The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1872-05-04

costume, and gun across his knees q
|. ''Yes,. major ) the messman wanted
-sonic game for the Ohristmas dinner. Sc
IA got leave and have only just caught yor
ny
ca" "Mado good bag ?"-Vernon was
fond of game; besides, he had a manag.
ing wife and marriageable daughter
and gave dinners when the lader was ia
good trim.
"Pretty WELL" was the answer I told
my man to take couple of hares and a
few birds to Mrs. Vernon the first day."
"Thanks, my dear fellow: don't
interfere in the domestic affairs, the
worthy major was, all the same, quite
well aware OF the prescnt-"or you can t
thiuk how happy | should have been to
ask you to take your Christmas dinner
in my tent: now, unfortunately, our
table is quite filled up"
Figurativcly speaking, Gerald Rol-
lyngc put his tongue in his cheek ;
actually, he blandly smiled while reply
ing Thanks, major; I'm sure I didn't
expect such kindness for few head of
game"
Maj. Vernon turned away to speak to
some one else, and hit his nails furiously
as he felt the delicate touch of sarcasm
| that had been bestowed on him.
The major-or rather Mrs. Major-pre-
ferred captains, or at least well-to. do
licutenants to grace her table she
hated ensigns, to which class Rollymge
belonged ; and besides, the worthy couple
were well aware that he had been very
attentive to Miss Hetty Vernon, while
chat young lady had not disguised her
p.rtiaIity for the handsome but money
less, not to say deeply involved, subal-
tenn.
Coming along with US, Rollynge p
asked Barron, as the bugles sounded for
the regiment to re,ume its march.
No; think l shall have a nap here,
aud gallopi iuto camp i'll time for break
fast"
And he did have nap, of about ten
minutes duration, until the regiment
had marched SO far that the band could
be only iaintly heard through tire thick
jingle, when he Jumped iuto his saddle
and galloped off through the broken
| ground and dense scrub that fringcd the
track his comrades were traversiny.
When he judged himself about mile 's
distance at right angles to the iuc OF
march, and out Of sight o the regiment
lie turued again in the direction it wac
taking, stirred up his nag with hand
aud spur, aud BOUNDED along at blood.
hrins speed.
III.-"RIGHT ABOUT FACE"
Why did Gerald Rolynge take that
dcccivins nap? Why is he now riding
along at full speed, spurring his horse
us much by his own energy as by tho
l-atchiords that adorn his heels WHY
does he sing, in rich, manly voice
sn"tchrs OF triumphant songs heard lon.
ago! Why docs he turn aud bound il
his saddle, executing strange sabre-cut
with his stout bamboo on the hoads OF
"nolcnding jungle plants? Why does
nc feel like all his f.vurite boyisl
heroes rolled into one, --iancying him
sell young Lochinvar coming out of tn,
West; Prince Rupert, Murat, Bonnie
DUnd'',-o as amy other scampi>l
cavalier that ever threw leg over saddle
| c er charging to do or die ?
Simply because his blood RACES hot
through his veins with eager expccta
! ton; because he rides TO change hop,
into certainly, us he thinks; because h
had had letter and i message; because
i" fnc, he spurs to meet Hetty Vernon
as she rides out from the new camp t
meet the regiment.
y pleasant glade under the neem
trees, some two miles away in the jungle
Il tall, handsome, fair haired EugIishman
in close fitting hunting manly
looking. but now with eyes wet as h
pleaded and begged ard pray ycd tw
horses led short distance off by stu
diously unobservant ghora ioal1ae, {
huge tree, against which leaned sIen.
der, riding g-habitcd girl! twitchng ncr
vously with delicate horse.tail chaboo
at the herbagc Hctty Vernon an,
Gerald RolIynge. And where was hi
hope now? Certainly flown? Gone; me
ted like snowdrilt; dissipated by foy
words-words that left him in despair