The Red Cloud chief., 1888-03-30
touch Of the sun. though never heard Of

touch Of the sun, though never heard Of
his being odd before"
H seems all right now, any way said
Werner, looking up the table where Colonel
Punter was sitting.
20, yes. he's all right row.. I'll tell yOu
what, Werner: / have an explanation. The
old boy cam down from town by a midday
train, and l dare say missed his lunch, and
what yOu took for a mailman was only a
fellow very much in want Of his dinner
And the two young men laughingly changed
the subject.
A few days after this the Colonel was
back in town, and found himself dreading
considerably the coming interview with the
| widow. He would have to confirm her
worst Gears, he was afraid: also, that there
would be a scene. and he did not like the
idea Of it at all. He felt. moreover, that he
must appear in the light of a bearer of bad
news-a melancholy character which he did
not by any means wish to assume in Mrs.
Verner'seyes. However" thought he, Il
shall ut any rate hare an opportunity after
ward Of playing the part of comforter and
adviser" M this reflection seemed to
cause him a good deal of satisfaction. 1t will
be seen, therefore. that the Colonel had been
somewhat taken Ito use the word which he
employed in cOnfessing it to HIMSELF, or
smitten with Mrs. Werner on the one Oc-
casion on which he had seen her, and during
the few days that interviewed between his
return to town n the day ON which they
had appointed to have their second meeting
he found himself constantly regarding that
Il frt,,pn date rn.,th Hbn vns~n1 fo.ls,r~0 ~.,h:<v~
lave been described above.
The appointed day and hour found Colone,
Punter seated in his room trying to read the
paper, but in reality waiting q little nerv-
Ously for Mrs. Werner. She did not keep
him long. On entering The room she looked
keenly at the Colonel, and, advancing quick
~, said in rapid, anxious accents:
~, Colonel Puntcr. don't keep me in sus-
pense: is it true" Then seeing his blank
look, she cried out: 1T is, and he is dis
hOnored." Then she sank into q chair and
burst into tears. This the Colonel had pre-
accents he implored her to compose herself.
This in q lew minutes h partially sue
ceeded in doing, and Immediately proceeded
to c-rOss-examine him as to what he had
found out and done at Aldershot: hc:v there
"~~ "eD t"S 10 youAS
Eerner's being the son of rich people ut
Singapore; how the Colonel himself had
told hin so, and how he (COlone. Purter)
had in a tit of indignation spoken to the
young man himself. For this she mildly
upbraidcd him. reminding him of her re-
quest. and the Colonel deprecated her wrath
and pleaded sudden impulse. When the
story was finished she rose. and, smiling
sadly through her tears, said:
Il don't know how l can sufficiently thank
you for your indness to me, Colonel Punter.
You have indeed been a true friend, and l
should like above all things, if you will
allow me. tn ask your advice as to what l
had better do in this sad matter; but. indeed,
/ feel quite incapable of doing so on this
occasion. Hearing that these terrible re-
ports are true has, As You have seen. upset
me very much. and l think l had better go
home now: but if you will allow me to fix Il
future interview by note. when i feel less
unequal to the effort. YOU will add one more
to your many kindnesses."
The Colonel very readily consented, and
in another moment She was gone. and with
her, so it seemed to our gallant friend, all
light and beauty departed from the room.
From that moment. too. though he would
hardly have confessed it to himself, he be-
gan looking forward TO the day when he
should see that note upon his table.
4 fortnight had elapsed since the inter-
view above detailed, but Colonel Puntcr
had not yet received the expected note. He
had not given up hope. but still kc was un-
dOubtcdly depressed, and. whether it was an
effort to throw of this detection which had
induced him to accompany his friend Cap
tain Jones to the Variety Theatcr. or
whether impelled by fate. or for whatever
reason. we will not stop to inquire, but at
any rate in that theater, n comfortably
enscOnced in two stalls, sat Colonel Punter
and Captain Jones on this evening, some of
the events Of which are about to be related.
The curtain had just fallen on the first act,
and the house, till at that moment wrapped
in gloom, sprang suddenly into light. Then,
as IL by common consent. every man, wOm.
an and child in that great audience, with q
want Of manner that would be permissible
nowhere else, but which is quite conventional
between the acts Of q play, commenced, with
or without opera glasses, to scrutinizc his
or her neighbOr. For y few seconds the
Colonel had u discussion with his friend as
to whether there VS. time for q cigarette
between the acts. This was promptly de-
cided in the negative, and both officers,
grasping their glasses, proceeded to join in
the general inspection"
With a calmness born of long habit, |
Colonel Punter was sweepingthe house, when
suddenly his arm dropped and his gaze be- |
came intently fixed on the occupants of a |
box on the right Of the stage these consisted
of two gentlemen and a lady, and the lady |
was Mrs. Werner. On this point he had no
doubt whatever, though he looked at her
with everincreasing surprise. for she was
in very full evening dress, and was extern
sively bcjewcied. She was, moreover, at
this mOmcrt talking and laughing loudly, |
not to say bOisterOusly. with her compan-
ions. both of whom the Colonel mentally and
unhesitatingly pronounced to be cads. At
this juncturc Mrs. Werner, turning her head
suddenly. caught sight Of Colonel Punter
staring at her from the stalls; the moment
their eye met he bowed, and she also bowed
slightly and smiled; then, turning to her
companions. she seemed. from their uprOar-
iOus laughter. to be telling them u more than
usually good story. Captain Jones had OBJ