Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-04-26

the others.
Certainly. Jim. certainly" said the
colonel, kindly. Now. tell me, what
is itf'
We'll, SIR" said Jim. gravely. young
Earle won't be able to 60 to the funeral
he's i'll in bed. but of course the doctor
will tell you about that. Still, l wanted
to speak to you about him. The lad is i'll
in fact. he's been i'll and unlike himself
ever since We came here The place does
not suit him ply sically or morally. and l
am perfectly certain if he remains here he
will go to the dogs. nothing else"
But don't quite understand" said the
colonel. looking puzzled.
No. sir, but Ill explain" said Jim
Its just here. Young Earle is very young
as yet. his mind is Of the smallest, and
the lack Of society in this place is driving
him to seek society that will be the ruin
of him. In short, he has got mixed up
with very dangerous. designing sort Of
woman, and if could induce you to get
him away out of this it will be the saliva
ton Of him. nothing less Owen. poor
fellow, was very anxious about this, and
almost the last thing he said to me was
that he should try to get you to transfer
him back to headquarters"
Was that the subject Of converse
ton which you would not disclose" the
colonel asked
Beautiful Jim hesitatcd for q moment
Well. sir, frankly. it was. thought
it best to keep it to myself because wa
certain that the lad did not know tina;
Owen had found ont what was going or
and it seemed hardly fair to him 10 tell
it."
Il understand l will respect your
wishes," the colonel said, hastily.
Thank you, sir" said Jim. Apart
from the fact that this woman will Ger
tainly marry him if she gets the chance,
or rather, if she does not find herself cir
cumvented by us. Walmsbury is about the
worst place in the world for lad of his
temperament. With proper bringing up
he might have been, and probably would
have been, q very fine fellow; but he has
not been properly brought up-quite the
contrary, in fact. He's the last of good
old family and the child o. his fathers
old age, and in consequence has been
taught from his cradle to think himself q
young god-nothing short of it. Now,
the lad isn't o young god; he's a very or
binary addle headed young ass, as you
saw for yourself. sir. the night he first
dined with US. as full of self Importance
and conceit as it's possible to be- There
fore. apart from this ENHANCEMENT, this
is o very bad atmosphere for him to be in,
he is most important person. and being
only one Of four men practically isolated
for there is literally no society here, and
I fancy the people hereabout look upon us
as so much dirt than otherwise-he is
able to give his opinion far more freely
than is good for him Now, with the regi-
ment he is scarcely able to open his mouth
at oil. he is regularly at school, and o
pretty sharp one too. and is made every
hour to feel himself to DO not Of the very
smallest importance whatever"
well. I'll see what can do about 1t. 81
said the colonel
There was not much sympathy In his
tone. but then, as Beautiful Jim knew.
he did not particularly like Tommy, and
when Col. Barnes did not like a person he
was never very gracious.
Il suppose" scid the colonel. after O
moments silence, that you would like to
60 back to headquarters yourself. Beres
fo-d."
Just as you like. SIR" answered Jim,
inaiHerently. 1T is pretty much oil the
sar,o to me. shall not get entangled in
Walnsbury. end though Of course the
place is dull. ono place Is very much the
same as another to me. But when al
this terrible affair Is over. sir. shoult
like few days leave Ishould indeed.
That is easily managed" returned tn,
colonel. kindly-then hesitated, STAN
mered little. opened his mouth - il t.
speak. and flushed scarlet under hi.
bronzed Observation-Disclosures
my dear boy, the fact Is IL thought per
haps. after all that has happened-the-
the mistake Of your arrest and all that
you might find it little painful tot
remain here"
mot . bit. SIR" said Jim. promptly
1T will be psinful to me ever to thinl
about Owen, 40 matter what part Of tn
world might be in. for he was the bes
friend l ever had in my life; but abou
the matter OF arresting Newell. the pc
lice thought they had . clew. and the,
were quite right to follow it up. an
not at all tender on that point. sir. as
sure you; and besides. everybody VIII
knows me, who knew what friends he an,
| were. would laugh outright at the ide
that could have murdered him."
VERY we'll We win see-wc win see.
said the colonel. In . tone which signi6e'
that the interview was ct IN end.
So far - poor Owen was concerned. tn
day was soon over. At Q o'clock precisel
the sad procession left the officers quar-
tiers and went slowly toward the GENE
terry on the outskirts Of the town. tn
coffin was carried ON . gun carriage an
the pail held by officers Of the dead man
regiment. Col. Barnes being on one sid
and Beautiful Jim on the other. In from
was the band-or tie greater part Of It
which had come over from Blankhamptor
and behind were tho mourners. al mem
bers Of Capt. Owens family.
These last had bean specially demon
| strative to Jim Beresford, showing hiI
BY every means In their power that the
had no part whatever in the suspicio
which for . few hours had been cast upo
him.
1T is very good Of you to meet me lik
this, sir" Jim said to his dead friend
father, when that old gentleman held on
his hand before every ono assembled
the anteroom and shook It heartily.
IAN ! can do for my poor lad now Is I
stand by his friend" returned the oil
man. sadly.
THANK You. SIR. said Jim, gratefully
II shall never forget that you did stan
BY me, never"
And then they had to take their place
and the sad procession started ON its way
to crawl at foot's pace through til
crowded streets. with arms reversed an
the band playing the mournful strains {
the Dead March," while hundreds {
eager heads were pressed forward to get
glimpse Of Jim, g he paced first ON th
left Of the gun carriage. and to point Jill
out a. him - was took up for it, 20
know. but they couldn't prove naugt
again him" 1t was painful hour. b.
Jim held his head mp high and straight
and bore himself Ike the brave. soldierl
gentleman that he was.
"ru never believe that he did It," erie
. woman In the crowd 1t the grave sid,
IF he'd had hand In sending the poe
chap there, he could never have locke
into the grave SO sad and eorrowful as b
did. Mol Ill never believe 1t Of him."
We'll. he's not clear Of it yet. an
won't be until something more Is foun
out about It," was the answer of her con
panion.
And then the service came to an enc
and the last volleys were fred over th
open grave Of one who had been q univel
sal favorite among his fellows.
So they turned away and left him I
his quiet sleep forever. marching ava
with brisk and jaunty steps to tbs
smooth and swinging air which has jarre
50 often on hearts narrowed by q gres
and irreparable loss:
Love not-love not,
l The thing you love may die.
| To be Continued