The Forrest City times., 1891-11-20
SOLD FOR A RAG.

gay military stations of the Central provinces India. The ball, given by the officers of the One Hundred and Twenty fourth was in full swing. The large dining room of the mess ounCs- low had been turned out and decorated as ballroom.
 Supper was laid in tent hard ey. and now. at 11:l5. the guests ws=e assembled round the well supplied tables.
 The One Hundred and Tweaty -sols-sA always did things well b0s so-nAses they surpassed themselves for sAs general of the diviSloa was present He was fayorita with theE all and they delighted to do him kocor- He very rarely gave them the eeoe1t oE his company in holiday times bat tnls was . special caslea-nscesslEy had obliged him s1 make a soa- Of inspse- tion at this season
 Isn't it rather rash of gs choosing this night of all others for keeping late hourss" whispered pretty girl to her partner. as she drew of her long white gsoves preparatory to tasting the savory mock turtle.
 1t won't matter for e in a way, he replied; .you need not get up till you please
 s.Indeedi And do you suppose for a moment that I could let our regi- meut parade on New Years morning without being present? You must have a poor opinion of my esprit de corps. Of course shall get up Six o'clock, isn't itsn
 "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 appro. guessed at the existence of a stronger bond between the two than friendship.
 They were not engaged, though they were both desperately in love with each other.
 Alas. 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 trile as the op- position of stern parent troubled his mind but little Truth to say. it rather added to the zest of his court ship. Even at this moment the eye of the unsym pathetic colonel was upon the young couple with strong disap- proval
 You heard the good news this morning l have got my step? Here try some of this pate de foie gress aspic; it looks uncommonly good.
 He helped her as he spoke He was a most self-possessed man; this Capt Hamilton quite capable of making good supper and love at the same time.
 'Yes. I was told and am very glad. l congratulate you. It will compensate little for your having left the regiment to go into the staff corps. l wonder why father hates the staff corps sop
 Because it robs him of his most promising youngsters. How bitterly opposed he was to my going; and all because he thought that in the far, far distance l might make a good adjutant to the regiment I have been adult ant of the Fiftieth N. I. for the last two years and now have got my step"
 lies; suppose that in a pecuniary way you have done well;" and she sighed.
 He lowered his voice and said im- pressively:
 Aimee l can afford to keep a wife now"
 But the girl looked distressed at his words, and the suspicion of tear dimmed her eye.
 "Oh, George my father will never give his consent You know that he never will"
 He shall give his consent; I intend to make him. See if don't, you poor frightened little darling Do you think that stern fathers are never con- queredP Only you must have patience. Here have some more champagne, and some of this trihe There's nothing like good meal to build up ones courage. Hello! what are they doing nowa Oh. F o'clock is 1t? Silence for the c. o. and the general"
 Glasses were filled short speeches were made. and the gong tolled out the hour. Then each turned to his neighbor and good wishes were ex- changed. The babel of voices recom- menced with the ushering in of the new year.
 But it was not 10 be- Gentle Mrs Barring approached her daughter with troubled face
 '-Oh. Aimee l have been looking for you everywhere. Your father says that We must go home. He has managed to take cold. and is already quite choking. It is so trying, be- cause he must be on parade tomorrow morning. Tho general will be there. and he can not get of 1t.
 The English troops were drawn up in line. and on their left the native regiments were in position. All was ready fer the eagle eye of the general Col Barring pulled up as he reached the ground. The general had not ye, arrived It was relief and respite. for 1t would give him time to blow that much-a afflicted nose of his once