The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-01-08
WON FOR A WAGER.

AS BeheTAl quilted the room, and Isa-
bel advanced toward our hero.
Fixing her beautiful eyes upon him.
ana placing her hands in his, she ex-
claimed:
Captain st. Adams, il is impossible 70
thank you adequately for the service YOU
nave rendered me! But believe me
ieel It deeply, and shall never forget it as
long as l live. l am very grateful, more
grateful IN fact than though YOU had
saved my life. For if I had gone it would
not nave mattered, II poor dear papa
Here she broke down. and with a stifed
sob burst into tears, and hastily left the
apartment.
Meanwhile Austen had been speaking
TO Miss Meredith, and when the guards
man was left alone, he exclaimed:
Tome here, Harry, and allow me to in
troduce you to Miss Lucy Meredith Miss
meredith, this is Captain st. AIbans, the
hero of the evening, and"
Horace" interrupted st. AIbans, al
snail have to break your neck for you"
Pray don't do that" answered Austen.
''for If you do, there will be nobody left
to talk to Miss Meredith"
"For Miss Merediths sake, then, III let
you OF this time," said the captain, .but
don't do it again"
upon my word, Captain St Albans, yo1u
seem determined to put us all under OBJ
legations" said Lucy Meredith with a
merry smilej mot E:5ent with saving
uncle's life, ard overcoming Bella with
gratitude, You allow Mr. Austen to 1--we
To- my sake, thus making me your debtor
also"
81 would do far more than that to make
you my debtor, Miss Meredith replied
st. Albans, bowling low; and in this strain
the conversation was carried on for some
minutes.
At the end Of this time the general and
Isabel re-entered the room together,
shortly after which dinner was announced
"If you'll take Bella, st. Albans," said
the general, "and you march with Lucy,
Austen, III bring up the rear"
"I am sorry l was the cause of discom-
posing you So" remarked the captain a.
they were going downstairs
Don't mention it, Captain St. AIbans,r
answered Isabel; ION the contrary, 7
ought to apologize to you for the uncere-
monious manner in which left you But
my tears were tears Of gladness, not f
sorrow, and this l can assure you is /.
day 1 shall not forget for very many
years TO come. If ] ever do"
They now entered the dining-room. st
Albans being seated on the generals
right hand, and opposite to Isabel
As soon as the fish had been served,
the general Observed:
Excuse me asking, st. Albans, but
what regiment do you belong toi"
THE Guards. sir" replied our hero.
"Humph! Then 1 suppose you have
not yet seen any servicef"
"Not yet, general" answered st. AIhans,
''but I hope to-"
That's right, my boy! That's rightr
Il getting very tired Of this hum
drum round of amusements, mingled with
little mounting guard and an occasional
feld-day and sham-fght."
Il should think you We're" cried the
general. Il cannot understand how fel-
lows, who wish to be considered men, can
put up with it year after year"
simply because they have nothing
msnly in their nature" replied Isabel, the
color rising to her cheeks as she spoke.
Il really think that the most detestable
sight III the world is what we call
feather bed soldier. All that is manly
about him is his moustache, and all that
is soldierly is his sword"
"Oh, come, my dear" cried her father,
II think you are little too hard on the
poor fellows. Remember that some Of
these same feather bed soldiers, as you
term them, have proved themselves men,
and good men too, more than once"
"Never mind, uncle" said Lucy Mere
dith THAT is Isabers sole point, you
know. do believe, if she had her way.
she would make all the men go out and
fight. as some Of those horrid savage
tribes do abroad"
"And what would you do, Lucy" in
quired Isabel, keep them all at home TO
assist in winding woolr
There was evidently hidden allusion
in this, for Lucy colored up to the roots
Of her hair, and the subject Of converse
tion was changed.
The gentlemen did not sit long after the
ladies had left them.
One bottle Of particular wine that the
general only permitted TO be drank on
high days and holidays, a Trichinopoly
cheroot, and they adjourned to the draw
ing-room.
"Now, girls, let us have some music
cried the old gentleman. "You don't
know what an aviary Of singing birds
have" he continued, turning 70 st. Al
bans. 81 call Isabel my canary, and
Lucy my linnet, and when their voices
are combined in q duet, 1 would not give
a snap Of the fingers 70 hear any printa
donna in the world"
Lucy commenced with a sweet pathetic
ballad. well suited 70 her soft voice, and
St. Albans took the opportunity Of seating
himself beside Isabel.
IL hone. Miss Carlton he observed in
n low voice, that the remarks you made
At the dinner-tabe respecting military
men serving at home were not aimed par
ticularly at mel"
AT you, CAPTAIN St Albansr cried Isa-
bel with panied look. Far from it. and
/ hope you have not thought so for an
instant"
81 am very glad TO hear that answer
ed the captain, because l aspire TO a
somewhat higher position in your estima-
tiou than that Of feather bed soldier
"Dear Captain st. Albans," cried Isabel
earnestly. ..pray do not mention that
.gain. You were far from my thoughts,
can assure you, when l made that re-
mark. Besides, have you not shown us
TO day what your are made Off
pray do not allude to that" said Cap
tain st. AIbans, half petulantly.
81 must say" went on Isabel, not no
t,cine the interruption, that for your
own sake wish you had better oppor-
tnnity Of showing what you really are,
than YOU are ever likely to have in your
present regiment"
/ 81 cannot say how grateful l am, Miss
/ Carlton" replied ST. Albans, "for the IN
terest You exhibit, and perhaps the day
may come. and before long, when 1t VIII
bear fruit"
Isabel was now requested by her father