The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-06
CHAPTER XIII.
TIE ROYAL REVIEW


Madame "Vashta" had been very thor
ough-going in her vengeance and had
written Hugh ample details of the
treachery exercised toward him as regards
his correspondence. She was too clever
woman to vilify MademoiseIle Ivanhof to
quite the extent she had done in her letter
to Byng.
"These men are so foolish, she had said
to herself. "If place the whole turpltude
of her character before him. he might be
hot-headed enough to champion her. soshe
had confined herself to innuendoes as re-
Qarded Mademoiselle Ivanhoffs character,
but had been very clear and distinct IN her
account of the tampering with his letters.
He was unite aware, from the talk he had
heard amongst Russian officers, that
Nademoiselle Ivanhof had rendered her
self little notorious by her numerous
tendresses, but that she should have dared
TO keep back his letters made Hugh very
angry. That the fair "Vashta'' had calou-
lated upon, but, having still some fears of
his infirmity of purpose, she had further
arranged that he should meet his English
comrades at the church.
Hugh employed the day in buying q
pony, and in making preparations for his
departure. He had heard that there was a
party of English officers in the town, but he
had not seen them, and did not know
whether they belonged TO his old regiment
or not. He would go back with them If
they were returning at once, but go back he
would without further delay.
Marie had kept her room closely all day,
and though he had been in and out of the
house he had not seen her since. He would
fain have said ''good-by," and not parted
with her in anger, but he would not 50 far
retreat from his position of righteous wrath
as to solicit an interview, and without seeing
her again. he set forth as his correspondent
had directed, for the church at which he was
assured he should meet his compatriots.
Byng was awaiting him, and after ex-
changing hearty hand grip, the two made
their way outside and commenced to pace
up and down in the moonlight.
II thought perhaps it might be you. |
was told l should meet some Of my own
people If came here to night"
"Yes, aud you will come back with us,
won't your said Byng. There surely can
be no difficulty. now peace is proclaimed.
We expected you two or three weeks ago.
Brydon would have it that you couldn't
harden your heart to say good~by to Sister
Marie.'n
''I'm coming with you at once" rejoined
Hugh, land shnll start for England by the
first ship that will give me passage. I've
q notion Pm wanted there"
you're better there than here" said
Byng, dryly, but come along, we had best
fetch your pony and then you can sleep in
our camp, so as to be- ready for an early
start tomorrow morning"
The next day saw Hugh Fleming and his
old comrades Of the til on their way back
to Vanoutka. He told them all he had ap-
piled for his release on parole some weeks
back, but by some mistake he had received
permission to depart on the previous day,
and Tom Byng alone was aware Of Sister
Marie's perfidy.
On arrival in camp Fleming lost no time
in seei1e about passage for England, and
il two days he had hidden his comrades
good-by, aud steamed out of Balaklava
harbor.
y
Weeks slip by, the embarkation is begun
ip real earnest, and every day sees some
contingent of the allied army marching
down to the transports that await them
either at kamiesch or Balaklava.
Settlers are breaking up their stores and
restaurants, and the luxuries of life vary
in the most astounding way, according as to
whether the proprietors are axiously get
ting rid Of extensive stores or are very
nearly sold out. Boards are sitting on war
material, clothing, etc.. with instructions to
condemn IL on the mere shadow Of excuse
Ponies that would have been reckoned
cheap at twenty pound apiece few weeks
ago, are turned adrift in the streets of
Balaklava or sold for as many shilings.
There is a fretting for home in the breasts
of those whose turn has not yet come. and
the anxiety TO return to England seems al
most as great as two years ago it had been
to leave it.
There is feeling that the whole thing is
play ed out, that the curtain is down and
that there is not much fun in lingering in
the lobby for ones carriage. We have been
inside Sebastopol, we have gazed upon the
caves Of Inkermann, from the Phoros Pass
to Yalta, from the Valley of Tcheryava TO
the Nights of Mackenzie, from the palace
OF the Khans to the banks of the Alma. we
have done it all. We have fought the old
fights over again until we are sick of dis
cussing blood and carnage. Besides. as Tom
Byng says:
ITS our duty to hurry home, and tell
lies for the editication Of our friends ana re-
lations."
Hurrah, the transport is in at last. and
the order is come for her maiesty's til To
march down to Balaklava, and embark on
board the steamship Adelaide at O'clock.
and that afternoon saw the regiment steam
ing down the Black Sea, whilst many a
wistfpl glance was cast back at the fast
fading cliffs of the Chersonese as the
thoughts arose in mems minds of how MANY
staunch and true comrades they left behind
to sleep their last sleep on Cathcart's Hill
or amongst the numerous graveyards that
lie scattered on the plateau. Well might
the colonel say, as he went over the returns
OF the regiment from its landing to its re-
enlbarkation:
Thanks to drafts, we are taking home a
strong battalion, but we've left another be-
hind. l don't think they'll be able to say we
have won our spurs now"
1t might almost have been termed socia
bic, their homeward voyage. The sea was
alive with ships, all down the Mediterranean
the signal halysrds were constantly going,
as they passed or repassed vessels, all en-.
gagged like themselves in the task Of bring
ing the army home. Here they exchanged
compliments with large trooper similarly
employed, now they dipped their flag to a
French man of war, and anon lowered il 10
an English monster of the same kind. A.
last they anchored at Spithead to await
their orders. These reached them the first
thing the next morning, and directed dis
embarkation at the dockyard, with a view
to proceeding to Aldershot to take part in
the great review to be held there by the
queen.
The camp had been in great measure va
Gated. TO make way for as much of the
Crimean army as il was possible to assemble
there. The camp in those days was Of con-
siderably more modest dimensions than IL is
now, and the accommodation was doubt
less stretched to its utmost limits, which
gave Mr.. Finn an opportunity Of invidi-