The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-02-17

bis own quarters, and his thoughts
dwelt good deal about Miss Churchill
by the way. To his mind she was the
first real artist he had seen upon tho
stage, and for the time at least her
voice had taken him captive. Shakes
peare for once had found an actress
worthy to interpret him, and surely no
| other man who had ever lived could
have created a part sweet and bright
enough for so exquisite a creature to
play in. He smoked cigar in COM
! pany with his own agreeably tiuttered
fancies, and then he went to bed and
slept soundly and forgot them. He
was not nearly so much impressed with
Miss Churchill in the morning; and
though she touched his thoughts pleas
antly once or twice, he got through the
days business with no great hindrance
from her.
Late afternoon found him at head
quarters, with little more than time to
dress for dinner. Lieutenant Colonel
Pollard had resumed the active COM
mand of the corps, and took the head
place at the mess-table. Tree arthen
was presented, and formed poor opin-
ion OF the bloated old warrior, who met
him with disreputable jest, and told
straightway an Objectionable story
which grated on the comets ears.
When the real business of the dinner
began the manners OF the officer in
command were not at all 10 the taste
of the young gentleman, who was, pos
sibly, fastidious. The Colonefs eyes
goggIed and his face crimsoned as he
strained over the table to get at his
soup, and his wicked speech was half
choked by wheeling and paintings He
gobbled as gentleman ought not to
gobble, and he drank as a gentleman
ought not to drink. When dinner was
over the naughty old man told shame
less tales of his youth and manhood;
and Tregarthen, who had been bred to
reverence old age, and to think purity
as desirable and lovely in q man as in q
woman, found the evening almost in
supportable.
Somebody ought to put q stop to
all that he told Captain Harcourt,
after dinner, to that gallant officers
great establishment '.In a society of
gentlemen the thing is intolerablc. We
serve q lady" he added, with the gen.
erous pomposity of youth, land that
of itself might teach US better man.
| ners."
The Captain stared at him with an
amazement he took no pains to dis
guise. A touch of contempt was dis
cernible even in his wonder.
"Shouldn't advaisc yah talk lake
that" he said. "CurscI inconvenient
have yang fellabs offerin' that sort
opinion in the army"
Il shall make it my business" re-
turned Tregarthen, in some heat at the
Captains contemptuous wonder, Ito
represent to Colonel Pollard that at least
one OF his officers finds his style OF con-
versation irksome, and thinks it unbe-
coming"
Don't be an ass, Tregarthen, said
Captain Harcourt. Tregartllen inclined
his head stiifiy, and marched away. The
Captain told one or two of his closest
friends the story OF the youngsters un-
accountable craze, and they all agreed
that he was a. prig end a greenhorn.
''Polly," said Harcourt, sis about the
best sort in the service. Idea of young
fool like that pretending to dictate TO
officers old enough to be his father!'
Captain Harcourt's friends concurred
with him, and the story of Tregarthen's
presumption spread rapidly throughout
the regiment. Next day he was treated
with evident GOODNESS. and some of his
brother officers who had hitherto been
on friendly terms with him took pains
to avoid him. He was not unpopular,
to begin with, but it was the general
sense of the corps that the sort of inso-
lence he had shown deserved rebuke.
lie must be made to see at once that
this was not the tone to take.
That evening there came time when
the conversation at the head OF tho
table was animated and loud. The
youngsters at the lower end smoked
and listened, and got little good by
listening. 1t was nothing less than the
reputation of lady which so excited
the seniors. One man held out against
the rest, and avowed his belief that the
lady was chaste as ice and pure as
snow. The others naturally laughed
at him, for the woman he defended was
an actress; and in those days-it may
be better noW-an actress was any
body's fair game at a mess table.
"Wait bit,' said the Colonel, with
his wicked, bronchial old chuckle. sI'll
tell you story propos."
Everybody listened, and the Colonel
told his story. 1t redounded infinitely
to his own credit rs man of gallantry,
and infinitely to the discredit of the
lady whose personal charms he sang
and whose character he stole.
''Now, who do you think that VASE"
asked the Colonel. Nobody answered,
and the fat old roue relit his cigar and
gazed about him with look OF twin
king triumph. "None other,' he said,
after pause, 'than our cfiaste young
friend, Miss Churchill. What do you
say to thate"
1t happened at this moment that the
Colonels twinkling eyes looked full into
the eyes of Tregarthen, who was bend
ing forward q little at the bottom
of the table and watching his command
ing officer with an expression of sat-
urnine disdain. The black browed Cor
net half rose in his place.
Il beg your pardon, sir" he said,
slowly and distinctly. "You seemed to
address your question to me. If you
press me for an answer must give you
one"
1t was generally felt that the hour
had come, and the assembled gentle
men braced themselves to support
authority II the Co1onoI b,I WI,