Nevada County picayune., 1888-11-28

Colonel Hardy laughed and looked gratied, for he knew that his ecccn. tric friend meant what he said. He was wealthy old bachelor, who did deal of good in an ostentatious manner, and he was pleased to think that Walter would find friend able and willing to assist him in any ca. reer he might choose. He had told the story with a purpose. and ever enlarged upon his own vague sus- picions, knowing that was the snres, way to enlist his good old friend : indignant sympathies.
 But it is doubtful if knowledge of the interest he excited would have brought gleam of pleasure to Cadet Stewarts grave face. An intolera- ble sense of disgrace weighed him down, and crushed the natural light heartedness of youth from his nature. He threw himself into his studies and his military duties with fierce. feverish ardor, for only then he found forgetfulness. He had loved and admired his father. and the thought of him III prison garb and in a prisons cell came like fearful ghost to prison his life. He had shrunk from accepting cadetship at the University, offered him by his mothers brother, but the persua- slons Of that most unhappy mother had outweighed his own wishes.
 On the day of the conversation l have repeated, he was even more grave than usual. His duties as of ticer of the day had forced him to re- port Cadet Stacey as guilty of gross misconduct; and Stacey. who was one of the worst cadets in the Uni versity, had resented the report and the punishment it brought. Through some means Stewart had heard of his insulting remarks.
 Its disgraceful to have to submit to such indignities from fellow like that." he cried. If he dared to speak to me outside of the University I'd insult him. To have the son of a felon, a regular thief, put over the heads of gentlemen is more than I'm going to stand. If that fellow has a chance, he will turn out greater scamp than his jail-bird father. It's in him, and it's bound to come out. 7"
 That day party of ladies visited the University, and it was the duty of the officer of the day to escort them over the buildings and the grounds. Among them was pretty, wild young miss, about sixteen years old, rude little hoyden, who insist ed upon seeing everything, and fitted from spot to spot.
 She rummaged among the curiosi- ties in the museum, tossed about the volumes in the library, and chased the goldfish in their big glass bowl with her hand in the water.
 Walter Stewart noticed that she wore magnificent diamond ring, re- markable for it's size and peculiar setting, Cleaning through the wa ter, it gave him the unpleasant i'm pression of gnome's eye of which he had been reading in one of Hoff- mans wild, wierd tales the night be- fore.
 But Miss Lands soon tired of her sport with the goldfish she had scared out of their few senses. Her atten- ton was attracted by | monstrous stuffed alligator, which, with vide open jaws, reposed under the table on which the globe of fish was placed.
 She gave an affected little scream.
 "Oh, what an awful monster, And dim writes from Louisiana that they eat up little nigger children when ever they get chance. What mon- strous jaws, big enough to swallow me whole. Wouldn't 1t he fun to write to Jim that I've had my head in an alligator's jaws? Wouldn't he be scared, for he'd think 1t was alive. Pm going to do It." and she pulled off her hat.
 You'd better not, Jennie" said one of the ladies. "You'll muss your hair, and its looks dreadfully dusty in those awful jaws"
 Yes, l willi''
 With q laugh, Miss Jennie got down on her knees, and thrust her pretty hlonde head in the gaping mouth, Something there caught one If her curls, and she screamed and ierked until she drew her head out, looking paler than when she thrust it ill.
 Uj ,ai, os if tbe olIioator had snap-