Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-28
A BREACH OF DISCIPLINE.
'Tt's no use speaking. Brereton. must O

''Confound the colonel tell you. I will 90.
The colonel's not a dancing man. He'll know
nothing about it."
Don't you believe it. The colonel's thick
with those Lindsay girls, and I'll bet you ten to
one he's there to meet them"
''Oh hang it! I'll take my chance then" was
the reply in the logged tone of a man who
knows he's In the wrong, but does not choose
to yield.
The speakers were two officers Of the -thregi-
ment, which had been CHARTERED for the last six
months at SlnglebOrOugh. The subject of dis
cuSsion was great public ball which was to
take place that evening. The regiment was to
De relieved in day or two, and the ball would
be the last at which the gallant officers of the
tn would appear in that hospitable town 1t
had been gay season, and the redcOats had
entered heartily into the festivities, and now,
That their departure drew nigh, there might
nave been many an ancipient heartache in
gentle bosom here and there. The girls indeed
OF that favored district were so pretty, that
even brave soldier might be excused if pang
shot through his manly breast at the thought of
leaving them behind.
Captain Kendall looked very obstinate as he
answered the prudent admonitions of his friend
Breret0n, who gave long whistle and tanned
the ground OminOusly with his cane.
Il gave you credit for more common sense"
he resumed after pause.
Then you were mistaken. you see"
$50 it seems, but it is an awful pity. You'll
be cashlered to certainty, for the old fellow is
Keen as hawk, and is sure to find you out
say. man, be advised; give it up the games too
dangerous"
POOH" exclaimed the other testify. 81 tell
you the colonel won't be there, and if he were,
trust to me to dodge him. Why, bless youl he's
blind as mOlel
His friend looked utterly uncOnvinced. but re-
monstrance was plainly of no use.
Its all because Of that Leslie girl" he said
ruetully. for he was honestly attached to his
mcssmate, and saw clearly the consequences
which might be expected to follow upon his at
tendance at the ball. 'Lord! what an ass
spoOnng makes of fellow! Thank Heaven,
I'm not in OYei"
''Spare your elOguence and have done now
can't yOu?" replied Captain Kendall ungraci-
Ousy. Go, must and will, but trust to me to
care take of myself"
The two friends walked down the rest of the
street in silence till Brereton turned into his
club while the other went on with slightly
anxious frown on his handsome sun-burnt face
andSWlngng his cane uneaSily. He knew Brere-
ton was right, but wrong is apt to be stronger
than right sometimes, and the temptation in
this case was powerful. He was about to COM
NIT. deliberately, a glaring breach of military
discipline, which, if discovered, would assuredly
cost him dear and put an end to more pleasant
hopes than one. Nevertheless he was quite
determined to risk it. 1t was his duty to keep
guard that night at the Royal Bank, and his
colonel was not a man who would lightly over
look even tritling offense against a military
code.
What. then, was the motive which could in
duce this gallant young officer of Her Majesty's
service, who had already won distinction for his
bravery on the battlefield. and who had always
acquitted himself well and hOnOrably heretofore
TO plan Eecklesslv so grave an Infringement of
duty as the abandonment of the post he was
bound in all honor to guard?
We offer no excuse. But the explanation of
his conduct must be found in his state of mind
which was abnormal. BreretOn was right
There was woman in the case. Before his
minds eye. there danced lovely vision that
lured the infatuated young man from the right
path; pair of blue eyes, a sweet smile q
graceful glrlish form, to gaze on which the
foolish fellow would have Travelled miles!
And she was to be at the ball, surrounded by
admirin9 SWANS, of one or two of whom he was
madly Jealous; and who knew what might hap
pen while he was absent?
He might, of course. have spoken certain
momentOus little word before and he had
thought, now and then, that it would not have
fallen on reluctant ears. But he had gone on
baskng in the sweet sunshine of her smiles too
happy In the present to think much of the fu-
ture, and he had just heard casually that to-
morrow morning early she was to leave town
for her home in the country.
To-day, too, chance had brought sudden
revelation to his heart. Till then he had not
been fully aware of the strength of his own feel
ings for that blue-eyed charmer On turning
down street Corner. he had come suddenly
face to face with her, and i'm close attendance
uDon her was Maddox of the TIL Lancers. a
brilliant adonis whom ladies were terribly par
tlal to. In his face Harry Kendall read some
thing that made him tremble for his own homes.
and showed him too. i'm startling moment Of
time, how his whole lifes happiness was bound
up III them. That rapid glance of recognition
awoke a storm of anxious fears in his breast,
ana lett the green-eyed monster raging there
Was he at this important crisis of fate to
stand tamely aside and to leave her to the wiles
OF that handsome LOthariO. to be whrled away
from him for ever in the waltz. during the en-
chanted hours of that festive night, while he
Kept lonely watch over old money bags? Mad
dening thought And tomorrow she would be
gone. Oh, why had he not known sooner? To-
morrow would be too late
No; he could not let love and happiness 90
down the stream without making an effort to
hoid them last Duty might go to the winds
for once. He would go to the ball. where he
could see her that night. And as to the Colonel !?
surely he would not sport his stately anti
quated presence in such giddv uncOngenial
scene. And if he did-Brereton might say what
he pleased-the COlonels shOrtness of sight was
prOyerbial,
Alas. Venus with her wicked elf Cupid had
strangely bewitched this misguided son of Mars.
as there is evidence enough to prove they have
bewitched many a stalwart hero in every age
and climei
The bank great solid building of dark gray
stone. stood in an Enclosure. At the rear was a
court encircled by fence, in which was a small
wicket gate opening into lane short distance
below the main entrance and used chiefly for
communication with the back premises At
night it was always kept locked. The front of
the building. on the other hand faced one of
the principal thOrOughfares. and was approached
through massive outer gate. which, like the
smaller one. was carefully closed after nightfall
captain Kendall did not change his mind As
the evening wore on he slipped out. merely in
forming the sentinel that he should soon re-
turn The old soldier, who had known and
loved his young officer for some years shook
ms head 0minously as he saw him depart but
inwardly resolved to keep his counsel if pos
sible. fO0
The truant meanwhile sped on his willful way
and banishing all anxious reflections appeared
In the ballroom 10 time to secure the hand of
his fair charmer for several dances. Fortune
seemed disposed to smile propitiously on him
aud the coast was clear The Colonel was not
to be seen. and no one else cared to inquire
too curiously what officer ought to be on
guard at the bank on that particular
night. AS he led out the lady the scape-
grace lover had the satisfaction Ot seajno his