The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-10-02

party.
A party of four, two ladies and two men,
are crossing the barrsck-yard square,
where Sergt.- Maj. Jeffs is superin-
tending the drilling of some raw recruits.
poor fellows they look hot and
tagged, exclaims the younger lady to her
escort, who is no other than-Toddles.
"Poor fellows. indeed We call them
'Jeff's lambs, laughs Mr.. Chesney.
"Whv ?'
"Jeffs is The sergeant; he is the great fat
fellow to the right; the men hate him, for
he is what is termed a martinet-deuced
particular about drill, order, etc. / could
tell you some killing stories about him."
DO" says Nan cordially, throwing a
backward glance over her shoulder TO see
if her cousin, Capt. Hardness, and Mrs.
Wimpole are following them.
"Jetfs has a nasty knack when drilling
the men of calling out, Stand at -
Then, as his sharp eyes detect some of the
men forestalling his command and stand
ing at ease, he finishes up, WHAT Aw
full sell for the men. 1t is the greatest joke
in the world to see Jeffs shaking his head
from side to side as he reviews his re-
cruits. oh! you pretty lambs, he says,
you are like cucumbers, you want forcing,
and I'll force you
NASTY old fellow! 1 suppose you all
encourage him." Nan exclaims indig-
nantlv.
ale does not require any, assure you.
He 'hacts on principle On one occasion
a private was hauled up in the orderly
room by Jefis NEARLY every day he has
some complaint to make.) We'll, Jets,
what is it to-day? asked the chief.
'Ef yer please, sir, private l0,9Sl does
exactly wot he likes. He goes out when
he likes, comes in when he likes, gets
drunk when he likes; in fact, sir, he be-
HAYES himself just as though he were
hofficer.'
81 should not tell that story too Often"
declares Nan, when she had recovered her
gravity sufficiently for speech. 'You
know it does not give you very good
character
"Here we are, Toddles," calls Hardness.
What have you two found to laugh at so
heartily"
MIR. Chesney has been telling me the
most delightful stories. There are great
MANY stairs for you to mount, Mrs. VIM
pole"
81 shall manage, my DEAR" that lady as
sures the girl, somewhat rashly. you
all 90 on and leave me to take my time.
Remember, it is the first door to the
left" calls Capt. Hardness over the balus-
trade.
Considerable taste had been displayed
in the arrangement of Capt. Hardness sit
ting-room. There is a plentitude OF easy
chairs and lounges covered with pretty
blue cretonne; silk scarfs OF a sage green,
serving in lieu of antimaccassars; curtains
of the same shade, looped with blue. A
piano in one corner. draped in blue and
sage green; exquisite dollhouse flowers
blooming their short, sweet lives away in
| the vases, which are placed on little three
cornered Chippendale tables. Photo
graphs, framed in ivory, plush and gold,
are strewn about. a few water-color
sketches and regimental caricatures furn-
ish the walls.
"What sweet room" exclaims Nan.
| 81 had an idea that quarters were the
barest, most comiortless places, while
here YOU have every luxury"
Toddles smiles
Every luxury he repeats after her.
Hardness is the luckiest mPn in the serv-
| ice; didn't YOU know that"
81 am glad you are pleased, Nan, jack
chimes in with the gently indulgent air he
always assumes toward his cousin. Il
| think had better go out and look after
! Mrs. Wimpole. She is almost certain TO
take the wrong turning unless l do. FIX
cuse me for one moment" And Nancy
and Toddles are alone.
She looks at him with a soft smile,
which sets the foolish fellows heart beat
ing madly.
Il hope YOU are lucky, too, she says.
An expression half sad, half eXpectant,
creeps into Toddles' blue eyes.
81 hope so-that remains TO be shown"
| attsat 10 lua ka
ments and photographs in their pretty
frames.
What lovely faces Does Jack know
them all ?"
81 suppose so" indiherently, for he is
thinking how infinitely more lovely is her
living face, with it's delicate coloring of
cheek and lip, and the deep gentian blue
of her eyes, than are any OF those pictured
faces she admires.
"Mr. Chesney, who is this?" cries Nan,
pausing before a iife-sized portrait of a
young and handsome woman, leaning in a
nonchalant attitude against carven door,
with an ostrich feather fan clasped in one
dropping hand.
Toddles grows hot and cold.
How can he explain her identity to this
sweet cousin of Jack's2
"0h, nobody; friend of Jacks" he
murmurs incoherently, and then he sends
up voiceless psalm OF thanksgiving for
the arrival OF Capt. Hardness with Mrs.
Wimpole and three other ladies at this
critical juncture.
Then tea is commenced, and more peo-
pie drop in; between them all Nan is
made much of, Toddles always lowering
in her vicinity like a gigantic guardian
angel
Capt. Hardness watches and smiles at
his "chum's" infatuation for the girl
"What unreasonable natures these
Irishmen have" is his reflection. He
does not dream that Toddles is in reality,
''hard HIT this time.
'Mr. Chesney, have you ever been in
love2" This question haunts Toddles,
uttered in Mans soft, sweet voice, with
her big eyes fastened eagerly on his tell
tale face. Waking or sleeping. the scene
recurs to him, causing his heart to beat
wildly and his brain to reel with a sense oil
suflocation.
How he curses his folly for not having
told her then and there that he loved her
to distraction that she was the dearest,
sweetest girl in christendom; that unless
she took pity upon him and loved him a
little in return he was undone, his life a
blank, his future-a desert waste. All!
why did he not pluck heart of grace TO tell
her this and more? Now the opportunity
has passed from him and Nan is gone.
Toddles groans and buries his face on
his arms