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

Hsrper's Weekly.
You must have been In some pretty
tight places at different times, Roger.
We know what you got the cross for,
but I suppose that the chances were
often very hearly Is heavy against you"
The man who made this remark was
seated opposite his friend before the
cheerful fire in the smoking-room of a
London military club. Both had the
bronzed faces and prematurely grizzled
hair. which betokens long soiourns un-
der almost topical skies. The one who
ehad been addressed a. 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
"reminiscences, few of which were agree
able, but at last a smile lighted up his
features, and he said:
,"Yes, old boy; I've very often thought
my life wasn't going to last a second
longer but the most awkward moment
I ever putin wasn't in the field"
"No? Then I presume it was when
you were besieged in the Residency
during the Mutiny?"
It wasn't in action at all. It was on
board ship"
"Wreck?" ....
"No. That is to say, the ship wasn't
{ wrecked, but I thought was"
"Tell me about it,"
aWell u. dent mind. It's twenty
years ago, and the telling can't hurt any
= one now. Stiil, YOU win understand
that the names 1 shall give you are not
the true oses snd you mustspromise
not to try tot End out what those
"All right. I'll be content with the
story"
Here goss, then, q said-Rogef, SET
Ting himself back in his chair. "It oc-
Cured just after, we'd finished up the
last of those black devils. Il 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 1 don't know that il
isn't now-was by one of the fine clip
per ships round the Cape. I was for.
tunate enough to get acabin to myself
on board the Winchester, of Greene's
line. The purser. Watson, I had met
ct some mess dinners in Calcutta, and
he promised to make things as pleasan,
as possible. We had very few passen.
: gers, mostly mvalided officers, two
or three civilians, and four ladies
saw. three of the ladies on decl
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 on,
Of the regular navy. He wore uni
form and sword, and was very severe o
aspect SAnd stiff in bearing: lIrfount
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 bein,
introduced, he favored me with
formal grasp of the hand, and jerket
ont arfew words Of having heard of M
..sWs da NOT begin to drop down th,
fiyer. till the day was fairly advanced
and I had scarcely got my traps in or
der when il Was time TO dress for din
ner. In those days the captain wouil
have been insulted II his passengers di,
not turnsdny h full evening toggery
We soklioss vsrs seated ct table IN &C
cordance with our rank, and a
! had only Just got my. company
! was pretty we'll down. toward th
foot, or purser's end. This I di
not at first feel inSlined toregfet, as th
prospect appeared that we shonld be
little more free and easy than were th
fogies up at the top. But when, Iha
got fairly settled into my place, I look
ed toward the captain, and inimediatel
begsm~-te--depiorc my insigniAcsnrs
Seated on his right was the pretties
girl l had ever seen. Her eyes; were
we'll, it's no use my giving you an auf
tioneer's catalogue of her charms. Yo
Just picture your ideal, and she wi
come very near it. All knewswas tbs
Twas completely knocked over. I al
sure my neighbors must have though
l was either surly. or stupid, for Ipeve
addressed them, and I was scarcel
eonscious wintfeplies I made to the
remarks. All my attention was give
to silent watching of my new divinit,
= .spdsI frs4hca1gs anyed. the captai
and bluff old colonel who were pri,
ileged to sit beside her.
As soon ss dinner was over ] n