The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-21
LII RIGHTS RESERVED
BY HAWLEY SMART,

4 lucy hAC q low lOts ANctig caiO Vic
speaker; they only came in about
six or seven weeks ago. Papa has
but just called, and haven't met any Of
them yet. Besides, you know, in common
decency for those who have gone; the -th
were a very nice lot of fellows and very
popular; we really must, so to speaB, wear
mourning for them little"
'tMore than they will do for you, my
DEAR" replied her companion, laughing.
''Solders and sailors are marvellous hands
at quick transfer of the affections"
"Ah, well, | don't suppose there's much
harm done on either side. Singed wings
here and there, no doubt; but for most of
US only many pleasant dancing party to
/ look back upon, and genuine regret that
no more. This looks promising for
tie new corners. AS long as regiment
has some go in them, there's always hope
| for US. A very pretty taste in balls and
| picnics / have noticed often accompanies
| sporting tendencies, but when we get a
regiment that does nothing, as now and
| again we do. Ughln and Miss Smerdon
shrugged her pretty shoulders, as much as
to say no words could express her feelings
| for the British soldier who socially failed to
do his duty.
A tall, good-looking girl, with a profu
sion of wavy brown hair, Miss Smerdon
was considered beauty in her own part OF
the country. She was the only daughter
of wealthy iron master, and in spite Of
her having two brothers, she was likely, if
not an heiress, yet TO bring her husband
very substantial dowry. she was popu-
lar girl, and no one could say that Francis
Smerdon was deficient in go" Elderly
ladies sometimes shook their
heads over her doings. and whispered
bold and fast" behind their fans;
but for all that there was no real harm in
hnr hav iOSO il ffxh 80
perhaps a'little too given to defy couven-
tionalities, but her escapades when looked
into were of q very venial nature, and more
prompted by her love of fun than anything
else. She enjoyed life keenly, as well ste
might, with both youth and wealth at her
call, and threw herself into whatever she
was doing with all her heart How she and
Nellie Lynden had become such intimate
friends was rather a puzzle to their ac>
quaintances. The latter lived in Manchester,
but was in the habit of paying long visits
to Monmouthshire, where some half-dozen
miles from Newport Mr. Smerdon had
handsome country seat.
mo! don't let him drive on, Frances, we
are in no hurry. and l want to see
that officer come back again. l don't know
what he IS trying to do, but am interested
in it. feel sure he will do it, whatever it
is.'
''Stay where you are Prichard." replied
he other, laughing. I'VE wish to see lit
le more Of this match"
well" size continued, turning to her
friend "Lovo at first sight we've heard of,
but faith at first sight such as yours have
never yet met with. Why such belief in
this unknown Pedestrian
''lt's a striking face" rejoined Nell Lyn-
den. II don't mean particularly handsome
one, but a more resolute, bull dog one l
never saw. He was i'll distress when he
passed US, but that man will do the task he
has set himself. or drop by the wayside."
And now once more Fleming and his
three or four attendants passed close to
their carriage. He keeps side by side with
his mentor, and there Is a ser, logged look
on his face, which. pale though it is. shows
no sign Of fiinching. He is evidently very
beat, but there can be little doubt that he
will go on to the bitter end, and it is evident
to the lockers on that Byng is determined
he shall. To do the latter justice it is not
his own stake on it that he is thinking Of,
but his blood is up. he has identified himself
with bis protege and he Is resolved he shall
win. He has made up his mind TO take the
last ounce out Of his man just as he would
out of his horse in riding Furnishing finish.
He has spared himself not a whit since he
came upon the scene and has walked six
teen miles by his friends side only four
miles more to go, and If his protege
can but keep at the pace he's going, the
match will be won, with five or six minutes
to spare. The excitement wakes intense as
the finish draws near. Win or lose, it is a
match, and must be very close thing. 1t
| takes all Byng can do to keep his man up to
! the requisite pace, and there can be no
| doubt that, left to himself, Fleming would
have imperceptibly slackened in that mat
Ter. 1t is very hard for beaten man to
| keep both his eye on the watch and regu-
| la To ov,aad ct ha Tina
pathies of the regiment, and even of tine
! lookers-on who had come out of the neigh
| boring town to see the finish of such a sport
ing affair, are all with Fleming. The public
| always wish success to the man who backs
himself in anything OF this sort. 1t re-
| quires pluck to perform such an arduCus
| task, and that is a thing which always en-
lists the sympathies of Englishmen. Even
| Brydon could not resist the excitement.
"Upon my word, - he exclaimed as the
last mile but one was begun, i think he'll
win. 1t will cost me a couple of hundred
ii he does. but l can't help hoping he will.
We don't know much of each other till q
pinch comes, that's certain. Who'd have
thought that Hugh Fleming had such stuff
In him."
But this mile Byng had no little trouble
to get bis protege along. Now aud again
Fleming stumbled in his walk The truth
is he was suffering from one Of the most
severe trials TO which a man is exposed in a
long walk of this nature. His feet were
giving way, which means that before long
the walk must be reduced to hobble, and
that to crawl mile within half an hour
will be about all that he can accomplish
He had lost two minutes in spite of al
| Byng's exertions over the last, and there
remained to him but eighteen minutes in
which to walk the concluding mile.
The young ladies had fingered to see the
finish Of the match, and as Fleming passed
their carriage for the last time with still
half mile to get, Nell Lynden turned tc
her friend and said:
Nov let's go home, Frances. He'll do IL
but wish we hadn't stopped to watch hin
20 by this time Poor fellow, he is suffering
terribly. could see his lips twitch as ht
. passed u.s."
They we'll might, for to say nothing Of
being dead beat, Hugh Fleming was expe
, riencing the sensations of a cat on no
bricks every time he put his feet to The
ground, Pritchard turned his horses round
and in accordance with Miss Smerdon's in
; structions drove leisurely homeward.
But ere they had gone far the sounds Of {
. ringing cheer fell family on their ears, anC
: told them that Hugh Fleming mad won his
match. 1t had been a close shave, but thu
: fifty miles had been completed with twt
= good minutes to spare.
ga fine thing, and a pretty match" sale
Byng, "but tell you what, Brydon, if he'C
only had week in which TO harden his feet