The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-09
CHAPTER XIII.

At last the time Of young Stuart Earle !
first long leave was over and be went TO
Blankhampton TO join his regiment, when
for several months his life was certainly
not of the most pleasant kind, and was
very different from any experience he had
had before.
For one thing. he had made bad i'm.
preston at his very first appearance
among them Oh each and all of his brother
officers, from his commanding officer down
to the latest Joined subaltern, so that
every one of them was on the look out
for the smallest sign of that CHECK
which every man of them felt it was his
personal and particular duty 10 try 10
eradicate. A difficult task even for the
united strength of whole regiment, for
Tommys native bounce was apparently
Of unlimited quantity. while IN quality,
~ bounce, IL was OF the very first water.
so far rs his manners in the mess room
were concerned, he was in an incredibly
short time what Beautiful Jim called
clicked into shape. but in other ways
Tommy proved himself TO be simply In
corrigible. For instance lie never could
be brought 70 see that In Blankhampton
soeiety he was ia any way inferior 10 his
senior officers, and even III the palace OF
the lord bishop himself he made no more
ado about openly chatting Beautiful jim.
Or telling an absurd tale at the maj Or ;
expense. than he did OF flirting cesper.
srely with little Violet Leslie, who was
barely out Of the school room. Indeed
before six months had gone by, Tommy
had the name Of being the most impudent
young cub who had ever graced the Blank
shire regiment or the old city Of Blank
hampton by his presence
IL must be owned that the women had
had a good deal 10 do with it-they ut
terly spoiled him. for they allowed him 10
take almost any liberties that he chose,
psrtly because he was 80 young. partly
because be was SO actually beautiful In
person, partly because be WAS the last OF
very old and rich aud eminentiy disIih'
auished race.
Nor q day passed. II be was not on duty
that as soon as be was free from WORK lie
did not 60 flying oil to some feminine
charmer, and LIE neither could nor would
understand that the fellows objected
70 going TO tea parties where Tommy was
the central figure. 70 dinners where
Tommy monopolized the whole OF the
conversation, aud 10 dances where ION
my's audacious firtations made linn the
observed Of all observers.
But. though Tommy did not become
very popular in his regiment, he was pop
ular enough in the town 10 satisfy any
ordinary craving after the approval OF the
many. He became after the first Few
weeks. the intimate friend OF all classes
-he was Tommy" from one end OF
Blank to the other.
Beautiful jim did his best, but his IN
Apcnco went very short way, Tor ms
sdvice was anything but palaiabie TO tue
lnst Of the Earles, and II must indeed DC
: very strong aud firm viii which can iGl,
low che most excellent advice IN the worla
II II Is unpleasant, 10 the exclusion OF All
that makes life worth having, much
stronger will thar Tommy was blessed
with. In truth, ali Tommys strength OF
pr,rpoee went In an opposite direction,
ftst Of serving his own ends and gratiiy-
Ine bis own sense OF pleasure.
Look here. You young peggar. saia
lin ono day 10 him. being moved thereto
~ b. any desire 70 do Iommy good, Dat
~ "a uncomfortable feeling that she
would 10 erieved II she could see all that
went GA IA blaukhsrapton society, IN you
- - Ike THO, what 20 you mean 10 COME
Ec--beyf~
'Tonamy looked up with his own una.
bnshed gaze.
Sf{Rb6f On oarth havs been doing 10 |
uuoot ron nowfv b. demanded.
sygon. oaW sou myself kiss no fewer !
,s.en fhpoo Uom1p last Night. Beautiful |
- rzuvie4 'efae eEessss foois rnsy 70 |
~ - (. =. -. !. 49,