The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-02-25

colonel. Then, remembering that a son must never be abused to his mother, added: q beg your pardon, Mrs. Werner, but for the moment my indignation got the better of me. Be- sides, reports are, perhaps, not true. do not know the affairs of the junior members of the corps sufficiently we'll to be able to give an opinion on the subject"
 "Oh, quite understand that, but do tell me what course I had better take," she said, glancing appealingly at him. "How am l, helpless woman, to find out whether these dreadful re- ports are true or not? and yet feel that must know the truth or go mad"
 After a pause, during which the colonel was evidently lost in thought, he replied: "Mrs. Werner, promised to do the best I could for you, and will. am going down to Aldershot in few days, and I shall see Colonel Thompson from him will ascertain what reputation for wealth your son has in the regiment. I admit don't much like the detective part of the business, but feel that it is sacred duty to protect a lady in your sad position"
 "Oh, how kind of you, Colonel Punter" she exclaimed. "This is more than l had any right to expect that you would do for me. But, oh, 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 or not, and would, on your return to town, grant me a few words of advice as to what course 1 had better take, I should be very grateful"
 'I shall be most happy, Mrs. Verner," said he, briskly, "but l feel sure that you will find that there is nothing in it after all. Your son, as far @s 1 know him, is a charming young fellow, and quite incapable of the frauds which these accusations impute to him. So 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 apolo- gies for the liberty she had taken in calling to ask his advice, she departed.
 On his journey down to Aldershot the next morning Colonel Punter thought good deal about his fair visitor of 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 them !" said he to himself; "they don't mind straw how much trouble they bring on their relations, if only they can indulge themselves; and such a charming woman, toow And then he went off in reverie, in the midst of which he found himself speculating as 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 conclusion that there was @ good deal to be said on both sides.
 That very evening he saw Colonel Thompson, and in the course of con- versation managed to ask his questions about young Werner, and found out that, according to Colonel Thompson, Werner was the son of rich merchant in Singapore, and that his people had not been in England for many years.
 "Yes, thank you," said Colonel Punter; "I thought had heard of his people in England, but I suppose I must be mistaken" and then he changed the subject. He happened, however, just before mess Che was a guest of the regiment that night), to meet Werner by himself, and he sud- denly resolved, in spite of the wid- ow's request, to say 8 few words to him. So, stepping forward and ad- dressing the young man in a some- what constrained voice, he said "Would you mind taking turn with me, as there are few things I should like to speak to you about?"
 "I shall be most happy, Colonel Punter," said the young man, won- dering what on earth the old boy had to say to him.
 No sooner were they we'll out of earshot than the colonel turned short on his companion, and said sternly 'I saw your mother in town yester- day." and then paused to watch the crushing effect of his words. But no crushing effect was visible; on the contrary, Werner answered in accents of mild surprise:
 "You must be thinking of some one else, sir; my mother is at Singapore" l"
 "No; am not thinking of any body else," said the colonel, still more | aforveu SnH thav oAAal GSCa