Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-06-11

had Sat for quite five minutes with an
open letter on his knee.
'sBad news, Chrissr' he said cheerily.
"They are going to send force 70 Su-
akin, and my regiment has orders"
"Going to send Indian troops TO SUI
akimi Nonsense r cried Will; "they'll
never do that"
"They are going TO do it," answered
the Major, ''and my leave is cancelled in
consequencc--don't cry, Chriss; be
brave, like soldiers daughter" But
Christina was past being brave. She
chung to him and sobbed, and begged
him not to 90, till he had to grow stern,
and tell her not to be silly, and even
then it was all they could do to sooth
and quiet her again.
Major Wetheral was to join his regi-
mcnt at Suakim, and found that IL he
went by Brindisi he should have fort
night for preparations; and very busy
fortnight It was. Not only did he have
TO sec to his own affairs, but as he did
not shut his eyes to the probability of
meeting hls death in the war, he had to
make arrangements for his wards flu
ture.
eff anything happens to me, Chriss,
you will be made ward in Chancery,
he said to her one day. "But for the
present Mrs. Drayton will keep you with
her."
al seem always to be trouble"
sighed Chriss. "Shan't be drcadfully
in Mrs. Drayton's wayw
"Not bit. On the contrary, they
would be only too glad to keep you alto
gether. How would you like it, dearG"
Like staying here2" answered the
girl unsuspiciously. "Ohl they're very
kind, and am very fond of Janet and
May; but think would rather be some
where with you. guardian"
81 did not mean the girls, DEAR" said
the Major kindly. "Some one else wants
YOU" And then, as Christina looked up
surprised, he added. "Will Drayton has
been asking my leave to ask you to marry
him, little girl. What do you say to
that2"
Christina blushed. 81 don't know
she said doubtfullY. II never thought
about being married"
Il don't want you to marry unless you
wish it." said the Major gravely. "But
Will DraytOn is fine young fellow, and
would make good husband. You had
better think about it."
" Would you like me to marry him! g
asked the girl, with look Of decision
which was new to her.
81 should be glad to think that you
had some one to care for you in case OF
my death; but, as l said before, it is q
e.. 90 n
worry, little girl; some one else will turn
up one of these days"
But though. Major Wetheral tried t.
be cheerful, he felt anxious, for Chris
tinas simplicity and gentleness had wor
her a very warm place in his heart, and
it was hard to leave her without any one
to take care OF her. But Chriss had
made M her mind while he talked ia
her, and that evening, when Will Dray-
tan took her into the conservatory, she
knew what was coming, and prepared t.
please her godfather.
Il will marry you If you like" was
her answer to his appeal. 1.-The Major
says must marry somebody. But you
won't marry me just yet, will your and
there was frightened look in her blue
ewes WHICH w III w XIV
her rs much time as she liked.
So Major Wetheral started, and Chris
tina was left alone, and, strange to say
felt far moro lonely now. in spite OF heI
handsome lover. than she had done il
the old days, when her guardian wa
still an abstraction and lovers were un
known.
March had come in, and the Drayton
were in town, and had taken Christin'
with them. She was looking forward
eagerly to the gayeties which would fal
| to her lot after Easter, and was enjoying
various concerts and exhibitions all tn
more because Willis leave had come Il
an end, and he was with his regiment a
! Colchester.
They were an odd pair of lovers; a
first he had looked forward to having
nice little wife, whose pretty face wa
made more charming by the addition o
a large fortune; but since his engage
ment he had been falling deeper anc
deeper in love, and now wrote letters
and grudged every moment that he hat
to spend on his duties. and not in rush
ing up to town to sec her. AS to Chris
tina, she had developed far more char
acter than any one would ever have sus
pected of her-she was quieter, and he
merry, childish ways had given place t
a gravity which added womanliness L
her gentle manner. But il Will ha'
grown warmer, she was certainly colder
absolutely refusing to spend the evening
tete a-tete with him when he came NJ
for night; aud answered his long let
te.s with short notes once or twice
week. al can't help it, she said, whe
he reproached her. ~ can't make be
lieve, and hate spooning. II you be
have yourself will marry you some day
but il you want what / can't give you
we had better make an end of il"
The threat startled Will, who was IA
too much in love to risk the future, an
he put his feelings so far aside as TO be
have what his fiancee called ''quit
nicely" from Saturday till Monday, whe
he had to return to Colchester.
Chriss had taken to reading the paper:
and between careful study of the new
from the Suakim field-force and Majo
Wetheral's letters, had grown to be quit
an authority about the war; but no on
was prepared for the state of restles
misery that came over her when the bat
tie of Hasheen was telegraphed. No lis
of killed and wounded came with tn
first news, and she had to wait whs
seemed to her endless hours before tn
special editions of the evening paper
brought her what she had dreaded
bombay Cavalry Major Alfre