, 1891-09-04

caught something of his hope and enthu-
siasm, and gave herself up to the enjoy
ment OF the hour.
"a last kiss, and then one turn around
the room before that waltz finishes, " said
George, with a happy sigh.
But it was not to be. Gentle Mrs. Bar
ing approached her daughter with a
troubled face
"Oh, Aimee, | nave been looking for
you everywhere. Your father says that
we must go home. He has managed to
take cold, and is already quite choking.
1t is so trying, because he must be 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
no the man to shirk his duty. His only
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
thing but pleasant for wife and daugh-
ter.
He did not dislike Captain Hamilton
personally. On the contrary, the colonel
recognized in him an unusually smart
an1Iiar b,t he Inntknl A. Il-
corps. Its higher pay and richer plums
lured the young subalterns from the
queens regiments, and in his time he had
seen a dozen youngsters go from the One
Hundred and Twenty-fourth alone. They
had no business, in his opinion, to leave
the regiment. 1t was only debt or love
which made them do it. Why couldn't
the staff corps be properly recruited
without having to steal men from Brit
ish regiments just as they are beginning
to know their work.
Poor Aimee had to listen to a TRADE
on the subject as they drove home to
their bungalow, She knew only too
well what it all meant, and unsupported
by her lover she was thrown back into
the old despair. How could George over
come such prejudices' 1t would be i'm
possible. She knew her father better
than he did. 1t would need nothing short
of a miracle to accomplish it.
Colonel Barring put his feet in hot mus
tard and water, and tried all the well
known old household remedies. SO fraud
ulent, so futile in most cases. The
sleepy ervants were reused from their
warm blankets and sent flying in differ
ent directions, one for hot water, an
other for the whisky bottle, a third for
the travelling rugs, a fourth for sweet
spirits of inter.
In their anxiety to please the some
what imperious master they brought
remedies enough to have treated the
whole company of men with influenza.
Mrs. Barring and Aimee administered
patiently and gently to their wheezlng
patient until-fortunately for all parties
concerned-he fell asleep among his
blankets and was at peace-at peace ex-
cept for the portentous snore hat shook
his frame.
Very early in the morning, before it
was light, the ayah crept to the door of
the bedroom with the tea tray.
Il I'm afraid your master is no better.
His breathing is very thick" said Mrs.
Barring in answer to the ayah's inquiring
look. However, he must go on parade.
| hope his uniform is laid out ready, and
tell the butler to see that the horse is
saddled in good time"
Mrs. Barring returned to the bedside
and found her husband awake. He was
already firing off his feu de joie on
proclamation morning in a volley of
sneezes.
"Oh, confound this coldt Get me out
some old soft silk handkerchiefs. | feel
as if my head would burst" he cried as
o as he could speak.
Dressing this morning was no easy
matter. Never had a man a worse or
more weeping cold, Every now and
again a fit of sneezing held him speech
less in its grip. 1t was with the greatest
difficulty that he got himself into his
uniform, drank his tea and buckled on
his sword. He was convinced, in spite
of all his wife could say to the contrary,
hat he was late. He hustled out of the
house, mounted his charger and galloped
to the parade ground.
The English troops were drawn up in
line on the opposite side, and on their
left the native regiments were in posi-
ton. All was ready for the eagle eye of
the general.
Colonel Barring pulled up as he reached
the ground. The general had not yet
arrived. 1t vas q relief and a respite,
for it would give him time to blow that
much afflicted nose of his once more.
The morning air vas sharp, for the sun
was only just touching the horizon, and,
oanF,,-,l - al kara u-o annthar g. Nf
sneezing coming onl
Where was his handkerchief Now,
where had he put it in the hustle of
dressing2
He felt in the cuff of each sleeve. It
was not there. He stuck his fingers in
the breast of his tunic. OF course it was
not there. He never carried it in such a
place. He looked around at his horse
keeper. No; he did not remember hay
ing given it to him to hold.
Horrors of horrors, he had come with.
out It'll What was he to do?
The knowledge that he had nc hand
kerchief seemed to increase his cold, bad
as 1t already was. The sneezing became
more frequent, and. dash it all, his nose
began to runl
What would the general say? Never
did there exist a sharper eye for appear
ance than his. The slightest speck would
be detected, and the scarlet uniform
would show every spot.
1t was most distressing, absurd though
it may seem. Each moment the value
of handkerchiefs rose in his eyes. There
is no telling what sun he would no
have given for one at that moment Hi
ayes We're affected now. and the and