Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-05-31
CHAPTER XVII.
OFF TO THE AIRS.

By JOHN STRANGE WINTER
CHAPTER XVII
OFF TO THE WARS
Quite crowd was gathered at the STA
lion the following morning 10 see the gal
liant Blankshire regiment 60 of TO the
wars. There was Mrs. Barnes with all
her children; aid little Mrs. Seton. as
brisk and as bright as bee. laughing as
loudly as if parting with her major was
cno Of the best jokes In the world, though
TO more than one who knew her best the
laughter had an uncommonly suspicious
ring about It, and lad a culver through
lis ripping thrill which told Of tears not
very far away. And there were the Char
tprhouses aud the STATIONS and the Mar
Gus Orfords, oil come to do the last hon
ors 10 their friends, husbands and wives
alike profoundly thankful that the for
tune Of war had not called upon them to
leave home and all they loved behind and
20 ont TO fight for queen and country in
he tropics. And there was the handsome
dean, chsery and full Of good wishes, and
lovely Aileen. holding fast by Nancy
Earle's hand, as if she was afraid she
should break down if she did not hold it
tight enough.
Nancy understood so well what the
pressure meant, and once or twice turned
her sweet doves eyes upon her friend,
Just to show her that there were no tears
there, and that she need have no fears for
her composure. And last OF all there was
Mr.. Earle. tall and straight and command.
ing in presence, with his handsome old
facc Scf iil.a n poocc ani his 1ybita hair
well brushed and spruce as ever. All.
but it was terrible wrench for him,
parting with his only son on such an er
rand; and almost at the same moment
thought flashed into the minds OF Nancy
and Beautiful Jim alike, thought
which said. ALAS! he is so old, SO frail.
and his belief in his only son is so grea,
am SO glad we kept silence. for though
it is pang for us-knowledge would have
held the bitterness of death for him."
almost unconsciously Nancy slipped
Eer hand within his arm and chung to il;
but the old man mistooli her meaning
Don't give way, my DEAR" he whispered;
''let them see the Earles can give up their
best for queen and country-even the
heir"
He had forgotten her interest in Beau
tiful Jim; he only remembered that his
boy, his heir, the last Of his name, was
off for the wars, and might never Come
back.
Nancy dropped the arml She forgot
nothingi
Not that the old man noticed anything.
He was intently watching for tho last
glimpse Of the handsome young face Of
his only son, and as the train moved
slowly out Of the station amid cheers and
la FRA 1< ,.of, %o
the gay and jolly strains of THE Girl
Left Behind Me. no gave a great gasping
sigh, which melted Nancys momentary
anger and made her clasp his arm tighter
than ever.
And then little Mrs. Seton, who had
iokcd and laughed and cheered and waved
with the best rs long as her faithful
majors head was thrust out Of the car
rage window, suddenly created diver.
fiscment by breaking down altogether
into such a passionate torrent Of tears,
that even the dullest of those who had
wondered at what they called her 'spirits
but o few moments before, wondered no
longer. but said among themselves, as
they wiped their own eyes, what q brave
little woman she was, and what treas.
urc the big major possessed in her.
''Oh, am going out at once" the little
woman was saying brokenly at that mo-
mcnt to the sympathetic woman on whose
breast she had poured out all her long
pent up feelings. "He said wasn't TO-
but shall. Why, he might be wounded
out there. or III, and who would nurse
him, wonderf He never can bear any
ono but me about him, il he's only got {
headache. But, al the same. when YOU W
never done anything for yourself in al
your life, and never even gone long
journey alone, it's no Joke to face going
ont to India, or still worse to Burmah
without . soul to help you to do thing
Nancy Earle. who was standing by,
took her hand. my DEAR" shc whis
pcred. ''believe me, it's far harder when
you are so placed that you cannot 60 out
whatever happens, when you know that
even ii you hear the worst and you feel
you are wanted ever SO badly, you are
bound ct home by ties and restrictions
which you cannot break. Oh! it il moth.
ting TO let ones husband go, compared
with the Quo who is everything and yet
nothing to you"
Mrs. Seton dried her eyes and looked
up ''Yes, he told me good deal about
it. dear" she said, kindly. and with
scarcely more than faint sob catching
her breath. land be sure II be is in need
j
thing for him for his own sake, but I'll dc
it for yours as well now, 1 promise YOU
How good you arc, Nancy whispered,
fervenfly. small wonder he is SO fond OF
you. Mrs. Se(on. Some day, perhaps,
shall be able to do something for you, and
i'll ever can-oh. how shall jump st the
chance of being able to do ii"
By this timo the people were gradually
clearing out Of the station, aud as the
handsome dean had given his sturdy arm
to Mr.. Earle, Nancy and Aileen followed
in their wake with Mrs. Seton.
The dean was trying hard to persuade
tho old naan TO abandon his idea Of return.
ing home that dsy, and to change his
quarters from the Golden Swan TO the
more luxurious ease and quietude OF the
Deanery: for. as he said. 1T win be q
change for you. and II yon 60 home ct
once you will nope and get thinking Of
danger to tho boy, when - get no danger
exists; and besides, you do not know
Blankhampton at all. though there is Z
good deal that is well worth seeing hero,
and there must be . great many people IN
the neighborhood whom you know more
or less we'll.
But Mr.. Earle was obdurate!
One more night, however, be did con.
sent to remain at the Golden Swan, and
he also promised to dine at Mrs TrafIords s,
10 meet select but hurriedly gathered
together company: and q soon Is he and
Nancy had finished their somewhat early
lunch. he told her that he was going to
keep himself very quiet until dinner time.
and that he did not wish to be disturbed.
Nancy. therefore, put on her hat and
went to see her friend, Aileen, who was
tired too with the exertions Of the morn
Ing. SO the two girls dawdled away
the l0ely September afternoon on the
terrace Of the Deanery. In company. after
MI hour or 80. with the girls from the
residence and one or two men from the
cavalry barracks, who had found their
way thither don't quite know how.
Then came the evening, spent Is
brightly and gayly-for little Mrs. Traf.
ford knew how to make her parties 70 of
well and her guests enjoy themselves,
none better-as IL the scenc 1t the sta.
ton that morning had been the beginning
OF bridal tour for some especially fort
innate young couple. rather than setting
out OF some OF their nearest and dearest
to undergo the horrors Of war. And to
more than one 1t was q welcome relief
from tho drcary process Of sitting down
CHAPTER XVIII
NEWS AT LAST
III Nancy likes to como back to see
you all when l am comfortably settled
In town." Mr.. Earle said to Lady Margaret
and her daughter during tho course of
81