, 1888-05-11
Ills CHILD FRIEND.

1t caused n good deal of wonder among
the officers Of Jack .Amyatt's regiment
when he suddenly doomed out in n new
character, that of a literary man.
The Red Horse was a very popular regi-
ment in the service, and Jack Amyatt
was, as indeed he had been ever since he
joined, one of its most popular officers.
Through the various grades of cornet,
lieutenant and captain, he had made no
enemies, while he had gathered many
friends. He was essentially n good all
round man, popular with his men, who
would have followed him into the jaws
of death and back again, and good at
sport of any and every kind.
"What n fuss you make about Mai.
Amyatt," cried a fair beauty one day to
one of the youngsters, who had been
extolling his accomplishments.
ooh, the majors such an out and out
good sort, returned the lad, blushing a
fine scarlet all over his handsome face at
thus being caught at hero worship.
''Is her responded the lady, who had
tried every fascinating art in her power
on Amyatt, but without avail. ''What
does he do TO win him so much adula-
tom"
81 don't know about adu~lation," said
the lad rather CURLY. ''But l know he
is the best soldier l ever knew. and
the most popular. Why, the regiment
would ollow him to the dew to the
end of the world, that is" correcting
himself hastily. lies good, that is
among the best of any sport you like to
mention; and he's the best army writer
there is, in spite of the shoals of women
who have tried their hand mt putting us
on paper, and only succeeded in making
their soldiers look like bagmen out for a
holiday in n blazer and n pair of tennis
shoes"
The beauty drew herself up with a
little more dignity than she usually dis
played. "Dcar me, Mr.. Arlington, You
are sevcrc-alnost rs severe as Mai.
Amyatt looks when he goes to a ball. and
stands regarding us frivolous and faulty
women MS stiff and straight as if he had
swallowed his ramrod rs well IA bring
ing the other parts of his uniform with
him"
1t was on the tip Of young Arlington's
tongue to remind the beauty that n ram
rod Is not "A part of n cavalry officers
equlpmcnt-but, as he had done a min
ute or so before, he remembered his
manners in time and let the remark pass
without further notice.
well. | don't think the major cares
much about ladies'" he admitted.
I'm sure they don't care much about
him" returned the beauty, sharply.
lie wondered Mt the tartness of her
tone, if that was indeed the case; but, as
she was a beauty, and somewhat of a
power in the ~neighborhood of the station
mt which they were quartered, he did
not want to offend her more than was
necessary in taking up the cudgels in his
majors defense. Il never heard him
say n word against n woman in my life"
he said, eagerly ''never. Only he don't
seem to be very keen on dancing and
afternoon teas, n so on. BY the way.
Miss Nane, will you come and have acup
of tea or anything2"
The beauty thought she would have an
ice, and took the lads arm with alac,
rity; glad, perhaps, to get away from
the subject of n man who remained
blind and deaf to the attractions anG
fascinations-libcrally set forth for hi
benefit from time to time-of the beauty
of the county. The name of the maiol
was not mentioned again; but, all the
s1me, the conversation had set young
Arlington thinking about it.
Il say" he said that evening to Moore,
the senior subaltern, sis Amyatt what
you'd call n woman hater?"
mot n bit of it," returned Moore,
promptly; ~ don't believe he thinks
enough about 'em to hate them"
"But that's sailing pretty near the
wind, ehS' inquired Arlington, laughing.
mo, l don't think so. Amyatt doesn't
dance, nor go to tea much; but then he
has plenty else to do. To me he never
seems to think of getting married; but
then he's only six and thirty, and what
fellow in his senses would think of get
ting married before that2"
"a good many do" Arlington vent
ured to say. He felt guilty thai this
thrust had gone home, for he at % had
thought fondly of the marriage state
more than once; for the matter of that,
indeed, he had thought of it many q time
and oft.
Eyes, a good many do" responded
Moore, who had never known what it
was to feel a qualm at his heart such as
threatened to ruin all his peace of mind,
land a good many fellows wish to the
devil they'd let it alone"
"Well, I'm not altogether SO sure about
that, returned Arlington, who, in spite
"a 100 "AONNoe an vas I'D wen dDl6 W
stick to his own opinions as any man in
the regiment.
Now this conversation no more enlight-
ened him as to the state of the majors
affections or natural %inclinations than the
n with the beauty had done, so Airing
ton put his question to some one else,
choosing this time the senior captain, one
George Trevor; and when Trevor heard
it, he stared hard at him.
"Amyatt a woman hater! Whatever
put such an idea as that into your head?"
well, l al hardly say; but is he, do
you think?n
"a woman hater-no of course lie
i5z t."
But, Trevor, henever has anything to
do with women Mt all-never goes to teas
or baZaars, or garden parties, or even balls
If he can get of it-and when he docr 40
ho never dances"