The Portland daily press., 1891-07-24
SOLD FOR A SILK RAG.
[London Society,"

the officers of the One Hundred and
Twenty-fourth was in full swing. The
large dining room of the mess bungalow
had been turned out and decorated as a
ballroom.
Supper was laid in tent hard by, and
now, at 11:45, the guests were assembled
round the well supplied tables.
The One Hundred and Twenty-fourth
always did things well, but tonight they
surpassed themselves, for the general Of
the division was present. He was IA
vorite with them all, and they delighted
to do him honor. He very rarely gave
them the benefit of his company in holi-
day time, but this was special occasion
. necessity had obliged him to make a
tour of inspection at this season.
isn't it rather rash of us choosing
this night of all others for keeping late
hoursT whispered pretty girl to her
partner, as she drew off her long white
gloves preparatory to tasting the savory
mock turtle.
ut won't matter for once in way"
he replied; "you need not get up till you
please"
"IndeedI And do you suppose for a
moment that could let our regiment
parade on New Years morning without
being present? You must have q poor
opinion of my esprit de corpsl OF course
shall get up. Six o'clock, isn't it?"
"a quarter past"
The handsome young fellow by her
side looked down into her eyes. and
whispered something which brought the
color to her cheeks. His manner, too.
was suggestive Of happy appropriation,
and stranger would have guessed at
the existence of stronger bond between
the two than friendship.
They were not engaged, though they
were both desperately in love with each
other.
Alasl the course of true love did not
run smooth in their case. A stern father
barred the road to bliss and caused poor
Aimee many heartaches and tears.
But Captain Hamilton was an auda-
cious lover. Such trifle as the opposi-
ton Of stern parent troubled his mind
but little. Truth to say, it rather added
to the zest of his courtship. Even at
this moment the eye Of the unsympa-
thetic colonel was upon the young
couple with strong disapproval.
The murmur of voices round the SUD-
per table increased. Under the cover of
the noise Aimee said:
II wishyou wouldn't talk like that;
you know it is of no use."
81 know nothing of the Sort" he re-
piled quickly. "Did you ever meet
soldier who was frightened off the field
in love or war? Your father will not be
able to subdue me with a stare"
HE is looking SO annoyed"
my little darling you need not be so
alarmed Eat good supper and drink
your champagne, then you will be bet
ter prepared to listen to all have to say
tonight-and have a great deal to say"
he concluded impressively.
She gave him quick, apprehensive
glance.
"Oh, George" she protested.
you heard the good news this morn
ing-that have got my step? Here, try
some of this pate de foie gras aspic; it
looks uncommonly good"
He helped her as he spoke. He was q
most self possessed man, this Captain
Hamilton-quite capable of making a
good supper and love at the same time.
Eyes, was told, and am very glad.
l congratulate you. 1t will compensate
little for your having left the regiment
to go into the staff corps. / wonder why
father hates the staff corps SOP"
Because it robs him of his most prom
ising youngsters. How bitterly opposed
he was to my going; and all because he
thought that in the far, far distance l
might make good adjutant to the regi-
ment. l have been adjutant of the Fiji
tieth N. l. for the last two years, and
now have got my STEP"
"Yes; l suppose that in a pecuniary
way you have done WE'LL" andshe sighed.
He lowered his voice and said impress
sively:
Aimee, l can afford to keep a wife
now"
But the girl looked distressed at his
words, and the suspicion of a tear
dimmed her eye
"Oh, George, my father will never
give his consent. You know that he
never will"
HE shall give his consent; l intend to
make him. See if l don't, you poor
frightened little darlingl Do you think
stern fathers are never conquered? Only
you must have patience Here, have
some more champagne, and some of this
trife. There's nothing like good meal
to build up ones courage. Hellol what
are they doing now? Oh, 10 o'clock, is
1t? Silence for the c. o. and the
general"
Glasses were filed, speeches were
made and the gong tolled out the hour.
Then each turned to his neighbor and
good wishes were exchanged. The babel
of voices recommended with the usher
ing in of the new year.
Very shortly arUerward captain nam
ilton was plotting his companion from
the tent to dimly lighted little ante
room. There, wholly hidden by large
group of crotons. he had his say
His 'lovemaking, like kis soldering,
was untainted by timiditycs faint heart
edness. 1t was useless for Aimee to
doubt or fear; he would listen to moth
ing. Unable to resist his pleading, she
caught something of his hope and enthu-
siasm, and gave herself UP to the enjoy
ment Of the hour.
IA last kiss, and then one turn around
the room before that waltz finishes" said
Ieorge, with happy sigh.
But 1t was not to be. Gentle Mrs. Bar
ing approached her daughter with a
troubled face.
"Oh, Aimee, have been looking for
you everywhere. Your father saws that
we must go home He has managed TO
take cold, and is already quite choking,
1t is SO trying, because he must b, on
parade tomorrow morning. The general
will be there, and he cannot get off it,"
Colonel Barring, who commanded the
One Hundred and Twenty-fourth. was
not the man to shirk his duty. His onlv
anxiety now was to get home and apply
the usual remedies, in the earnest hope
that the troublesome ailment might be
STAYED off. He was annoyed that the
necessity had risen for turning his back
on his guests. He would have liked to
have seen the ball out. He was also an
noyed with the attentions Captain Ham
ilton had shown his daughter at supper,
and the coffee was aggravated by the
disappearance of the young couple i'm
mediately afterward. This, together
with his embryo cold, conduced to bad
temper, and made the drive home any
tmng but pleasant for wife and daugh-
ter.