The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-20

have been able to be of services to your
daughter and to you; but do not let us talk
about it now. am sure that you cannot do
50 without agitating yourself, I'd the great
point at present with US ali Is Tor you to be
up aud about again. Do your wounds hurt
you muchF
mot much: and yours, Blunt"
80. nins is mere nothing" Ronald said
cheerfully, sis healing up fest and except
when l forget all about is. aud move
sharply, I scarcely feel 1t. l teei something
like the proverbial maa who swallowed the
poker, aud have to keep myself as stiff as
if were on inspection. This ward is nice
and cool, cooler than they are upstairs. OF
course the veranda outside shades you
You will find it very pleasant there when
you are strong enough TO get up am
afraid that by that time L shall be off, for
the troops are all on their march from up
the coast, and in another ten days we expect
TO begin operations in earnest"
Il don't think the doctor ought to let you
CO." Mary Armstrong said. You have done
quite your share, am sure"
"I hope my share in finishing up with
these scoundrels will 20 G ,d deal larger
yet" Ronald laughed. My share has
principally been creeping aid hiding, ex
cept just in that last brush, and there, If
mistake not your share was as large as
mine. l only fired three shots, and l think
l heard your pist il go four times.
Eyes, it is dreadful to think of now" the
girl said "but somehow 1t didn't seem so at
the time feel shocked now when recall
it,"
There's nothing to be shocked at, Miss
Armstrong; it was our lives or theirs, and
if your hand had not been steady, and your
aim true we should neither Of US be hero
talking over the matter now. But think
my visit has been long enough. will come
In again, Mr.. Armstrong, tomorrow, md 1
hope each day to find you more and more
able to take your share in the talk"
In another ten days Ronald rejoined his
troop, and the next day received an order
to be ready at 4 o'clock to accompany Col.
Somerset to the generals.
Now. sergeant, take seat" the general
| said, land tell me the full story of your
| adventures"
Ronald again repeated his story. When
he had done, the general remarked:
"Your report more than bears out what
heard from Capt. Twentyman. l have
already talked the matter over with Col.
| Somerset, as we consider that such an &C
tion should be signally rewarded. Col.
Somerset will at once apply for commits
| sion for you in your own corps, or If you
would prefer it, will apply for commits
sion for you in one of the line regiments.
may say that the application under such
circumstances would certainly be acceded
| to.
II am deeply obliged to you for your
kindness, sir, and to you, Col Somerset;
but regret say that, will all respect, L
must decline both offers"
decline commits ioni' the general said
in surprise. "Why, l should have thought
that 1t was just the thing that you would
have iked-a dashing young fellow like
| you, and the eve of serious operations.
can hardly understand you"
| Ronald was silent for a moment.
my reason for declining it, sir is pure
| ly personal one. Nothing would have given
me greater pleasure than a commission so
| bestowed, but + Iere are circumstances that
| absolutely prevent my mlngllng in the So
| ciety of gentlemen. TIE name | 60 by is
not my true one, and over my own name
| there is so tarrible shadow resting that so
long as it is there-and | have little hope of
| its ever being cleared off, must remain as
I am"
Both officers remained silent moment.
You are sure you are not exaggerating
the case, BluntF Col. Somerset said after
a pause. II cannot believe that this cloud
of which you speak can have arisen from
any act of yours, and it would be pity
indeed were you to allow any family mat
ter to weigh upon you thus"
Ronald shook his head. SIT is a matter
in which / am personally concerned, sir,
and | do not in any1 way exaggerate it.
repeat, must remain in my present posi-
tion.n
'If it must be SO, it must" the general
said, Though l am heartily sorry. At
least you will have the satisfaction Of see
Ing your name in general orders this even
for an act of distinguished bravery"
THANK you, sir" ana Ronald, seeing the
conversation was at an end saluted to the
two officers, went out, and rode back TO his
quarters.
The town was full of troops now, for the
regiments that had been dispatched from
England had nearly all arrived upon the
| spot, and the operations against the Katfirs
in the Amatolas were 20 begin at once.
Some of the troops, including two squad
! rons of the Rifles, were. TO march next
morning.
| Ronald went about his duties till evening,
and then turned out to walk to the hospital
| AS he passed through the streets, he saw a
| group round one of the Rifles, who had just
come out from a drinking shop, and was
| engaged III a fierce alteration with a
/ Fingo. The man was evidently worse for
| liquor, and Ronald went up to him aud put
| his hand on his shoulder.
You had better go of to the barracks at
once" he said sharply; you will be get
| ting into trouble if you stay here"
The man turned savagey round.
", lGS you ~ III OoTBt. Dluutf nam Q
you better attend to your own business?
am not com hitting any crime here.
haven't been numbering women, or any
thing of that sort"
Ronald started back as IL struck. The
significance of the tone in which the man
spoke showed him that these were no ran
dom words, but shaft deliberately aimed.
In moment he was cool again.
"If you do not return to the barracks at
once" he said sternly, II will fetch cor
poraPs guard and put you IN the cells.n
The man hesitated a moment, and then
muttering to himself, reeled off toward the
barracks Had The blow come month be-
fore, Ronald Mervyn would have felt it
moro. Absorbed in his active work on
horseback the greater portion of his time,
the remembrance of the past had become
blunted, and the present had occupied all
his thoughts. 1t was only occasionally
that he had looked back to the avs when
he was Capt. Mervyn. Of the Borderers.
But from the hour he had brought Mary
armstrong safely back to her father, the
past had been co stantly In his mind be-
cause it clashed with the present.
Before, Ronald Mervyn and Harry Blunt
had eirnost seemed TO De two 9xistences, un-
connected with each other; now, the fact of
their identity had been constantly in his
| thoughts. The question ne had been asking
himself over and over again was whether
II