The times., 1890-08-08


came OUT of it with very pretty penny
to the good.'
''Well, Of course, Harris, you must
know more about it than do. But You
cannot be gladder than am to hear that
Vincent's status is so much better than
we supposed. I'm glad on his account, I'm
glad on Regis account, and I'm particu-
larly glad on Miss Mabel's account. And
now TIA particularly chuckling over
Billy Rossiter's frame of mind when he
hears the REAL truth of this matter.
When he went after her to Rome last
year, and everybody supposed that Vim
cent was worth million, there's DO
doubt in the world that he did his best
to win her, and that was what he was
sent abroad by his father to do. But he
didn't win her then, for she strenuously
denied any engagement when she came
back here; yet it was supposed that if
he persevered his chances would be good.
Wky, he's not half bad fellow, only he
can't marry so long as he is in his fa-
theirs employ and dependent on him, un-
less he marries according to his fathers
wishes; and the old man called him off
just as soon as he found out that Vim
cent was on the verge Of failure. Billy
Rossiter has lost any chance that he
might have had in that quarter, for she'll
never look at him again."
"Serve him right, il that be the case.
Any man who hasn't sense enough to
stick to girl who is bright and pretty
as Mabel Vincent, rich or poor, deserves
no luck at all in this world. But that
reminds me, Capt. Noel, according to
rumor and what the girls say in society
--and you know they generally know
pretty much everything that is going on
there is something more than mere
understanding between her and your
predecessor here, the recruiting officer,
Capt. Lane. Did he say anything about
it to your
"No, not word. think, though,
that had there been anything in the
story Lane would have let me know
something about it, for we are very old
and intimate friends. Did you say that
that was Mr.. Reginald Vincent who has
| just gone into the billiard room?"
EYES," answered Mr.. Morris, "that's
he. Would you like to know him?'
Very much indeed and if you've
nothing better to do come in and pre-
sent me. Perhaps he will want to play
game of billiards, and if so Pm his
man."
And so it happened that that very
morning Gordon Noel was presented to
Reginald Vincent, and when Regy went
home to luncheon he spoke enthusias-
| Of iv,fo
whom he pronounced to be one of the
most delightful fellows he had ever met
anywhere, and who was such warm
and devoted friend of Capt. Lane. II
want, if / meet him this afternoon, as /
| probably shall, to bring him back to
dinner with me. What say you, mother?
| just informally"
Don't you think it would be better to
! wait day or two, and have little din
| ner, and invite few friends to meet
him.? asked Mrs. Vincent. "Your faith
er, perhaps, would like to be consulted in
the matter. I've no doubt that he would
like to do something to show attention
to any friend of Capt. Lane. What do
| you think, Mabel?
81 vote for both," replied that young
woman, with much alacrity.. 81 have
met Mr.. Noel twice."
Capt. Noel, DEAR" said Regy, "Capt.
| Noel"
"He is not q captain yet, Reginald; !
happen to know from the regimental
roster; have copy upstairs that Capt.
Lane very kindly left me-" And here a
| decided flush stole over the fair cheeks
Of the young lady. Il learned good
| deal about the officers Of the regiment
from Mr.. Lane-Capt. Lane-while he
was here. Mr.. Noel ranl second among
| the lieutenants of tn regiment. AS
| Capt. Lane said, he is so very near his
| captaincy that perhaps he accepts the IL
tie that you all give him at the club as
only trife premature"
"Well, captain or lieutenant, it doesn't
make any difference" said Regy, i'm
pulsively; "he's mighty good fellow,
and mighty good friend of your friend
Capt Lane, and if you have no objection,
mother, I'll bring him around to dinner
tonight, and then perhaps we might go
to the theatre afterward. I'm very sure
that Capt Noel will enjoy it. Fact is,
he enjoys everything. Everybody in the
club is perfectly delighted with him.
You ought to hear him sing an Irish song
or tell French story! I'll try and get
him started when he comes here. He's
wonderful mimic; and he's so full of in
formation about their service on the
frontier. Now, Lane so seldom spoke of
anything of the kind but Noel will talk
for hours at time about the wonderful
country through which they have
secuted and fought, and all that they
have been through in their campaigns.
BY Jove! but that fellow has seen lot
of hard service, and has been through
some hairbreadth escapes!"
"Who:" inquired Mrs. Vincent: "Capt.
Lane or Mr.. Noel?'
"Noel, of course-Noel I'm speaking of.
Lane, no doubt, saw u great deal of SER
vice with the regiment; but Noel says
he was adjutant so much of the time,
and on other staff duty, while he (NoeD
was almost necessarily scouting, hunting
after various Indian parties, and being
ON the warpath, as he laughingly ex-