Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-08-15
AN AWKWARD MOMENT.


Harper's Weekly.
You must have been in some pretty
tight places ut different times, Roger.
We know what you got the cross for,
but I suppose that the chances were
often very nearly as heavy against you"
The man who made this remark was
seated opposite his friend before the
cheerful fire in the smoking-room of
London military club. Both had the
bronzed faces and prematurely grizzled
hair which betokens long soiourns un-
der almost topical skies. The one who
had been addressed as Roger" was
slightly the elder, and upon his broad
chest bore the tiny scrap of ribbon that
indicated that the wearer had won that
most priced of English decorations, the
Victoria Gross. He did not reply for a
minute or two to his companions words.
Apparently they had called up many
IeululSC6uCtS, low VI WhlOh "OAO o6Aoo-
able, but at last smile lighted up his
features. and he said:
"Yes, old boy; I've very often thought
my life wasn't going to last second
longer; but the most awkward moment
ever putin wasn't in the field"
"No? Then I presume it was when
you were besieged in the Residenoy
during the MutinyP"
at wasn't in action at all. 1t was on
board ship"
"Wreck?"
"No. That is to say, the ship wasn't
wrecked, but I thought I was"
"Tell me about it."
"Well, I don't mind. It's twenty
years ago, and the telling can't hurt any
one now. Still, you will understand
that the names I shall give you are not
the true ones, and you must promise
not to try. to find out what those
were"
"All right. I'll be content with the
story"
"Here goes, then," said Roger, set
tling himself back in his chair. "It oc-
Cured Just after we'd finished up the
last of those black devils. I had pretty
nearly got over the wounds 1 received
In the affair for which the Queen gave
me the cross, and reported myself as
fit for duty. The colonel, however,
bless his old heart! wouldn't hear of it,
and insisted on my taking years
leave. There was no canal in those
days, and the pleasantest way OF going
home then-and / don't know that il
isnt now-was BY one of the fine clip
per ships round the Cape. I was for.
tunate enough to get cabin to myself
on board the Winchester, Of Greene's
line. The purser. Watson, I had met
ut some mess dinners in Calcutta, and
he promised to make things as pleasant
as possible. We had very few passen.
gers, mostly 1nvalided officers, two
or three civilians, and four ladies
saw three of the ladies on deck
when we sailed, and none of them i'm
pressed me as being specially charm
ing. The captain. whose name was
we'll say, John Smith, looked like ont
OF the regular navy. He wore uni
form and sword, and was very severe o
aspect and stiff in bearing. / founG
out afterward that he was . regular
martinez, and the half dozen midship
men and the minor officers stood in con
siderable awe of him. On my beinl
introduced, he favored me with {
formal grasp of the hand, and ierket
out few words Of having heard of mi
before.
~We did not begin to drop down tn,
river till the day was fairly advanced
and I had scarcely got my traps in or
der when it was time to dress for din
ner. In those days the captain woult
have been insulted if bis passengers di'
net turn out in full evening toggery
We soldiers were seated at table in &C
cordance with our rank, and q
I had only Just got my company
I was pretty we'll down toward tn
foot, or purser's end. This di
not at first feel inclined to regret, as tn
) prospect appeared that we should be
| QtLl6 more Tree duu easy tuan wOA0 Va
, fogies up at the top. But when ha'
got fairly settled into my place, I look
: ed toward the captain, and inimediatel
} began to deplore my insigni6canct
5 Seated on his right was the pretties
D girl had ever seen. Her eyes were
, we'll, it's no use my giving you an auc
l tioneer's catalogue OF her charms. Yo
8 Just picture your ideal, and she wi
: come very near it. All knew was tha
Twas completely knocked over. L OIL
2 sure my neighbors must have though
I was either surly or stupid, for / neve
> addressed them, and l was scarcel
: conscious what replies 1 made to thei
remarks. All my attention was give
10 a silent watching Of my new divinity
and frantically envied the captai
n and q bluff old colonel who were priv
: LEGGED to sit beside her.
u SAs soon " dinner was over ] G.