Daily globe., 1879-01-19
ter was true, it was all very strange in
deed: and he could not regard it as moth.

deed and he could not regard it as moth
ing less than q special providence ar
ranged for his miraculous deliverance
from rain and starvation. 1t was not TOR
him, mere lieutenant of infantry, to in
terfere with the wise designs of Omnis-
cience. IF there was any mistake he
made up his mind that he would not i'm
mediately correct it. Nay: it was not
his duty to lend himself to the fraud2 He
would carry it out If possible, for few
hours, at least; then he would take
French leave, and sneak off early. He
must have supper, and a nights lodging,
somewhere.
So he finally mustered courage 10 look
at his companion. The hood of the
waterproof was thrown back now, reveal
ing a bright piquant face under becom-
| ing turban hat. She was not looking at
| him. He had hardly spoken a word since
they met; and she was 81 good deal
puzzled, and not a little disguised. Was
| this the friend Fred had gone into ecsta-
cies over? and who had been such a lion
| at the the West Point balls last season?
She took heart, however, whenfat last he
pegan to talk little, although his con
versation amounted to nothing more than
a question now and then in reference TO
some passing object. When, presently,
she asked him something about Fred, he
! froze up again, and replied in the blind
est kind of way.
The young lady's tongue was loosened
| however, and, since the lieutenant would
not talk, she kept ur lively conversation
with the boy on the front seat, ,-evident-
ly her brother. From what was id,
Lieutenant Smith concluded that these
TWO were children of a wealthy mill own
er named Mortimer, whom he himself
knew by reputation: that Fred was an
older brother; that he himself was a re-
cent graduate Of West Point, and a par
ticular fred of Fred's ana that Fred had
telegraphcd them to meet Mr.. Smith G. G.
himselD at the afternoon train; and that
he hlmselfG. e., Fred) could not come
down until the next day.
PRO badly the lieutenant thought, 81
shall not have the pleasure Of meeting
my friend Frederick k,-since | shall strike
tents early in the morning for forced
march,
Presently they stopped at the head Of
lane, and BERTHE got out.
II am gong down to the works, Elsie. ;:
said he. "I'll come up to tea when father
does"
Then they drove On again, and shortly
entered & carriage drive, through some
elegant grounds, nalting in a moment OF
two before fine country-house. Lieu
tenant Smith got out, and assisted his
companion to the ground. He began to
feel very much like an ordinary inposter,
and did not know what to do or say.
Il must ask you to overlook my appar-
ent stupidity, Miss Mortimer" he finally
managed to blunder out, as he followed
her into the hall. II was up nearly all
last night, and am really quite i'll to-
day"
| Her sympathy was up and in her eyes
at once.
"Well, thought something was the
matter" she answered, with refreshln,, ;,
frankness. II am sorry you don't feel
well. You will want to 60 t.; your room
at at once, won't you? And SHALL send
you up some tea? Or is there any thing
else can do for you2 Will you care to
come down to supper!'
And the lieutenant seeing here tempe
rary relief from his embarrassing posi-
ton, said that he would like to go no
stairs once; and if she weuld kindly send
him up bit of toast, he would not inflict
his stupid presence upon anybody again
that day. He hoped to be in better trim
in the morning.
So a servant was called to conduct him
up stairs; and there after very delici-
Gus little repast, which Miss Mortimer
(Heaven bless herb had no doubt pre-
pared with her own hands, he flung him
self on the bed, and fell asleep.
The bedroom was front one, and tbs
windows were open. Our hero was
awakened once, long while after, by a
mans voice outside, and then he heard
Miss Mortimer say
why father! how late you are; and
where is Bertie?"
Aud Mr.. Mortimer's reply
81 haven't seen him for some time. I
thought lie WAS home; he was down at
the works with Harvey's boys at five
o'clock. He'll come along when he gets
ready, I reckon"
Then the young soldier fell asleep once
more.
1t must have been an hour or more af.
ter this that he found himself suddenly
wide awake again, with the impression
that there was something unusual going
on. It was quite dark in the room now.
There were hurried footsteps outside his
door, and con; used anxious voices below
lie went to the door and asked what
was the matter. a servant answered,
with qulverlng voice.
THE works is all afre; and Master
Bert he can't be found nowhars!"
He put on his coat, and went down
stairs. A ,rriage had just drove off, and
there was no one there except two fright
ened servants. Over the trees he could
SEE glare and smoke, and he hurried
off down the path.
Down at the Mortimer Works an ey-
cited crowd OF men and women were
standing about, looking up at the dark
windows of the large mill. The doors
had been opened below, and an attempt
made to reach the uppermOst story, where
the ire was; but no one could get above
the third floor. The smoke drove them
back.
Meanwhile, away up under the roof the
flames We're now showing themselves
and then, at the window of the corner
room,--M Master BERTHE suddenly appeared
at the window, and held his head far out
whlle the smoke, though as vet in no
great volume, was all about him.
The room had been used as sort OF
mber-room, and was generally kept
fastened The boy had been hiding
there from his playfellows just before the
works closed, and had fallen asleep
There was but one room between him