Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-09-21
A FRIENDLY SACRIFICE.


"Well. Tclford. now that IT, 5 all over.
what arr YOU going Ia do?'
"Ah, that's the mischief n the
squire was like many n father I've
known. there would be- fewer Difficult.
ties in the way"
Bad business. this marrying |
shall be- In NJ hurry to slip my heal in
such nOosuN
The speaker was n tall. handsome
man Of eight and twenty. though hy the
undoubtcd 10 iic1tions Of slight wrinkles
here and there upon his fair. compa-
ccnt-loOking countcnunrc, YOU w0ull
have presumed that he was much older.
His blonde hair curlcd IN short r.ny-
let's over brow as clear and white ~
u woman's; his long mustlchc almost
hid from view the rcdlcst lips man
ever possessed. while violet eyes If the
deepest blue, and round. dimplcd chin
completed ths charm If "a face which
the beauty 81 n single one of these feat
urcs would have sufficiently endowed
with extraordinary attractivcnc~s. lie
was man such ~ u certain class If
women would have wOrshipcd as Il hero
"A ver,tablc cupid in scarlet coat.
Tor this AdOuis was "a soldier i'm her
Maicsty's Furty-sCvcnth. and hal seen
service rs i1any hardened veteran
would scarce " care to pas, through.
His companion. Captain Telfor,. was
exactly his opposite In manner. figure
and general appearance. lie wa. of
rather u portly build. shorter in stature.
but much heavier than the dragOon. not
ms good ono 40 n iivc-barrcd gate. or
across country ON nimblc hunter.
lie was the elder of the two hy some
ten or twelve years, but appeared much
younger; his honest. fresh looking face
glowcd with the health and vitality Of
n lad Of eighteen. No marks of dissi-
patton, Of late hours. Of endless cham
pagnc suppcrs married the rugged
beauty Ot face ON which mauliucsS and
simplicity shuuc from every feature.
Hut 70 wore n somewhat anxious and
troubled expression ~ hr contidcd to
his friend the results 81 "a two years
service Ia lndia. They were sitting i'm
n private rOOm no the Waterloo. their
tcet extended IN careless ease and man
N fashion To the back of hupc arm
chair before thcm-lrt the Captain tell
his own story
" You see, Il was rather sudden" he
SAIL, alter long pause. during which
the blue wrcaths from his cit,ar curle,l
into innumcrublc clouds IT misty color
aud Heated ont through the open win
dow. "My father always cave mo IN
understand that he wanted the pleasure,
of picking ouN the future mistrrs, of
Darlington Court himself |. the nor
son most seriously concerned i'm the
matter, was Co. do nothing but marry.
her, be- she fair or ugly. guod.naturrd
or otherwise. Well. he was very kind
sent mo out with the Eighty First Dro-
gOons when they went with WELLINGTON
To the Peninsula; in short. permitted mo
To cut out my own line of life when nc
would much rather I'd have remained
nj home. The eldest son. he used to
say. has nothing to do but To enjoy
hlmseli' and leave soldering TO the
younger son, IL there be- any; IL not. To
the younger son OF some other family
But, bless you. never could be- idle. so
here | am, Captain Of rs fine n compa-
ny long life To- 'cm as you'll find any
whore. So IL the old gentleman wishes
To even things by rcscrving the choice
OF my wife 70 himself, little blame to
him, ! say"
"Oh YOU sly dog put in the other.
" You may well declare that when
you're married already"
And there's where the trouble
comcs IN" admitted the Captain. can
didly. "lf lie hadn't treated me so
wei i could just march home"
MI "a f.v...I
interrupted the blonde dragoon.
" No joking n | said. / could lust
start for home without the least embar-
rnssmcnt. and say: Here's my wife.
father. and bad luck 10 YOU II YOU don't
happen To fancy her. But after all his
Kindness To me | haven't the.hcart to
tell him. and vet suppose IL must soon
come TO that" The Captain leaned his
head upon his hand rs he concluded.
and sighed rs II in much pcrplexity and
doubt.
Garry Worthngton blew mouthful
OF smoke clear across the room. rs II i'm
direct aim no an empty wine-glass.
laughed heartily. and said:
just cheer up, old fellow, and let us
sec II we cant make the best of the
affair. And first tell me IL your worthy
parent has any one i'm view. IL not. Il
will be- easy sailing towards an cxplana-
lion. II So, then may the Lord HELM
YOU, Rich, for | never can. Which way
Is itP'
"Why. the wrong way of course
returned Telford. Ever since n dis
lant relative Of my mothers died and
left his daughter some ESO.OOO ne has
act his heart upon her, and naturally
links I'll do the same. But she's not
my style. and"
Cant be now"
"And wouldn't be II Il were possible.
No tall. black-eyed brunette for me,
Garry. They're treacherous as cat,
and
Have as many lives" said Worthing-
ION. with n chucklc.
Unmindful uf this second interruption
he Captain proceeded; And this es-
pccial one always diSliked. She NAV
have changed. though l don't think
limo could bring much improvement to
her
More apt to bring wrinkles"
you're the last one 10 say so. They're
coming thick AID fast upon your face, -
laughed Telford. good-naturedly.
Never mind Mine are like gray
nairs honorable. got 'cm In the
hrvice."