Connecticut western news., 1882-11-01

$g wings wherewith to fly, how on arth had the fellow got there? Could Ae have been mistaken, he wondered for moment. But no, he knew he had not.
 He shifted the form of his interroga- tion
 "Then you were not at the ball f'' he asked, very polntediy.
 The young officer was worthy of all condemnation for having forsaken the post of duty. But though he had acted inexcusabIy, he was still gentleman, and he would not pollute his lips with lie. He hesitated for a reply; then parried the question with another.
 "How could I be at the ball when you find me here, sir ?" he asked.
 Yes, how; that was the mystery, the simple solution of which was the furthest in the world from presenting itself to the Coloneps brain. He knew that it was quite impossible for another car riage to have arrived before his own. His coachman had driven quickly enough to satisfy even his impatience, and he could not have failed to notice if another vehicle had preceded or followed his through the deserted streets. He could not in the least un- derstand 1t.
 Silent, but wholly unconvinced, he sat down in the hall to think what it might behoove him to say or do next, while the junior officer hustled about in & restless fashion, setting refreshments before him, and awkwardly endeavoring to turn the conversation into another channel. The Colonel answered at random, for his thoughts were perplex- ing.
 Mystifed, and righteously set on con- victing the offender as he doubtless was, he could not help, nevertheless, feeling a perception of the comlcal side of the question. He felt, too, that however fully persuaded he might be in his own mlnd of Captain Kendars offence, il would perhaps be difficult matter to prove it. At length he cleared his throat portentously, and returned to the charge:
 "Look here, Captain Kendall" ht said, in accents which somehow hac taken milder sound from the bent o his cogitations, "it's no use beating about the bush; I could stake my exist ence'that I saw you at the ball. Bu how you come to be here now is another matter. and I don't pretend to under stand how you managed it. You hat better make clean breast of it, anG though it would be my duty to take proceedings against you-yet if you will explain, it is possible that I ma, just for once, considering the peculia features of the case, be induced'to talk lenient view of very grave ms demeanor, sir"
 Thus encouraged, the culprit, wh detected kindly twinkle in the usuall, stern gray eye which was fixed upol him, made full and free confession o his fault, and of tbe causes which le, thereto. -.
 The Colonel, though well advanced Ii the vale of years, had not outlived tn memory of youthful hopes, and was
 kindly man, though a strict dis ciplinarian. The young lady whose fai image had lured the lover from his duty was rather favorite with him, and con sidering, as he had said, the peculia features of the case, he consented t , overlook the offence, and inflicted n worse punishment on the delinquer than 8 reprimand, which was receive in dutiful silence, and with all due con triton. Six months later the Colont
 made an eloquent speech at the weddin of two happy young people, on whic
 occasion Captain Brereton acted as bes
 man. Then two sweet blue eyes locke
 playfully into his, as the pretty brid , thanked him, in mysterious whispe . for the solitary and memorable occasio
 when he had consented, for once in h
 life, to overlook and condone sign, breach of discipline.