The record-union., 1891-03-22
A LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT.

hills on the Dartmouth side, when two
otncers OF the One Hundred and First
Regiment strolled across the glacis from
the citadel.
Lieutenant Henry and Colonel Law
renee. though occupying different po-
sltlons IN the army, We're sworn friends.
Ihelrs was no ordinary friendship; it
dated from the Egyptian war, when
Henry had quickly thrown his cloak
over treacherous Arabs saber, pointed
at the Colonel's back, Henry receiving
half OF the thrust intended for Lawrence.
On this day, in June, 1882, Lieutenant
Henry's face was a study in shadows,
and the shadows were the deepest in his
brown eyes. The Colonel c.latted on in
his lively way for ten minutes before he
noticed his friends abstraction, then he
stopped short and, linking his arm in
Henry's, he said:
'Old fellow, what is troubling you?
You are blue-in the doldrums surely.
You have not spoken six words since
drill. Has the fair lass of Devonshire
said nay to your wooing? If so, her sis
ter Will have a negative for me, for /
verify believe l am only travelling on
your passport to favor. Come, tell me
what is troubling you; trouble when
shared between two, like saber-cuts, is
less sharp"
'"reIl you; yes," replied Henry. "I
have made arrangements to sell out of
the army
sell outr' echoed his companion !;
what under, the canopy, may ask, are
you going to do that for, when you know
your men just idolize your"
''No help for it, said Henry, bitterly
II have no alternative, Wycherly of the
navy, my cousin, you know, has fore
closed on mortgage on the home estate
in Sheffield. | have lost on all the polo
races, as you know, and am in no end of
fix all around. My uncle Judge Nc
Lennen, who died, left all to Wycherly,
and | really expected something, for / am
his own nephew and my cousin is not.''
"Wycherlyi Ah,'' said the Colonel
Is that not the fellow you helped out of
that scandal in Willow Park bank en-
beZzlement? Did you not make good
every cent2''
don't think it was generosity on my part.
did 1t to save the family, and blood is
thicker than water"
Ills must be watery now or else he
would help you in your embarrassment"
returned the Colonel.
"He-he has reasons, L suppose" said
Henry. He is in love with Margory
Burke, and well you know am, too''
And the mean coot is trying to square
accounts that way, by putting you in
beastly hole. He is cad, excuse me if
he is your cousin, which | never will be-
heve. You two are no more alike than
dove and . buzzard." And the Colonel
puffed his cigar savagely.
II have thrown up the game and expect
my papers Tomorrow" said Henry.
Too late for me to help. Why did you
not tell me before,u said his friend. "You
might have trusted me-"
= 1t was not because did not trust you
but was waiting for dead mems shoes,
and they did not fit,' said Henry as he
saluted the Colonel and passed up tree
shaded walk to his quarters in the old
government building.
The Colonel went on his way thought
ful and sad. He was fond Of Hugh
Henry and would have done anything to
help him If he had known in time. Now
II he left the service they might never
meet again, and the Colonel owed his life
to him.
Hugh walked to his room in the old
building that had been the residence of
one of the generals in the Crimea-now
1t was used as officers mess and quarters
Once when a fire alarm was sounded the
cry was, 1.-The Generals corner is on
fire" (which corner?p asked a wac.
Occupying a corner lot, it had always
been referred to in that way.
fhe next day Henry expected his
papers, and on that date he had promised
TO be one Of party for fishing excursion
on the bay. Pretty Marjory Burke, who
had won his heart, was to be one of them.
He was too unselfish to spoil his
friends pleasure, so intended p0cketing
his troubles and go on q pleasure trip
AS civilian he would not have the time
or money for fun, and he thought, and
rightly so, that regimentals were surer
passports to ladies' favor than a civilians
suit; and he was not conceited enough to
think they only liked him because he
was an all-round good fellow. Indeed.
he fully expected to be wanderer
and exile from the halls of pleasure,
and penniless he could have moth
ing to do with love or a life of do
nestic ease. He had a fine education and
clerical ability, so that now must be of
service to him. But he dreaded leaving
the old city that he had grown attached to
in his terms of military service, and he
felt tugging at his heart-strings at the
thought Of leaving it.
He reached his ROOM and throwing
himself in chair with his head down on
small table, ne gave his mind to the un-
welcome thoughts that thronged it.
Leave the old city that guarded with
pride the beautiful harbor, with towering
citadel, the broad tree-shaded streets and
fine parade grounds, where oft in mill
tary review and sham fights his heart had
thrilled with pride at the spectacle of his
well-trained men and comrades at arms
How he would miss the sight of the water
fronts, the sailors with their caps well
back on their heads bearing their ships
names, the navy-like precision of man
aging their boats and shipping oars when
conveying visitors to the men-of-war
atloat; how often he had enjoyed the hops
on board, or the rowing around these
huge leviathans and listening to the band,
or the sailors singing as they rested on
the black bulwarks. How he would
miss all the dear familiar ways, even the
drill. He raised his head and looked
with dim eyes at the signal halyaris on
the citadel, watched mechanically the
little dark ball travelling skyward and
unroil the brave flag that he loved. A
signal gun was fired and the citadel guns
responded.
Another war ship in, troop ship, too.
And he had always been interested in
the landing of troops and meeting new
.,.en, and hearing the band play them
into quarters. These things, simple in
themselves, had all gone into the life he
led. He must leave all. Why? Be-
cause he had been reckless, improvident
and generous to friend or foe. And there
was not one to help him; even sweet
faced Marjory Burke, whose smile had
dreams at night, could not help or COM
fort him. She never knew how dear she
was to him, and he felt one ray of COM
tort in the thought that she would be
spared the pain and modification at the
mglorious ending of his military career.
He sat there till the bell rang for mess;
he needed it not. Daylight waned, and
the sable garment of night swept in folds
over the city. And though electric lights
gleamed out like gems that adorned the
Guys crown, the citadel and though
hours passed till the officers call re-
sounded rthe city, and the schoolboys'
hlocklng words in adoption to the bugle