Literature.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 267, 15 November 1904, Page 4

Literature.

, ! FROM A LIVING DEATH* ■ — — (Contin»ed.) She had been in Ualasor about a month, when one day the Consul ' must into his wile's sitting-room. "My dear," ho said excitedly, ' a ' iiatno chief has actually come to see , me His favourite wifo is .11. He ■■ thought I might, know a little about medicine, and give lint something lor L her. I haw tried to explain -Unit 1 „ know nothing about doctoring, and .( > -1 did 1 durst not preseribe without , se. .ng her, anil that, a s she is ft fanat tic, is impossible." i " What are the symptoms ?- - asked Winnie. " I cannot make out. Will you see the chief, Miss Feldwiek ? I will translate as well as I can." The chief was a most humble man, r who treated Winuie with the greatest levercnce. W initio was puz7j(d at the acscriptacn of the malady. "I cannot prev scribe Vrithbut seeing her," sho said •at length. The chief begged that the English lady would honour his house. Ho took an oath by the gods he wor-' shipped'tlitft he would bring her back iimWmed. And if she only-cured hds| ,vfife he would give her. whatever she asked. "It is a very groat honour, and ( all that," said the Consul's wife, as Sho helped' Winnie to pack a bag, j '' not T would rather you had it than „ - inc. Yfcoi will'bo the first English I iWotran that has ever been in their t stronghold these hundreds of years. I'haw hoard, though, that the chief lias a white slave," Arrived at last at her destination, Winnie found the chief's favourite was iiot sUffering-'from" a very serious malflily, and a'fW commonplace remedies made-tHe lady ifi a; day or two bet- ; tcr than she had been in all her lazy

■; Winnie was treated like a princess, '/■■■•■ and allowed, liberty to go where she T phased. To the chief's suppressed P\ horror, she seenied to prefer the &.. men's quarters. She recollected tho ■': .hint ■ajbouit tho white slave,, and resolved to ask for him or her as fy her reward. One day she saw per-i ' forming some menial task a loan, J long-bearded, shock-haired Irian, with i. skin burnt brown by the sun, and in ? dress,j-but there was '*" something" about'hiiri, even at a disii, tance, which marked him uniristak,y ably as a European. Of course she f; - dated not speak to him. AS *rfl as she could she explained ? to the chief that his wife was now ',-.: well, and that sha must go back to )' : Baiasoiv g" .',. " And what reward may thy eert yant offer ? " •■•You have a .white slave. Giv» j him to mo." P-. The chief wondered' at her choice, I" but ; riaid nothing save, ■" Ho is j;, yours." ? • Then with much state he conductIs : V$ W in .n> e ,tp the Consulate at Balap> sor, leaving her at the threshold. !-»•: J.-Mfiiwic . went straight into thy sit- ;!• ting-room. ; There sat the Consul and £*'.' his wife, Hassan, and, at a n-spect-p: iflttKMstance, Gohur Khan. . '-:■.-. " Winnie !" cried Hassan, jumping t', up, -'I am so thankful to seo you [Safe. Going where you have was ';. • more dangerous .than the ship-wreck. iy I w o ul<l 'fitlKeV any %■ day. When the news of your ship /\" having: struck was telegraphed I had '• the Ganges got ready as quickly as 1 ['. ' and came off with only half a '■-.' Tho Consul and his wife had disapf peaitd, the latter telling Gohur Khan "■' to wait outside in the court, otherl ,K{fW he* would, have continued to ly jW'i'ttfrthe riieetirig with true Orienf: tal' and lack 61 interest. K". Winnie was really delighted to set ■•' her cousin. Never before hud he j," seemed half so nice to her. He was a ly r pit of home and the ; liest bit of. for-HMMMmS"^*-'lter. Had he asked her then and there shemight have consented toi marry him at tile Consulate and gone on the Ganges with him to his house in Bombay. But he feared to snatcli at tho fruit too ■ifooii'." '■■■■" Whim the cousins had beat together about an hour, ahefbeen fof resiled, the Consul's wifa again came in. I am sorry to interrupt you," she "but, Miss Feidwick, there is a ■ mule' • laden" with presents' for you from -the chief, and a hounWe-look-Jng object-a, slave—whfcK he has sent - "for you too,' At'least,'so the escort said. There must be a mistake."- " There is no mistake about the man. I found the story of a white slave was,true. I asked for him as my neward.'' " You are a sweet girl! Who is ' ' ' +t •abn't knbto or care. He' was a clave. Of course I did not speak to ■him."- • * • t "A should like, as a matter of curiosity,!'- said Hassan lazily, "to know., the chief's , views on Englishwomen after this,'' "Come-down,' and see the man," said the Consul's wife, angry at Hassan's cheap'cynicism. They went down'. The stave was Standing by.the richly-caparisoned mute ■vrtth bowed' head iaiid arms foldr cd humMy, The mtile—a splendid animal—was laden with costly rugs and brass jvare. A present of a mere wornout slaue seemed' a poor thing to the chief, " I cannctt talk tho lingo of these beggars," said Hassan. ''Here Gofcur eppro jnd ask this chap who ho is" """"hat is your name J" demanded the agent* -" Yacob.' l , " Yep, yes, but your other name?" t Cried Winnie, excitedly, in English* " Roibert Mulho)lahd.'< I. '' Robert I " and Wiunio flung herself on hi's breast. He peered painfully into her face. - Winnie—here 1 '-'■ .was all he could Bay . Tho Consul, open mouthed, noticed Gohur Khan slipping towards the gate. "Just you stop,"- he said, seizing his arms. " I want this explained. I was never quite satisfied about the 'disappearance of Mr. Mulholland. It seemed odd tome that a man like yourself should havogonc off to with only two servants, and gone Buch a gucer road. Your explanation was not satisfactory. And it was odd that you escaped and the qth/TsWerc lost. Now, you could have paid a big ransom. Here, just come with me to the chief, and we'll have this matter investigated." !' " Pardon ! Pardon ! Pardon! f- 'Not to the chief ! I will confess. 1 I am' a servant. I obey. I was orderi. Ed by my master, Hassan Boinanji '''■" there, to haw him—that man—his friend—seized and killed, 1 haul him i seized, but he was worth money, I l sold him." K '■'- Liar ! ''■ yelled Hassan.- ■" You shall be thrown to the dogs for .this I'' "Jpardon',' gracious" master. I have your letter. It is mi Indian. The translator shall see it. I never destroy written papers. " <■" Oh, my darling l —my poor darling ! " Winnie murmured. " Have courage, dear, dear love. Wo .will never be parted again." " By Jow, you shan't," said the Consul. " Mr. Bomanji, it is as well to havo an English witness to an Knglish mai-riage ; wo may bo glad of your services in that capacity, and I don't think you will refuse me. And then—well, tlien you can disappear as soon as you like. You will probably not be having any urgent ibusindss likely to re'quiro your presence in England after my report has been sent.home, and I don't fancy the Coast, 'owns will exactly yearn after ' you 'As a resident. A'nd you, Gohur Khan, if you are in Balasor to-mor-'JW morning, I shall' take it as a : " liiilf['that fou are really anxious to i '-' make further acquaintance with our ] • excellent and mutual friend—the chief. "- ~ }fP&i? and Roliert, were married, : ;.aftd* was obliging enough to '-S? ai .witness. Gohur Khan was not. J He went at once with what portable property he could collect. He left mi:ch wealth; behind him, but hecon-

eluded that, on the whole, it was I not worth while staying to interview the chief, ...■:.