Litchfield enquirer., 1881-07-21
WHOLE NO. 2S7e
srry so ripe and ready to fall into his


 whom he met in the square. Down in the mouth, eh An, it's an awful nuisance not being able to get out of the square, isn't it? Particularly when there's nice young wo- man half mile of waiting for you. And she did look so nice this afternoon"
 The hot anger leaped into Jack Sinclair's gray eyes, but his heart grew cold as lead within him. for he had never felt very sure of Dorothy and if Montagu made up his mind to go in for her, he knew well enough that he would spare no pains to accomplish the desir- able attainment of putting his (Jack's, that is) nose out of joint.
 "How do you know 2' he growled.
 "Because she has been with me for the last three hours" Montagu returned cooly.
 'I don't believe itl" poor Jack thundered; but all the same he felt from the others man. ner that it was true.
 ''Just as you like, of course, my dear chap" said Montagu carelessly; 'but go along the path leading through the River Fields to mor- row afternoon between three and four, aud you will see for yourself"
 Sinclair turned away without answering. for Montagu's quiet manner had left him without hope. Of course, the following af- ternoon he went, and saw for himself that his comrade had spoken truly. There, just visi. ble about the rivers bank, was Dorothy's hat less golden head, and in suspicious nearness to it Montagu's sleek blonde cdput; and while. he stood there watching and lf-hidden by the hedge her merry laugh rang out upon the still summer air in peal which re. echoed in Jack's heart like the death knell of all his dearest hopes. Oh, he was reaping the whirl- wind, and no mistake about it!
 "Now. did you do as advised2" Montagu asked him at mess that night, in tone of sneering triumph. "Are you convinced ?"
 "Hang youl" cried poor Jack passionate
 By no means" returned Montagu calmly, going on with his dinner as if that was the chief object of his existence. "You shouldn't allow yourself to fly into such transports of rage, my dear chap: it's not good form to be- gin with, it's bad for the digestion--bad every way. You're a deuced good fellow, Sinclair, but you go into everything win such terrible earnestness. It spells you, my dear fellow, and twill be getting you into trouble one of these days, take my word for it."
 But during the weeks which followed, Jacks rage had time enough to cool AS far as Dorothy was concerned, he had resigned in favor of Bryan Montagu. who had contriv- ed to get the entree to the house, and who pretty nearly lived there. Twice Dorothy had written to know why he kept away, and to ask him to come, and both times he had sent formal reply declining the invitation. He scarcely went outside the barracks, and when he did so, went between six and seven time when he knew Dorthy was very ui- likely to be out. ".
 At last, however, he was one day conI- pelled to go into the town early in the after noon, and about halfway down the High street he saw Dorothy and Montagu coming on the same side of the street. They were close upon him before he perceived them, but he did not hesitate a moment. He turned sharply to the right, and crossed over to the other side without so much as look, and without any recognition whatever. Dorothy turned very white, but she kept brave front to the world, and laughed it off as usual Montagu tackled Jack upon the subject that evening"
 'Now, tell you what it is, Sinclair" he said, leaning back in bis chair, and surveying Jack with much amusement in his, "Your behavior is what I call uncommonly shabby. Blow hot blow cold, you know" 'Mind your own business" returned Jack sulkily.
 sAh conscience touching you up bit chi Well, it's what you must expect while you be- have as you've done lately. Oh, Sinclair. you've a great deal to answer for You've brought desolation into once happy home, grief to once happy heart; Of course, it's right and proper that you should pay atten- tion to the fair sex; their youth and beauty demand it the honor of your regiment re- quires it; but you should not concentrate your attentions. my dear chap, you should not concentrate they should be nor general and less marked"
 But Jack was sulky as bear with sore of head, and would have no argument on the subject, so Montagu was obliged to have it all to himself Not that that had any effect on his tongue; he never let Jack rest moment
 "Ah, you may we'll look so blue" he would cry, "with such a conscience as you must have enough to give you blue-d devils for the rest of your life Think of the young affections you have blighted, think of the irreparable injury your heartless conduct has brought, think of the gay hearth now made desolate, the light heart which will be light no more. Look at him, gentlemen" appealing, after the manner of counsel in a court of justlce, to the grinning officers round about-''look at the depraved individual who stands before you the male flirt. An, we'll, we'll, Sinclair, of all my sins, and they are many, do not car " on my conscience the shameful weight of young fresh affections trifled with, won and thrown aside"
 Poor Jack he met Dorothy often enough now. Dorothy always alone, with no Bryan Montagu in attendance. but with, Oh, such a banched face, such a world of woe in the azure eyes, that if Jack had wished for re- revenge there it was. But Jack wished for nothing of the kind. The sight of his false loves white face only made him miserable, so utterly miserable, that he could have fall en down upon his knees in the very strert, and prayed her to try and look happier; he could have choked the very life out of Mon- tagu as he sat sneering and gibbing atthe mess- table, only that would not give him back 10 Dorothy or take away that pteous woe from her face. And then Montagu took his long leave. and Dorthy grew winter and whiter, until he missed her altogether at last aud feared she must be i'll. .r-El
 Once or twice felt half-inclined to ignore the past and go and see her, but the relnen- brance that she was fretting for Montagu kept him back; she wanled Montagu, and Jack Sinclair would be of no use; and so when his turn came for long leave he went away sore at heart, as was ever Dorothy St. George, with hers breaking for the love of the man who bore the nickname of the Lady Killer in-Ch;ef.
 5.T CHAPTER III.G hgat
 The Cuirassie-s had left Blankhampton for Colchester, en route for India, and Dorothy St. George had seen Dothing more of her two lovers since the day that Jack Sinclair went away on long leave. True, Bryan Moniagu had called twice; but Dorothy had not seen him, being ndisposed-otherwise lying Oh her bed in the exhaustion which usually comes after violent weeping Mir. 'Montagu had stayed half an hour each time. talking serene- ly with Mrs. St. George, and left, with grace full regrets that Miss St. George was not we'll enough to see him; and that had been all, that was the end. And yet she could not forget the past; she was not allowed to go out of the house, for q terrible cough had taken hold of her; she could not rest anywhere; she thought herself that she was going mad As the year drew to a close, and the day fixed for the authorization of the regiment drew near, she persuaded her mother totake daily paper that she might see the latest, and indeed, last, intelligence ot them. She was not hard to persuade, for great dread had come over her lest her child, who was all she had in the world should be taken from her, and so for a time the paper was left at the house daily. The news about the Uuirassers was but scan ty, and Dorothy used to throw the paper