Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-05-03

thls matter. Veil, the facs Is, | want to
know the worst. I have heard rumors
about my son which makes RE shudder
whenever | think of them. / hear that
he has given himself out in tho regiment
as the son of rich people who live abroad,
and that be is living in most extravaganza
style; whereas it is, in truth, with con
siderable difficulty that his moderate
allowance is regularly paid"
Young scouudrel" calculated the
colonel. Then, remembering that son
must never ba abused to his mother,
added; II beg your pardon, Mrs. Werner,
! but for the moment my indignation got
/ the better of me. Besides, these reports
are, perhaps, not tue. do not know the
sffairs of the junior members of the
corps Sufficiently well TO be able to give
an opinion on the subject"
"Oh, l quite understand that, but do
tell me what course l had better take"
she said, glancing appealiugly at HIM.
"How am |, a helpless woman, to find
out whether these dreadful reports are
true or notY And yet feel that l must
know the truth or GO mad"
After pause, during which the colonel
was evidently lost in thought, he replied;
Mrs Werner, | promised TO do the best
l could FOR you, and I will. | am going
down to Aldershot in few days, and
shall there see Col. Tompson from him
| will ascertain what reputation for
wealth your son has il the regiment l
admit that l don't much like the detective
| part of the bu0iness, but feel that it is
sacred duty TO protect lady in your sad
| position
ooh, how kind of you, Col. Punter"
she exclaimed. This is more than had
any right 20 expect that you would do
| for me. But, on, let me beg of You not
| to expose my son if these rumors should
| be true, and let me implore you not TO
! seek an interview with him on the subject.
/ If you learn from the colonel, as you
kindly say you will, whether what have
heard is true of not, and would ON your
/ return to town, grant me few words of
| advice as to what course had better
! take, should be very grateful"
| Il shall be most happy, Mrs. Werner"
| said he briskly, but fee. sure that you
will find that there is nothing in it after
! all. Your son, as far as | know him, is a
4 charming young fellow, and quite incap
able of the frauds which these accusations
impute to him. 50 pray keep up your
| spirits, and, if it is convenient TO you,
| let US arrange to meet here at this time
on this day week"
| The time was quite convenient to Mrs.
Werner, and, with many apologies for
the liberty she had taken in calling to ask
his advice, she departed.
On his journey down to Aldershot the
next morning Col. Punter thought n good
! deal about his fair visitor CT the day before
and her troubles. He heaped. moreover,
many hard words on the head of young
Werner (for, of course, he supposed him,
at any rate partially guilty. Selfish
young rascals, all the lot of themw said
he to himself; "They don't mind a straw
how much trouble they bring to their re-
! lotions, if only they can indulge them
selves; aud such charming woman, too"
/ And then he went off into a reverie, in
| the midst of which he found himself
specializing az to whether man of his
| age was absolutely and irrevocably too
old to marry without making himself
| look like fool; and as the train arrived
at Aldershot he had just come to the con
cluson that there was good deal to DO
| said on both sides.
That very evening he saw Col. Thomp-
son, and in the course of conversation
managed to ask his questions about
young Werner, and found out that, &C
cording to Col. Thompson, Werner was
the son of rich merchant in Singapore,
and that his people had not been in Eng
land for many years.
eyes, thank you" said Col. Punter; 81
thought l had heard of his people in Eng
land but | suppose must be mistaken,
and then he changed the subject. He hap
pened, however, just before mess The was
! the guest OF the regiment that night, to
meet Werner by himself, and he suddenly
resolved, in spite of the widows request,
| TO say few words to him, So, stepping
forward and addressing the young man
in a somewhat constrained voice, he said;
would you mind taking turn with me,
as there are few things l should like to
speak TO you about?"
Il shall be most happy, Col. Punter,
said the young man, wondering what on
earth the old boy had to say TO him.
No sooner were they we'll out of ear
shot than the colonel turned short on his
companion and said sternly; 81 saw your
mother in town yesterday" and then
paused TO watch the crushing effect OF
his words. But no crushing effect was
visible; on the contrary, Werner answer
ed in accents of mild surprise:
"You must be thinking of some one
else, sir; my mother is at Singapore.
No; | am not thinking of anybody
else" said the colonel still more sternlyi
and then added: $50 you are going to
brazen il out, are your"
"Brazen what outYn said the young
man, apparently thoroughly puzzled.
lyon know very well, . said the colonel
sand if you don't, you soon will" Then
he turned on his heel and walked off
Young Werner stood for a moment
looking after him, then walked away
laughing heartily.
At mess that night he was heard to sa!
to brother officer You know ole
punter, who's here to.nightY"
Yes" replied the other; II know hin
pretty we'll What about him?"
He was in India good deal, wasn'
her"
Yes. Well?"
'Did he ever get touch of the sunyn
"Dare say he did; most people do on
there"
"wen, if he did, it has affected hi
brain-poor old boyl"