Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-04-02
CHAPTER XVI

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CHAPTER XVI
SECURITY
The Blankshire regiment was of to tho
cast 80 suddenly that but little leave,
even Of few hours length. could be
granted To its officers for the purpose OF
rl..iug farewells, Beautiful jim had
boon especially favore by the colonel and
Ill been granted permission to leave
E4nihampton only from 5 clock in the
afternoon LAtll officers call the following
tH,ug
naturally enough. all the officers wished
Z Lave the same privilege. but young
Imie was not among those who pressed
for H. so, as hc was anything but favor
ite with nis commanding officer. he was
not one Of those who were singled out to
receive il.
Ia truth. tho lad was anything but anx-
i1u3 TO 70 to Earles Hope. II his father
and sister had been in town it is probable
That he would have begged hard for leave
and have made his farewell to them and
other farpwulls at the same time. But
being at Earlcs Hope. and alone. Tommy
had no heart for begging favor of his
colonel. whom ho knew disliked him. that
he might 20 and face Nancy and all tho
airs and races sho would give herself on
recount Of what she knew about him.
No, and besides that, the way out of tho
difficulty was 50 easy. leave was SO diff
cult to got-in fact. next door to impossi-
bia-and by not asking with much anxiety
for it. he got passed over for those that
did. 50 that it was an easy matter to write
home that he was grievcd not to be able
to core and say good by. but that leave
was an impossible favor to obtain with SO
little service as he had
Unfortunately for the success Of this
wise calculation Beautiful Jim spent his
few hours ot leave in gong to Earles Hope,
arriving there late in the evening and
having but two hours to stay
And in answer to the old mans anx
ious inquiries he replied that he was
afraid LIrle had not the most remote
chance IN the world OF getting even six
hours leave out of Eiankhampton while
to Saucy he conLGed the fact that her
brother had not CJt leave because he had.
to his kuJvicd.,e. not asked forit.
Did he tell YOU so; She asked. Did
he give sou any especial message to my
father
Not he. my dearest. he never speaks to
me if he can help it, aud You can under
stand that don't exactly seek him out
as riy friend, Jim answered NO. the
The fact was tnoH-At. not being much
of u iayaritc with the chief that he might
have IA good deal Of difficulty in getting
that or ANY ether rri' lego, so when got
mine rat in a word for him thought
your father would cer,a inly be very anx.
ious to see him However. the colonel
cut my lint precious short If Earle
wants leave. jim. hu said sharply. he
can at least ask for it: and SO, OF course,
! hadn't any more to say. though
guessed from that that the young beggar
wasn't keen to come home al all.
Nancy understood her brothers feelings
well enough. she knew that he lacked
courage. after what Lad happened TO
come home and face his gallant old ia,
TIERS honest eyes she knew that be did
not dare to face her At oil.
Ii was, therefore, with pang Of dis
may that within ten minutes of saving
good bv to her Jim, Mr. Earle came to her
and told her hat he had given her maid
and Is t;l.ln orders 20 be ready to start
for blankhampton by the eaIiiest train in
the morning which passes Marchton'
(their nearest railway station) at twenty
minutes past q he ended. brslliy.
Nancy stare al him for II moment,
sill.ly speechless with -ufprise But
father. my dear she exclaimed. it will
inoek you Up altogether, you are not tit
for i;--yeG -
No,' enae--nonsen~e Ny only son
does not % of TO active service every
day, he answered, brusqucly. and time
IS precious. they leave blankhampton on
Thursday morning at 10 o'clock
So TO B,aHiful Jim $ unspeakable de
light aud to Tommy 3 unutterable dis
gust on the following morning. before
an; ono Of ,k' Hl1is hirc regiment had
SO u4uch t4 ;oll iir- 10 thinl; about any
thing 80 comfort abb. q; luncheon, Mr.. and
Nj In arrived az the infantry bar
rack, in Il hu-cl carriage
And Tommy looked as he felt-donc'
However. to Lad 10 excuse but TO go
through with the day Is hest he could
although lie wished himself siready In
Butmal over and over again, and fairly
hat ed Maze for the part which she
played giving Lin a limp hand for an in
slant without n shake In 1t. locking right
over bis head when she spoke to him,
giving him tho edge OF her jaw to kiss If
he wished to do So. Only once, indeed,
did she look at or speak 10 him fair or
strni int.
stuart, she said. sharply, when they
were luet back to town again, tho
colonel says You viii he free at 3 oclock
10 come AMI see us | want to SEQ you
aiore, No you understand
Can you arrange il lie asked sullily.
not daring to refuse.
Yes Mr. Deresfor,i is comiug at that
time also. and | Will take you into my
bedroom while | say SHAT want to say
to you. 1t will not take me more than
ten minutes
VERY well. " SAID he, CURLY.
Miss Earle looked at him-and she
knew him pretty well, SO was able to read
what was passing through his mind as
easily as if he had been book.
And don't attempt to shirk IT. she
said. sharply. because I've got something
to say TO you. and mean 10 say it before
you 90. Do you understands
'oh. perfectly" returned Tommy. with
sneer The sneer reused every feeling
of evil that had any foothoid In Nancy's
gentle heart. they were not many, but
thew were enough TO mako Tommy thor
oughly uncomfortable for the rest of that
day
If you fail 10 keep your tryst. she
said. coldly, our father knows every
thing before ! o'clock tonight" and then
she turned from him without another
word and rejoined the others. who were
walking toward the carriage
So almost before the clock a little way
up the High street had struck the hour.
young Tommy made his appearance IN the
sitting room which was for the time being
that of his father and sister, and few
minutes later was followed by his com
rade. Beautiful Jim
Then was Nancy's opportunity. nor did
she neglect 10 take advantage OF it. Oh.
Stuart. she said. in tone so admirably
easy and like her own that Beautiful Jim
was fairly startled and looked up quickly,
f..ll Ii.