Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-02-22

staring straight in front Of him, and say
ing nothing.
Good heavens" cried his wife "Wha;
poor lot the men here must be t.
stand it,"
Poor little Mr.. Winks' heart gave
great sick throb. and his wife gabbled on
She is lovely, perfectly lovely. Did
You hnow her pretty wellg'
Pretty we'll, he answered, woodenly
Well. ! can't understand il. Did you
know her before you got engaged to me-
oh, yes"
We'll. | tell you frankly, can't think
how in the world you came TO think of me.
when you might have married her; and to
let that little monster
That little monster is new acqus
ton, said "Winks, with a CHASTITY effort
to be facetious.
Its SIM" declared his wife, with
conviction.
OF course, she had not understood: but
there were other eyes upon the stall Just
then, who not only saw but understood
precisely what had happened. They be
longed to the Leslies, whose stall was in
the next chalet, and who were all hover
ing about outside it, the better to way
lay any likely looking purchasers who
might be passing along the street.
1t happened that Beautiful Jim, who
had come in about the same time as Mr.
Mandarin, was brought to the Leslies'
chalet just then by Nancy Earle, that lie
might make young Stuarts acquaintance.
and he, too. saw more than Lady Charter
house had done.
Nor was that all he saw, for Just as
him, that gay young gentleman was very
busily engaged in fixing up heavy plat
of Violet Leslie's hair, which had escaped
its pins.
"Hm-plenty of cheek" said Beautiful
Jim to himself
Miss Earle waited until the plat of
hair had been properly fixed in its place
and then she went forward and intimated
to her brother that one Of the officers of
his regiment was waiting to be introduced
to him.
''Ah! How-de-do?" said Tommy, with
perfect compOsure and q hail fellow well
met style, such as would have done credit
to general just appointed to command
the district, and to whom it would have
been much more suitable than it was to
him. not yet joined subaltern.
They stood q few minutes making con.
versation, and parted with relief on both
sides, for Beautiful Jim was in that frame
of mind which found everything but
Nancy Earle Fat, stale and improbable.
Nor did he at any time particularly af-
feet the society of Youngsters; and in this
instance he set down Tommy Earle" (as
he was called in the regiment from that
day. as IAN impudent young devil, who
wanted licking into shape and his cheek
knocked out of him."
Nor had Tommy any desire to stay. There
were FIVE bright and pretty girls close at
hand, with whom he was on the best of
terms, and he felt that he would like Mr..
Beresford better in his proper place, that
is. Mt. the rless table or in the barrack
yard.
What do you think Of himf" inquired
Miss Earle. eagerly.
HE is rather like you," returned Beau.
tifrl jim. il tone which conveyed that
if Tommy led been more like his sister he
would have been more to his liking.
"Oh, he is far better looking than l."
she cried-at which Jim laughed outright,
and she protested further. He is more
of an Earle. you know am more like
my mothers family.
That is lucky for you." said Beautiful
Jim, gravely.
Miss Earle chose to pass this compli
ment over without apparently noticing it.
DO you think he will make q good
soldier, Mr.. Beresford2"
Beautiful Jim laughed: 1T is impossi-
BILE to say" he answered "Icould better
answer your question next year this time"
know what may happen In q year." she
said, quickly. They tell me that Stuart
will have q terrible time at first among
the other officers"
II dare say lie may find the first few
months pretty rough" answered Jim.
composedly."
But what will they do to hims' she
asked. anxiously.
:. They'll try his temper a good Bit"
Jim replied
"Oh! Mr. Beresford," she exclaimed.
II don't know how he will stand it-he
has such hasty temper"
He must have had pretty fair test of
his temper already at Sandhurst," said
Jim.
"Well-l believe it was nm awful
stumbling block to him." Miss Earle ad-
mitted. land if ! only knew that some
ono wns looking after him it would be
such relief to my mind-l can't tell you
what q relief And he is such dear boy
quite the dearest boy ever knew"
Il am sure he is. said Beautiful Jim, |
telling the lie boldly and promptly. |
And. Of course. II it will make you feel |
more comfortable. Miss Earle, l will keep |
an eye upon him: only-if you want to |
make FIRST rate soldier out Of him. you
must let things take their natural course"
But Nancy Earle. caring more In her
steadfast and simple mind Of the personal
comfort and welfare of her precious boy,
1.-The last Of the Earles." than for the ad-
yanccment OF his qualities as q soldier,
did not heed the advice. In truth, she !
scarcely understood it, and certainly did |
not realize sufficiently how valuable It !
was. To her, first rate soldier meant |
enc who would dash proudly on through
ire and smoke. who would storm bat |
terry single handed. and. II need be, die |
with proud smile upon his lips. That |
was N ICY Earle's idea of . first rate
soldier; but to Beautiful Jim. who loved |
his profession as his life. though he could |
gruElble with the best at an extra field !
Day or at court martial, and hated an |
inspection like poison, a first rate soldier |
was something very different It meant |
somebody who would learn to obey before |
he should attempt to rule, one who |
would follow as well as lead, one who had |
learned patience and forbearance, and the |
value of that greatness which consists in |
ruling his own spirit. 1t meant, in truth,
a good deal less dash and q good deal |
more sound, plain. common sense.
However. Nancy Earle did not know all |
this, and Beautiful Jim was either too
weak or had not the heart to tell her; so
she got him to promise that he would be |
sort of fairy-or at least regimental-
godfather to young Stuart, and try to |
keep him out Of harms way.
Pleasant taski