Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-11-20

the evening hours since sunday last. Thev
are full of vivacity and variety"
Zone sees a good deal of strange countrv
and many strange people in the course .,
ten or a dozen years service in the car.
airy"
.And must needs have good memorv
to be able to tell of it all-especially when
one recounts the same incident more than
once" And Miss Marshall's lips vera
twitching at the corners in a manner spv.
gestive of mischief and merriment eom.
bined
Lane paused for reply" Here was
evidently most observant young woman
.'Therel / did not mean to tax your low
atty to regimental comrade, captain. 81
you need not answer. Capt Noel Interests
and entertains me principally because n
his intense individuality and his entire
conviction that he carries his listeners with
him. Age cannot wltler nor custom stale
his infinite variety; but there should not
be quite so much variety in his descrin-
tions of single event This is the fourth
time have heard him tell of the night
ride from Carrizo's ranch to Canyon D-
ablo."
"You have the advantage of me, Miss
Marshall" answered Lane, his eyes twink
ling with appreciation Of her demure but
droll exposure of Noel's weak point. at ia
the first time / ever heard his version ofitp
sIt is the last time he will mention it in
your presence, il he saw the expression in
yeur face, Capt. Lane"
do those interpretive eyes of yours look
clear through and see out Of the back
of your head, Miss Marshally Your face
was turned toward him. You stopped
short in telling me of your cousin in the
artillery and your visit to the barracks,
and babe me listen to something did not
care half As much to hear as your own i'm
pressions of garrison life. Never mind the
quadruplex account OF the night ride Tell
me what you thought of the army
"Well of course, the first thing a girl
wants to know is what the shoulder strap
means; and | learned the very first day that
the blank strap meant second lieutenant.
single silver bar first lieutenant aud two
bars captain-that is, in the artillery.
Now, why his provoking distinction in the
cavalry Here's a captain with only one
bar, captain whose letters from the war
department come addressed to Lieut. Cor
don Noel"
''Nocl never speaks of himself as captain,
I'm sure" said Lane.
Neither 10 you; and for year past ever
since have known you by sight'-and
here a quick blush mounted to her temples
-.'you occasionally came to our church
YOU know, she FASTENED to explain-"you
have been referred TO as Lieut.. Lane or Nh.
Lane. bat we know you are a captain now,
for we saw the promotion recorded in the
Washington dispatches a fortnight ago
What was the date of Capt. Noel's eleva-
ton TO that grader | confess took him
for your junior in the service and ia years
too
.'Yes, Noel holds well to his YOUTH
answered Lane, smilingly.
"And abont the captaincyy"
"Nell, he is so very near it. and It is 50
apt to come any day, thar perhaps he thinks
it just as well 20 let people get accustomed
to calling in that Then he won't have
to break them all in when the commission
does come.
'srhen he is your Junior, Of course;"
"Only By d file or -. He entered the
service very soon after me"
But was not in your class at West
Pointy"
''No; he was not in my class
''In the next one. then, presume
Miss Marshall, is your first name Por-
tias should hate to be a witness whom
you had the privilege OF cross-eXamining
There are ladies learned in the law, and
expect to read of you as called 10 the bar
within a year or two
'Nevcr mind, Capt. Lane. l will askyou
nothing more about him. F"
mo, Miss Marshall, l presume that my
clumsiuess has rendered it totally uIneces-
sary.
That night, IS the guests were disper-
ing, Lane did what most of them entirely
omitted; he went over 70 the ii~rl and
babe Miss MARSHALL good night
Capt. Lane size SAID, u le5 Your par
don If have been too inquisitiye e.ld 100
critical, as / know have been; l1t you
have taught ne that You know howto
guard d comrade's failings from the world
VIII you not forgive womaa's weak
ness"
"There is nothing to forgive, Hiss Mar
shall. i hope sincerely that we may meet
again before ! 90 back 10 the regiment
And later, rs Lane was walking home
ward from a final peep at the dim light in
a certain window, he had time to think
how intolerlble that dinner would have
seemed had it not been for the accident
which placed that dark eyed governessW
his side