Anna Lombard, page 119 by Victoria Cross
<< Return to Title Details & Download120
ey feel Gaida would not wait to find out who had told. If it jbecame known, he would simply rush upon them, all with his knife and kill all he could. It becomes, then, a matter they all wish to keep from disclosure. They are in terror of him a sort of superstitious terror."
"And how were you married?" I asked after another Jong pause, and which I tried to bend my thoughts on Jthese questions I wanted to ask her.
"Not here," she answered in the same undertone, as if jhe were afraid of the very walls and swaying chicles. "It was when we were on a visit to Peshawur. One night he got me to come away and go through the marriage ceremony among his own people. He took me, veiled, to a queer sort of house, and we went through some ceremonies he said meant marriage. Of course I could not tell nor day if they were so or not; but I think so, because, you riee "and a little sad, bitter smile swept over her face "he is anxous to tie me to him in every way in his power. The next day we were leaving, and after a week or two's travel we came back here papa and I, I mean and all our servants, of course, including Gaida, came back too."
Just at this moment, and before she could rise from her knees, the chick parted and the butler entered with cards an a salver.
"Captain Sahib and Mem Sahib Webb, ay a," he said, and I rose to go.
When I was leaving the veranda I heard Anna's light, clear, well-bred tones welcoming her guests.
"This is good of you to come and see me. It is terribly hot to-day, isn't it?"
And I went away painfully marveling at her and at it. all.
CHAPTER V.
FROM that day commenced a curious, strained existence which would have been intolerable to most men and was nearly so to me. Yet I had determined on a particular line of conduct. I saw victory at the end, however long and tedious the battle; and at the end of every other course I saw only loss. This thought nerved me again and again when it s