The Forrest City times., 1891-03-20

eycbroNs at tho senior subaltern. and the colonels face set hke the day of judgment framed in gray bristes, and no one spoke for awhile.
 Next the colonel said very shortly, s'Well, sirp" and the woman sobbed afrcsh. The senior subaltern was half choked with tho arms round his neck, but he gasped out Its d-- lie! never had wife in my life" Don't swear" said tho colonel. 'Come into the mess. We must sift this clear somehow" And he sighed to himself, for he believed in his ''Shikarris, did the colonel.
 We trooped into tho ante-room under the full lights, and there we saw how beautiful the woman was. She stood up in tho middle of us all, sometimes choking with crying, then hard and proud, and then holding out her arms to the senior subaltern. It was like the fourth act of tragedy. She told us how tho senior subaltern had mar ried her when he was homo on leave IS months before, and seemed to know all we knew, and more too, of his people and his pastlife. He was white and ashy gray. trying now and again to break into the torrent of her words; and we. noting how lovely she was and what a criminal he looked, esteemed him a beast of the worst kind. We felt sorry for him, though.
 shall never forget the indictment of the senior subaltern by his wife. Nor will he. It was so sudden, rush. ing out of tho. dark unannounced into our dull lives. The captains wives stood back. but their eyes were alight, and you could see that they had al- ready convicted and sentenced tho se- nior subaltern. The colonel seemed five years older.
 Finally tho woman wound up by say ing that the senior subaltern carried a double F. NJ. in tattoo on his left shoul- der. We al knew that, and to our in- nocent minds it seemed to clinch the matter, But one of tho bachelor majors said very politely, Il presume that your marriage certificate would bo moro to the purpose?"
 That reused the woman. She stood up and sneered at the senior subaltern for n cur. and abused the major and the colonel. and all the rest. Then she wept, and then she pulled a paper from her breast, saying impsriously, Take thatl And let my husband--my law fully welded husband-read 1t aloud if he dare."
 The senior subaltern's throat was dry; but. as he ran his eyes over the paper. he broke out into hoarse cacklc of relief and said to the woman. "You young blackguard!"
 But tho woman fled through door, and on tho paper was written: This Is to certify that I. Tho Worm, have paid in full my debts to the senior sub altern; and. further. that the senior subaltern is my debtor. by agreement on the 23d of February, as by the mess attested. to the extent of one month s the Indian Empire"
 Then deputation set of for Tho Worms quarters, and found him, be- twixt and between. unlacing his stays, with the hat. wig, serge dress, etc., on tho bed He came over as he was. and tho 'shikarris" shouted till the gum ners' mess sent over to know if they were all. except the colonel and the senior subaltern. little disappointed that the scandal had come to nothing But that is human nature. There could be no two words about The Worms acting. It leaned as near to a nasty tragedy as anything this side of joke can.
 The "ShikArris" made him president of the regimental dramatic club. and when tho senior subultern paid up his debt which he did at once, Tho Worm sank the money in scenery and dresses. He was . good Worm and tho 'Shi- karris" are proud of him. Tho only draw back is that he has been christen- cd Mrs. Senior Subaitern." and. as there are now two Mrs. Senior Sub alterns in the station. this Is sometimes confusing tO strangers.