Mahara-
jah swallowed the contents of the
goblet in one long draught and Nor
wood noticed that he became imme-
diately more at ease. But Norwood
was also watching Rundhia, who
left off dancing with Lynn and ac-
companied the Bengal to the door,
talking to him low-voiced.
Norwood promptly Communicated
Lynn.
eff l were you," he said, SID
stick to champagne. The cocktails
taste phoney.'
Lynn wasn't sure she liked him.
On the other hand, she wasn't sure
she didn't.
"Why were you rude to Aunty?"
"She was rude to me-" he an
swered.
''She had an accident today, so
she isn't herself
"Who is? You, for instance? Prin-
cess? Cinderella on her night out?
Or rebel? You know what happens
to rebels, don't you, unless their
friends are reliable?"
A great gong doomed. 1t was as
ancient as the palace. It was the
bronze voice of memory.
''Picnic!" exclaimed the Mahara-
nee. mo formality. Lynn, dear,
lead the way. We will all follow"
So the Maharajah came last, to
the servants horror, and it was
Lynn who contrived the seating.
Norwood's luck suffered a fiat tire.
He found himself between the Ma
haranee and Aunty. Rundhia and
Lynn sat opposite; the Maharajah
at one end of the table, the Maha-
rance at the other.
The Maharajah only pretended to
eat. In theory, he had abandoned
caste restrictions, but in practice,
he lacked the Maharanee's courage.
He wilted under Aunty Harding's
barrage of remarks. Her vigor de-
pressed him. Aunty had no patience
with weaklings:
@You're hypochondriac," she
told him.
The Maharajah sighed. ST am a
victim of public duty. Affairs of
state impose a sedentary life that
has ruined my health. But have
found that Rundhia's physician un-
derstands my ailment."
The physician reappeared in the
doorway, nervous, unself-assertive.
He came behind Aunty's chair and
whispered to her. Norwood couldn't
hear what he said, but he saw him
lay two pellets on a plate at Aunty's
right hand.
Drugs! No thank you'll"
what are they?" asked the Ma
harajah.
Exactly the same that your High
ness has been taking for your
nerves." said the physician.
81 have iron nerves." said Aunty.
The physician smiled. He sepa-
rated the two pellets with a fork
and held the plate toward the Ma
harajah.
"Set her the example," he sug-
gested.
My monotonous life consists of
nothing else than setting good ex-
amples," said the Maharajah. eff
it won't hurt me, it won't hurt you"
He reached for a pellet.
Norwood noticed that the doctor
moved the plate so that the Maha-
rajah's fingers closed on the one
that had been nearer Aunty. If it
was trick it was smooth Rundhia
was paying rather witty attention to
Lynn; he was making her laugh.
GAS compliment, but against my
better Judgment" said Aunty. She
swallowed the other pellet.
''Thank you," said the Bengal.
'"Thank you, madam. That relieves
my anxiety. You should not be
here. You should be in bed. There
is no knowing what peoples nerves
may do to them when they have suf-
| fered bodily shock such as you re-
ceived this afternoon.
He bowed himself out.
Aunty used her napkin suddenly.
Norwood watched her. He was just
in time to prevent her falling from
the chair. Everyone, including the
Maharajah, jumped up. Lynn ran
| to her. The servants formed a
scrimmage around Lynn and Aunty.
The Maharajah scolded the Maha-
rance soto voce.
Rundhia sent a servant running
| for the doctor. The other servants
| picked up Aunty and 1carried her
into the next room, where she
groaned on couch and nearly faint
ed from humiliation. Rundhia met
the doctor at the door. Norwood,
watching them, pretended not to,
wasn't certain whether they spoke.
The doctor nodded, put on his most
judicial professional air, felt Aunty's