The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-30
BEAUTIFUL JIM.
By JOHN STRANGE WINTER
cHAPTER XVII
orr 10 TuR WARS

zion the following morning 20 SEQ the gal.
lant Blankshir, regiment 80 OF e the
wars. There was Mrs barnes With al
her children. and little Mrs. Seton. IS
brisk aud as bright a. bee, laughing As
loudly as II parting with her major was
one u the best jokes ia tho world, though
70 moro than enc who know her best The
laughter had an uncommonly suspicious
- ting about il and had a culver through
It's ripping thrill which told Of tears moi
very far away. And there were the Char.
terhouscs nn6 the Stantons and the Mar
Gus Orfords, ~ come 20 do the last hon
ors 80 their friends, husbands and wives
alike profoundly thankful that tho for
tune 81 war liad not called upon them 90
leave home and all they loved behind and
40 ont 20 light for queen and country IN
The TROPICS And there was the handsome
dean. chsery and fun Of good wishes. and
lovely AilOen. holding fast by Nancy
Farle's hand as IL she Was afraid she
should break down II she did not hold Il
tight enough
Nancy understood SO well what tho
pressure meant and once or twice turned
her sweet doves eyes upon her friend
lost 70 show her that there were no tears
there aud that she need have no fears for
her compos,iro. And last Of all thcre was
Nh Earle, tai and straight aud command
ING 10 presence. with his handsome old
face set Ike a mask and his white hair rs
well brushed and spruce as ever. An
bnt il was 0 terrible wrench FOR him
parting with bis only son on such az or.
rand: and flmost ~ the same moment a
thought alshed into the minds Of Nancy
and Beautiful Jim alike. q thought
which saic Alas Dc Is 50 cid, 20 frail
and his boief In his only son is so great
/ am 50 clad We kept silence. for though
IL is pang FOR us--kDowledgo would have
held the bitterness Of death for him.
Almost uaconsciousiy Nancy slipped
her hand within his arm and chung TO Sc,
but the old man mistook her meaning
Don't give wsy. ny dear" he whispered
let them see the Earles can give up their
best for queen and country-oven the
heir
BE hai forgotten her Interest in Beau
tiful jim be only remembered that his
r. hoy. his hclr the last Of his name, was
eli i0T tie wars, and might never come
back.
Nancy dropped the arm She forgot
nothing
Not that the old man noticed anything
Ho WAS iutently watching for the last
glimpse II the handsome young face OF
his only son and as the train moved
slowly out OF the station amid cheers and
the frantic waving Of baudkerchiefs TO
the gay and Jolly strains Of The Girl
Left Behind Ne. he gave great gaSping
sioh. which melted Nnneys mOmentary
anger ard made her clasp his arm tighter
than ever
And then little Mrs. Seton, who had
ioked and laughed and cheered and waved
with the best Gs long as her faithful
majors head was thrust out Of the car
Rage window. suddenly created diver
tisemcrt BY breaking down altogether
into such q passionate torrent Of tears
that even the dullest Of those who hao
wondered at what they called her Spirits
but few moments before, wondered no
longer, but said among themselves as
they wiped their own eyes what brave
little woman she was, and what a treas
ure the big major possessed In her.
"Oh, an going out at once, the little
woman was saying brokenly at that mo.
meut 70 the sympathetic woman on whose
breast she had poured out oil her long
pent up feelings. "He said ] wasn't to.
but shall Why. he might bo wounded
out there, or III, and who would nurse
him, wonderl He never can bear any
one but me about him, II he's only got a
headache. Bat. ali the same, when you We
never done anything for yourself in all
your life, and never even gone long
tourney alone it's no joke to face going
out O. India, or still worse TO Burmah,
without a soul TO help you to do a thing.
Nancy Earle, who was standing by,
took her hand. my dear, she whis-
pered believe me, It's far harder when
you are so placed that you cannot 60 out
whatever happens when you know that,
even II you hear the worst and you feel
you are wanted ever 50 badly, you are
bound st homo By ties and restrictions
which you cannot break. Oh 1t Is moth
ing 70 let ones husband 60 compared
with tho one who is everything and yet
nothing 10 you"
Mr.. Seton dried her eyes and looked
mp "Yes. he told me a good deal about
II, dear" she said, kindly, and with
scarcely more than faint sob catching
her breath. "and be sure IL be is in need
OF my help bo will have IT, ga do any.
thing for bin for his own sake, but III Do
Il fc yours as well now. promise you.
"How good you are. Nancy whispered,
ferveutly, email wonder he Is so fond OF
you, Mrs Seton. Some day, perhaps,
shall be able to do something for you. and
i'll can--oh. how shall jump at the
chance Of being able TO do II"
BY this time the people were gradually
clearing out Of the station, and as the
handsome dean had given his sturdy arm
- g. t..II i
IN their wake with Mrs, Seton.
The dean was trying hard 70 persuade
the cid man 20 abandon his idea OF return
Ing home that day. aud 70 change his
quarters from the Golden Swan 10 tho
more luxurious ease and quietude Of tia
Deansry; for, as he saia. 1T will be O
change for YOU, and II you 60 home at
once you will NOPE and get thinking Of
danger TO the boy, when as yet no danger
exists: snd besides, you do not know
Northampton at all though there Is 8
Rood deal that is well worth seeing here,
and there must BE- q great MANY people 81
tho neighborhood whom you know more
OF less wen.
But Mr. Earle was obduratel
One more night, however. be did con
sent % remain st the Golden Swan. md
be also promised 70 dine at Mrs Traaord s.
70 meet @ select but hurriedly gathered
together company; and as soon as be and
Nancy had finished their somewhat early
lunch. be told her that he was going To
keep himself very quiet until dinner time.
and that be DID not wish TO be- disturbed
Nancy, therefore put on her hat and
went 10 SEQ hor friend, Aileen, who was
tiresl TOO with the exortions Of the morn.
Ing; 50 the two girls dawdled away
the lovely September afternoon on the
terracs Of the Deanery, Ia company. after
An hour or 30. with the girls from the
residence and enc or two men from tho
cavalry barracks, who had found their
way thither don't quite know how.
Ioen came the evening. spent as
brightly and gAyly--ior little Mrs. Traf.
toro knew how 10 mako her parties 90 of
vel and her guests enjoy themselves.
none better--as Y the scene Mt tie STA.
tlot that morning bad been tho boginninr
OF bridal tour for some especially fort.
uuato young couple. rather than a SETTING
out Of some Of their nearest aud dearest
- q l.