The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1889-01-03
CHAPTER v.
A nmFMMA

CHAPTER ".
A DILEMMA.
Then there was lull in the storm, and
the armies retired to winter quarters. This
gave Harry chance to make inquiries
about the Frobishams; but, though many
were acquainted with them, none could
give him the slightest clew to their where
sbouts, so nothing remained to him but to
trust to the chapter OF accidents which
had already afforded him two strange OPP
portunities of meeting members of the fam
lily in which he was so deeply interested
The months dragged YEARLY along; for
1t is one thing to spend the winter in gay
city, adored by the women, feted at ball
and party, and another to drono the days
away IN u squalid village, with no compan-
ionship but such as the barrack-room af-
forded, meeting the same faces every day
and going through the same dull rounds Of
duty. Some found refuge in cards and
drinking, gambling their pay away; others
turned TO study, but the few books they
possessed were ragged and dogseared by
constant lending; and all looked eagerly
forward to the stirring times that the
spring would bring them, even though
death himself was their herald. Harry's
fathers letters, too, worried him, for the
old man was beset with strong PRESENT.
ment Of evil, to be brought about by AL
phonse Lecroix, against whom he was per-
petually warning him. Then his constant
illusions to shat girl" were not Of a nature
TO be agreeable to one who loved her so
passionately that he would not believe it pos
siblc for her pure nature to do any wrong.
like these impetuous young fellows who
put their lady-loves on psdestals and make
goddcsses Of them. Their generous
natures are rarely deceived, for l notice
that such implicit devotion is usually re-
warded by tho browning blessing of good
womnn's love.
Pondering over such little troubles, Harry
sat one day in the squalid chamber of
cottage he had deemed himself fortunate TO
secure as quarters, when the door opened
and Gordon Grey entered. There was
sheepish, hang-dog look about the lads
face which caught Harry's eye at once-so
different from the bright abandon which
usually Illuminated the young fellows hand
some features.
"See here, Winthrop he blurted out,
without preface, as he flung himself on
Harry's bed, " Pm in hole.n
There was such q climax of comical dis
trcss in the expression, that Harry could
hardly repress smile.
ooh, you needn't grin. Pm regularly
freed There's nothing left for me, as far
rs l can see, but to just go and blow my
brains out unless"
swell, unless.n
"You can let me have two hundred dol
lars and ask no questions what want it
for.n
Harry looked at his young lieutenant
curiously, but not unlsindly
Two hundred dollars is a large sum- he
SAID, gravely, sand must know what you
want it for, or shall not feel like lending
1t to you. Besides, / haven't such an amount
by me, and should be driven to borrow it
FROM
"Oh, no, you wouldn't Gordon inter-
rrpted, eagerly, " Chatterton said he d take
your note of hand, if -
$50 you have fallen into the clutches Of
that unprinclplcd scoundrel.n Harry burst
forth in righteous Indignation. CATER all
my warnings, too; oh, Gordon Grey, this is
too badl''
~ did not know
"You did When you told me that you
had been seduced into that gambling den of
a canteen, l told you what the endwould be.
II you had listened to me-
ooh, yes, know But, Harry, l was
dipped so deeply that / was obliged to make
an effort to win back my losings, and
"You thought they would give you a
chance to do SO; yes, just such chance as
a kitten would have of getting redress from
pack of terriers"
"Why, Harry, they are officers"
~ know it,; and thank God there are few
such black sheep among us. Well, they
will have in this case to wait for their plum
der, for won't help you"
But they won't wait"
"They must. What can they do.'
"Chatterton says that if do not take up
my notes this very day, he will send them
to his brother to collect from my mother"
"Pshawl You are a minor, and she is
not responsible for your gambling debts.n
"Oh, Harry, you do not know her. She
has scrimped and saved out of her small
means to send me money; and she would
beggar herself rather than blemish should
lie on her boys character. Not pay! l
know she'd starvc herself TO raise the sum,
If it were ten times as much, and never
whimper at the sacrifice"
Winthrop's blood was up.
Stay where you arc, Grey, for the next
houror two. viii mako settlement with
these fellows, y he said, sternly.
"Do not 60 yet" Gordon interposed.
ssYou do not quite understand. could not
bear the disgrace Of letting them think l
lost my money and then squealed to you.
That would be worse than
Letting your mother pinch herself to
pay your disreputable debts.n
Nevertheless, Harry had no intention Of
belittleing the boy in the eyes of his COM