A DELICATE ROLE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12348, 11 November 1905, Page 3

A DELICATE ROLE.

IDv H. Pack Bowdes. A few weeks ago, when Arthur Digby, our youngest lieutenant, was bisonhunting with mo on tho Koondah Range, ho confided to mo that ho was on the verge of matrimony. His brideelect was, in fact, on her way out to fulfil the promise she had given him when they parted, five years before. Ho showed mo her photograph, a darkeyed girl, uncommonly good-looking— and evidently quite aware of it. But if the forehead had been broader, the lips a littlo fuller, and tho whole expression softer, the face would have been more to my fancy. However, 1 congratulated him, and asked if he had . told? tho colonel. , I H© nodded, and pulled a grimace. '. "Of course, he had a dozen questions to ask," ho said, "and wound up by airing th© old saying about love being '. an insane desiro to support another ; man's daughter. To which I made bold to replv t 'Bettor that than another man's wife!' And then the old boy glared at mc 60 fiercely, I couldn't help wondering whether that form of insanity had ever possessed him." "If so, ho must have yearned to court-martial you!" I rejoined with a laugh, as vro tramped on in the wake of our native beaters. "She is going to stay with tho Garnetts until sho becomes Mrs Digby. Sho and Major Garnett's niece were schoolfellows," he ran on. "Her sister is coming out with her; 6he's going to be bridesmaid." "If* sho -is anything like her sister, she will soon be taking a more forward part in a similar ceremony!" I remarked. "I have never seen her; 6he was away at school when I was at home. The friends they are coming out with are going to remain in Madras, but they will set the girls right on their journey, and I 6hall meet them at Metapolliam.'' And his boyish face glowed with anticipation. At this point, Wamanrco, tho headbeater, led the way through a thick jungle that sloped down to the meandering course of a nullah. A few minutes later vrc heard him shouting his viewhalloo. "Mind, you promised mo the first f-hot!" said Digby, raising his gun. {Scarcely had he done so. when the mass of dwarf palm trees away on our right was violently agitated, and the animal j a fine male bison, broke into sight. Digby fired, hut failed to hit him in a vital spot, and the infuriated beast bore down on us with lashing tail and tossing mane, the shaggy hair now revealing, now hiding, a pair of lurid, rolling j eyes. I Without further delay I fired, but , feared that, like my companion, I had ! missed my mark, for the boast charged j him, bearing him to the ground. But i it was his last charge, and he 6pent himself in making it; for tumbling forward on his knees and broad chest, h© bit the dust in a death agony. Poor Digby lay senseless and bleedI ing, the animal having gored him in the side. While I was doing my best to 6taunch the flow of blood, the beaters ; returned, bent on overhauling the huge carcase. But I had other work for ' I them—the removal of my wounded com- j 1 panion to an old log-house about halt i < I a mile distant, which served as hunting 1 lodgo for those keen on sport, and was known as the "Marco Bungla." . s The poor fellow must have been semi- ' i conscious, for be groaned often during t th© transit. And when, on reaching ' th© bungalow, we laid him on the truckle bed, h© moaned faintly for f water. I should have liked to mix some t spirit with it, but feared th© inflaming a effect it might have on his wounds. 1 Having despatched one of th© beaters i to Ootacamund for our surgeon, I set t to doing all in my power to alleviate I tho sufferings of my poor friend. But 1 A could do littlo more than keep moisten- r ing his parched lips and burning fore- l head. And I was almost thankful when he lapsed into deep unconsciousneEs. c After two hours of waiting, Waman- p

to my side and told mc that doctor*, .was sightj., Five, tnimites later ho strode-in, brisk and buoyant as usual. Ho soon had the ugly wound neatly dressed, and under tho. influence of an opiate, Digby's drawn, white face took an,easier expression. O'Connor declared that it would bo unwise to attempt to remove him, and said ho would so© the colonel, explain matters, and get Digby's orderly sent out wjth a supply of necessaries. Retaining ono of the beaters as an emergency man, I dismissed tho others, and returned to my post at tho beaside. It was getting dark when tho orderly arrived, a quiet, middle-aged man, much attached to his young master. As he deftly arranged the things he had brought, ho told mo that the doctor had given him full instructions as to tho medicine and diet he was to give tho invalid. So, feeling assured that I was leaving him in competent hands, I returned; to my quarters. As- O'Connor had feared, inflammation and fever set in the next day. and I could see that ho considered the case a very gnavo one. The next day brought yet a quicker puis© and higher temperature. In his delirium Digby was constantly calling for "Edna," and on hearing that tho young lady would shortly arrive at Madras, O'Connor declared that her presence-would do more for his patient than all the drugs in the British Pharmacy. / Major Garnet expressed his intention of going to Metapolliam to meet the girls. But just before the time for starting, his two-year-old son was attacked by the croup; so I offered tho major to go in his stead. H© gladly accepted, and thus it came about that th© next morning found mc pacing the station at Metapolliam, waiting for th© mail train from Madras. As the train slowed in. I saw there woro not many passengers, and I soon recognised the dark eyes and straight features of the photograph. But as she stepped out on the platform I noticed that the expression was very different, harrassed and troubled, instead of the self-reliance, almost bordering on arrogance, that had pervaded the photographed features. And I began to have doubts as to which sister this might be. "Miis Edna Carew?" I said, stepping forward with raised hat. "No, I am her sister," she answered gravely, and then to my surprise her under lip—a fuller, softer on© than that of th© photograph—began to quiver ominously. •■ "Sho is not ill. I hope?" I asked quickly, looking into the compartment from which she had alighted. A painful flush swept over her face, and she bit her quivering lip. "No. But—you are not Mr Digby, I'think?' 1 With an apology I hastened to hand her th© few lines of introduction given mo by Major Garnet. "Thank you, Captain Roscoe. it was very good of you to come," she said, simply,, when she had glanced through th© not©. "No, my sister is not ill. She left the 'Poonah' at Aden." Not a little amazed at this information, I conducted her to the tonga I had in waiting; and as soon as I had seen her luggage placed on a bullock bandy, I joined her and w© wer© driven off along th© dusty road, towards the verdant tiers of the Neilgherries. And now in a low and agitated voice she imparted to m© a story that caused mc. much consternation. It. appeared •hat among th© passengers aboard" th© 'Poonah." there had been a Mr Amos SVadsworth, a young millionaire, who : rom the first had paid marked attenaons to her sister. They had gone tshore at Aden, professedly to do a, ittle sight-seeing. But at the last monent, instead of their re-appearance, here came a note from Edna, informing ior that she had decided to accept Mr rVadsworrh's repeated offers of mariage. And they wer© to be married >y special license that day. "Good heavens, this will kill himl" I xclaimod, as my thoughts flew to the ©or fevered boy in the old log-house.

Then, in answer to * her alarmed look cf inquiry. I explained the critical state in which I had left young Digby. She 'ooked pained beyond words, and tears welled >up to her- eyes. As I saw the deep sympathy possessing her, a thought struck me.'and with startling abruptness I fear/I'told her what 0 Connor hnd said with regard to Miss Carew*s presence, and asked her if she would giro the poor fellow that chance; assuring her that in his delirious state he would never know her from her sister. Her colour came and went as she listened, and when I had finished she drew her breath quickly. "I cannot refuse to do that, if it will tend to his recovery," she 6aid, quietly. I thanked her warmly, and said to • myself that, should she be heart-whole, this misfortune of Digby's might turn out the luckiest thing that ever happened to him. Despite my efforts to lighten her depression, she remained pale and distraite until we reached the* upper regions of the Neilghorries, and then the sylvan beauty of the scenery. aI "l t' lo freshening breeze brought a soft glow and animation to her face. It was about four in tho afternoon when we reached the Garnets' bungalow. Wishing' to spare Miss Carew the pain of repeating her story, I briefly imparted ib to the major and his wife. Sho pressed tho giro's hand in silont- sympathy, whilo the major 6wore under his breath. "This will just do for the poor chap," he declared. "Tlie fever is as high as ever, and he lias been calling for her incessantly. I believe O'Connor is depending on her to give the right tip to tho scale, for there's no doubt his lifo is trembling in the balance." Oh my saying that, fearing such was the case, I had induced Miss Carew to impersonate her sister, he and Mrs Garnet looked greatly relieved. When their young guest had had somo refreshment, wo set out on horseback for the "Maroo liungla." As we neared it, Private Pring's wife, who had been installed there as muse, came running out to meet us, clasping her hands in unusual excitement. At first 1 feared the-worst had happened, hut the next minute was rejoiced to learn from her that the young officer had returned to his "senses; and she had just told him that a strange young lady was riding up the hill. "Ho will be sure to think it is Edna! What shall we do?" exclaimed the girl, in great distress. "He will never notice the difference between you in the darkened room," the major hastened to assure her, "1 saw your sister tour years ago, and should never have known you were not the same girl. What's tho difference in your agesr" Sho replied that sho was five years younger than her sister. "Then depend on it you are much more like the Edna he knew, than tho Edna,of the present day would be!" "But ho must be told sooner or later," she demurred, her dark eyebrows drawn together in perplexity. "Yes, when ho is 6trong enough. At E resent he is just as wealr. as a baby I" c rejoined, diplomatically. When has a man's weakness and dependence failed to touch a true woman. ; "I'll stay on the verandah'while you go in, tho three of you," ho said, thinking, no doubt, that our presence would relievo the embarrassment of the girl's position. A flush of suppressed excitement now heightened the delicate beauty of her face, and it was well calculated to inspire the look that filled his eyes as she moved to tho bedside. "Edna—my own Edna!" he cried, his weakened voico trembling, his hands outstretched." She was the sort of girl to have a quick maternal instinct, and I think it was that,' and no make-believe tenderness, that moved hor to caress one of those wasted hands and murmur: "My poor boy, this is sad." "Xo—-it's splendid I Oh I how- I've thought of this and of the kiss you would givo mc!" Her back was turned towards the spot Garnctt. and I'were rather loudly- discussing some Sanskrit characters carved on the bench, but I saw*»one little ear turn scarlet as 6he stooped to put her lips to his forehead. Suddenly moving his head, the sly dog intercepted it with-his lips. She drew herself up quickly, straight as a palm-tree. "How tall you arc, Edna!" I heard him say. "I verily believe you-havo grown since we parted!" "You are looking up at mc now," she said hurriedly. i • "Then sit down, here—wlfy, how's this? Where is your ringP" After a momentary pause she murmured something about a misfortune at Aden, and how sorry she was. "Never -mind, dearest! I will soon put another there, of a more binding nature. And next Thursday was to have been the day!" he added, with an accent of passionate regret. ' At this moment O'Connor entered, and on' seeing his patient's flushed face he declared ho had had excitement enough for ono day. "Tho medicine of Miss Carew's society must be taken like homoepathic remedies—in minute doses!" Under a course of this treatment the invalid made rapid strides towards recovery; and tho day soon came when Miss Carew eaid sho. would no longer keep up the deception. * Her decision did not trouble mc much, for on the few occasions I had seen them together, I had observed enough to convince mo that sho was, in spirit and in deed, what her sister had never been—except to his idealising fancy, a sweet and loyal woman*, who would "do him good, and not evil, all the days ot her life." The next time I saw Digby he.was reclining in a hammock-chair on tho verandah. We shook hands and he retained mine in an impulsive grip. "I owe you no end of thanks, old fellow! Miriam told mc this morning how you induced her to spare a poor, weak beggar a painful shock." "So the cat's out of the, bag, and apEarently you are not scratched very adly! I said drily. "No, indeed, the worst scratch was the fear of what I might yet have to lose. But I—well, congratulate mc, old chap." , . '