The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1882-11-15
A Breach of Discipline.

Its no use speaking, Drereloh;
must Co."
are YOU mad, Kendall? It's YOU
night on guard. and you know what
martinez the colonel is
81 tell YOU l will 90. The colonel>
not a dancing man. He'll know moth
ing about it."
"Don't YOU believe it. The coloneTs
thick with those Lindsay girls, and
I'll bet You ten to one he's there to
meet them"
"On, hang it! III take my chance
then" was the rcply,in the doggedto
of a man who knows he IS IN the
wrong. but does not choose to yield.
The speakers were two officers OF
the -th regiment. which had been
uuartcrcd for the last six months at
Singleborough. The subject of dis
cussion was great public ball which
was to take place that evening. The
regiment was to he relieved in a day
or two, and the hall would be the last at
which the gallant officers Of the It'll
would appear in that h%ospitable town.
CAPTAIN Kendall looked very obstl-
nate as he answered the prudent adj
monitions of his friend Brcreton, who
gave a long whistle, and tapped the
ground ominously with his cane.
81 gave you credit for more common
sense" he resumes, after a pause.
"Then You were mistaken, you see"
$50 it seems but it is an awful
pity. Youth be cashiered to a GER
taintv. for the old fellow is keen as a
hawk and is sure to find you out.
say, man, be advised; give it up; the
games too dangerous"
pooh" exclaimed the other, test
ilv. II tell YOU the colonel won't be
there, and if he were, trust to me
to dodge him. Why, bless you, he's
blind as a mole".
His friend looked utterly uncon,
WINGED, but remonstrance was plainly
of no use.
ats all because Of that Leslie girl"
he said, ruefully, for he was honestly
attached to his mcSsmatc. and saw
clearly the consequences which might
be expected to follow upon his attend
ance at the ball. "Thank Heaven,
Pm not in love"
"Spare your eloquence and have
done now, can't you:" replied Captain
Kendall, ungraciously. $50, l must
and will, but trust to ME to take care
of myself"
The two friends walked down the
rest of the street in silence till Brere-
ton turned into his club, while the
other went on, with a slightly anxious
frown on his handsome, sunburnt
face, and swinging his can uneaSily.
He knew Brcreton was right, but
wrong is apt to be stronger than right
sometimes, and the temptation in this
case was powerful. He was about to
commit, deliberately, a glaring breach
of military discipline, which, if discov-
cred, would assuredly cost him dear
and put an end to more pleasant hopes
than one. Nevertheless, he vas 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 overlook ven a
trifing offense against the military
IS code.
What, then, was the motive which
could induce this gallant young officer
of her majcsty's service, who had al
ready won diStir ction for his bravery
on the battlefield, and who had always
acquitted himself well and honorably
heretofore, to plan reckleSsly so grave
an infringement of duty as the ahand-
d. onment of the post he was bound in all
honor to guard?
We offer no excuse. But the eXpla-
nation of his conduct must be found
in his state of mind, which was abnor-
mai. Brerctcn WIS right. There was
"a woman in the clsc. Before his minds
eye there danccl Il lovely vision that
: lured the infatuated young man from
the right path Il pair of blue eyes. a
sweet smile, Il graceful girliSh form. to
gaze on which the foolish fellow
would have Travelled miles.
And she WAS to he at the ball, sur
rounded lay admiring SWANS, Of one or
two of whom he WAS madly jealous
and who knew what might happen
while he WAS absent?
He might Of course have spoken a
certain ~molncntous little word before,
and he had thought, now and then,
that it would not have fallen on re-
luctant ears. But he had gone on
basking in the sunshine of her smiles,
too happy in the present to think of
the future, and he had Just heard
casually THAT Tomorrow morning early
she was to leave town for her home in
the country.
To-day. too. chance had brought a
sudden Revelation to his heart. Till
then he had not been fully aware OF
the strength of his wv feelings FOL
that bluc-eyed cllarmcr. On turning
down Il street corner he had come
suddenly face to face to her, and IN
close attendance upon her was Maddox
of the til Lanccrs, Il brilliant Adoni>
whomlalics were terribly partialto. In
his face Harry Ken;lal read something
that made him tremblc for his OWL
hopes. and showed him, too, in a start
ling moment of time, how his whole
.life's happiness was bound up in them
That rapid glance of recognition awok5
a storm of anxious fears in his breast
and left the grccn-eyed monster raging
there.
The bank, a great solid building of
dark gray stone, stood in an incloSure
At the rear was Il court encircled by q
fence. in which was a small wicket
gate opening into a lane a shor:
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
Iu;liing, on the other hand, faced one
of the principal thoroughfares, and
was approached through a massive
outer gate, wlich, 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 informing the sen
tjnel that he should sOon return. The
old, soldier, who had known and loved
his Young officer for some years, shook
his head ominously as he saw him de-
part. but inwardly resolved to keep Jris
counsel il possible. -.
The truant meanwhile sped on his
wil.ful way, and banishing. all anxious