Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-08-21
COLONEL VILLIERS.
A Hero's Sacrifice for the Only
Girl He Ever Loved.

q aGIO'S 0dCT1uCS 1Or Tic Ou1y
Girl He Ever Loved.
One dark, foggy September evening
some years ago, the north mail was
stopped at an insignificant outlandish
station to allow q solitary passenger
20 alight, As the train pulled up,
gentleman, muf1fed up in a huge ulster.
stepped out of frst-class carriage,
and was Immediately bounced upon
by a young fellow who had been i'm
patiently pacing the platform for the
last twenty minutes, anathematising
the weather, the railway company,
the train, himself, and every thing
and every body. both individually and
collectively. When, however, he saw
the traveller step out his gloominess
and irritability disappeared, and he
seized hold of his hand, saying: saw
fully glad to see you, old fellow; really
thought you had determined to cut us.
Where the deuce is all your impede
ments?' Then to the porter: Il say,
Bob, three portmanteaus; come, look
alive" and whilst the porter and
groom were getting together these
necessary but bothersome articles, the
gentlemen walked to the gate of the
little station and got into dog-cart,
TO which were harnessed 4 pair of fine,
clean-made horses. By the time they
had comfortably settled themselves,
and had lighted mans little idol-a
cigar-the luggage was well slowed
and the man up at the back, and in a
few minutes they were out of the sta
ton yard and bowling along the coun-
try road at a pace that was, consider
ing the foggy state of the atmosphere,
to say the least rather risky.
AS the two sit side by side, a casual
observer would notice a lot of difference
in them. The young fellow who is
driving is Sir Percy Lendorn, who has
seen about twenty-four summers, and
is light-hearted, happy-golucky fell
low. who takes life easily, and never
knows any thing but sunshine He is
the fourth Baronet, and having had
neither father nor mother for many
years, has had unlimited rope to his
will He is a regular favorite with
all the people round, who love his
handsome, open face, with his blue
eyes and his light, curly hair, fellow
who has CHEEKY word for every body.
His companion is about thirty three,
and IN build a regular Hercules, stand
ing fully six feet three, has dark brown,
earnest eyes and hair, and firm,
severe and cold. yet withal a hand
some, face; the strong, determined
lines of the mouth are to a great ex-
tent hidden by heavy mustache, a
man who rarely makes friends, but,
when once does, sticks; who, when he
makes promise viii fulfil it at what
ever cost, a man who at first sight in
spires more fear than love This is
Colonel John Guy Villiers, '. c., -
Laneers, now stationed IN Burmah,
home On sick leave from q gun-shot
wound in his leg, which accounts for
his slight limp when walking. To the
few, the very few, with whom he cares
to be associated, he is best known as
Jack Villiers, and to those only,
perhaps, are his best qualities known.
In his regiment he is a mystery; his
men can hardly understand his extreme
severity with them in cases of breaches
of discipline and his kindness in case
OF sickness, when a trooper is to him
not an inferior. but a brother
This is Colonel Villiers' first visit to
the home of his friend, Sir Percy
Lendorn, and although he looked for
ward to it with a certain amount of
pleasure, II WAS really to satisfy the
young Baronet-who had asked him
times innumerable-thath he has made
the promise
Alter twenty-five minutes journey,
they turn from the road into drive
that has at the end their goal, In the
shape OF Marine Hall, a jolly, coy
looking 0ld-fashioned genllemanss res
iaence, where they are received by an
elderly lady, whom Sir Percy intro
duces as MY Aunt, Mrs Deane.' y The
gentlemen Immediately go up to their
rooms to prepare for a homely dinner,
which has been held back for them.
just as Colonel Visliers was sitting
down to the dinner table the door
quietly opened, and in came a young
lady apologizing for being late.
As Villiers looked at her she formed
in bis mind the prettiest picture he
had ever seen; petite and dark With .