The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-23
CHAPTER Xxx.
BATCHr SERIAL

CHAPTER Xxx.
BATCHr SERIAL
| Byng's anticipations, however, proved
groundless; their entertainers quite recog-
} nizsd that they had a good many mil IS 10
tide thar night, aud had no intentions of
l challenging them to a drinking bout There
was no attempt TO press them to do more
than drink a stirrup cup. Caviare and
brandy were scattered about the tables of
the restaurant, but the staple of the enter
tainment If BynG and Brydon consisted of
bottled stout, which was dispensed to them
in wine glasses and forcibly recalled to
their minds Mr. Swiveller's celebrated die
tum on the tasting Of malt liquors. 1t was
not till they had purchased their expert
enc5 on a subsequent visit that they realized
the delicate intentions of their entertain
ers. In the eyes Of a foreigner an English
man is regarded as q beer drinking creature
At all events, he was in the days of which
| am writing, and the Russians when they
| produced the stout were producing their
choicest vintage. Bottled stout was dearer
in their lines than champagne, and sold
| currently at twelve sblllings a bottle
| However. the ponch was soon over and the
pair was onc9 more jogging along on their
bomeward way. Each man was smoking
and immersed in his own reflections. Tom
could not help thinking of his parting with
| Alexis lyauhof. He had not thought so
| much of il at the time, but the sister re-
| called the brothers manner so Yividly to
his recollection. Ivanhoff had asked his
name, declared that he owed him his life,
| and that though it was not likely it
might chance to be in his power some time
to repay the obligation, in the hurry burly
| of a big war like this there was no knowing
| what might happen, still Tom thought there
| bad been soupcon of mookerY in his tones
as he spoke If he had saved his life, Tom
had most certainly disappointed ths anlibi-
| his hazardous enterprise and Tom could but
reflect that but for himself, the Russian
| might have regained his own lines unhurt.
| No. it was open TO question whether the
Ivanhoffs owed him much gratitude. How
| ever, he was not likely to see much more OF
| them even if it should chance that he met
| Mademoisele again in their proposed trip
| up the country. There W as great curiosity
to hear their report, when, at late hour,
they made their appearance in the ness
room. Every one was delighted to hear
such fiourishing account OF Hugh Flem-
ing; but what explanation did he give for
| not writingl and now it flashed across the
| two travellers, that in that brief conversa-
ton with Hugh that point had never been
| touched upon.
1t was odd, Byng admitted, but they had
so much to talk about he had quite forgot
ten to ask Hugh that question.
| ~ suppose he hadn't time, at length, said
Brydon. "Fleming's got his hands pretty
full just now, I should say" he continued,
with a mschievous glance at Tom.
Brydon invariably discountenanced mar
rylng amongst his brother officers He held
that it spolt the m ess, and that soldiers had
no business with wives, holding am afraid
to the slack breezy old adage of fresh
quarter and fresh flame. Byng resolutely
declined to be drawn out upon this point, but
some of the others were not SO reticent, and
were much amused with Brydons account
of "Sister Marie"
Nobody but born fool" ne concluded,
would ever dream of coming of the SICK
list with such O nurse as that"
"Was she so very handsome, thenp in
qured a susceptible subaltern.
"Well it's 50 long since I've seen pretty
woman that Pm hardly a fair judge but
she's about as good-looking as they make
em. And now Pm off to roost, for Pm dog
tired. Goodnight, all of YOU"
Noshing much in all this, but idle gossip
travels long way at times.
Hugh Fleming is quite conscious that he
had rather got himself into a scrape OF late
it had come about SO naturally aud so
| gradually that he really, to this IN mute
could not exactly say how it had all hap
pened
In those early days. when he lay badly
wounded and burnt up with fever, when
the fires of life were Pickering day by day,
and when it was doubtful that he would
ever see morrow's sun, he was only dimly
sensible of IA soft hand that bathed his brow
ard smoothed his pillow, of a gentle pres
euce that lowered around his bedside, and
seemed to bring with it rest and quietness.
As his strength and powers of obser Vation
returned it was soothing TO lie there and
watch the tall slender figure of his nurse as
she busted herself about her ward, and he
became aware that in spite of the unbecom-
ing costume Sistar Marie was a young and
goOd-looking woman with brilliant dark
eyes and particularly sweet smile. Dur
5 ing that tedious convalescence her assiduity
: was unwearied. She encouraged him to
talk to her about himself, checked him
quietly but firmly whenever she thought he
} was overtiring himself-and, in short, in
those days of weakness, drew from Hugh
pretty we'll his whole history. Not a very
4 eventful one, nor had she any particular in
3 terest in learning it, but previous training
had rendered this almost intuitive with
Marie Ivanhoff.
As he got better and stronger and was
able to lesve his sick bed, it was Sister
, Marie's arm that supported his tottering
steps, the dark eyes softening marvelously
when she was employed in his service, and
before three months had elapsed from the
S storming of the rsdan Hugh Fleming
) awoke TO the fact that he was on very sem
} timental terms with his nurse.
The Russian sick, ike the English, now
} the hardShlps OF campaigning were re-
Q Taxed, improved rapidly. If supplies were
not so plentiful as in the British lines, still,
4 at Batchi Serari there was no lack of suf-
: ticient food.
3 Nature, that mighty assistant Of all doc
tors, was having fair play. and now lending
her powerful aid with a will. The conse-
quence was, the hospitals were rapidly va
r Gated, and at length the number Of patients
became so few that Marie IvanhoR and
5 one or two more Of the younger ladies re-
, signed their posts, threw or their dresses as