The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-08-13

and called him ''my darling" and
SAID she could not bear waiting alona
IN England, and his letters were SC
short and cold, and she was his to the
end OF the world, and would he forgive
her? This did not sound qnite like a
ladys way of speaking. 1t was too
demonstrative.
Things seemed black indeed, and
the captains wives peered under their
eyebrows at the senior subaltern,
and the colonel's face set like the day
OF judgement framed in gray bristles,
and no one spoke for awhile.
Next the colonel said very shortly,
"Well sir?" and the woman sobbed
afresh. The senior subaltern was hall
choked with the arms round his neck,
but egasped out, 1T s a die Inever
had wife in my life" Don't swear"
said the colonel. "Come into the
mess. We must sift this clear some
how" And he sighed to himself; for he
believed in his "Shikarris," did the
colonel.
We trooped into the ante-room I'M
der the full lights, and there we saw
how beautiful the woman was. She
stood up in the middle of us all, some
times choking with crying then hard
and proud, and then holding out her
arms to the senior subaltern. 1t was
like the fourth act OF tragedy. She
told us how the senior subaltern had
married her when he was home on
leave eighteen months before, and she
seemed to know all that We knew, and
more, too of his people and his past
life. He was white and ashy gray,
trying now and again to break into
the torrent other words; and wenoting
how lovely she was and what a crimi-
nal helooked, esteemed him 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. 1t was so sudden, rush
ing out of the 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 the
senior subaltern. The colonel seemed
five years older. One major was shad-
ing his eyes with his hand and watch
ing the woman from underneath 1t.
Another was chewing his mustache
and smiling quietly as if he were wit
Messing play. Full in the open
space in the center by the whist tables
the senior subalteran's terrier was
hunting for feas. l remember all this
as clearly as though o photograph
were in my hand. l remember the
look of horror on the senior subal-
tern face. 1t was rather like seeing
man hanged, but much more inter
esting. Finally the woman wound VI
by saying that the senior subaltern car
ried double f. M. in tattoo on his
left shoulder. We all knew that, anc
to our innocent minds it seemed tt
clinch the matter. But one of thu
bachelor majors said very politely
~ presume that your marriage certifi
cate would be more to the purpose?"
That reused the woman. She stoot
up and sneered at the senior subalterl
for a cur, and abused the major AM
the colonel and all the rest. Then sh
} wept, and then she pulled a pape
from her breast, saying imperiously
flake that And let my husband
l my lawfully welded husband-read
aloud if he dare!"
| There was q hush, and the me
} looked into each others eyes as tn
{ senior subaltern came forward in
g dazed and dizzy way and took TT
D paper. We were wondering, as "
q stared, whether there was anythir
n against any one of us that might tur
}, up later on. The senior subaltern
Y throat was dry; but as he ran his ey
s over the paper he broke out into
| hoarse cackle Of relief and said to IL
l. woman. "You young blackguard!'
@ But the woman had fled through
door, and on the paper was write
v "This is to certify that |, the WorI
IS have paid in full my debts to &
n senior subaltern; and, further, that Il
IS seni,r subaltern is my debtor,
|, agreement on the 23d of FEBRUARY, as
Ie the mess attested, to the extent OF o
le months captains pay, IN the lawl
o currency of the Indian empire"
Then deputation set of for Il
IT Worms quarters, and found hi
a, betwixt and between, unlacing
lie stays, with the hat, wig, serge dre'
l etc, on the bed. He came over as
n was, and the "Shikarris" shouted
8. the gunners' mess sent over to knt
Dr. if they might have share of the fl
id | think we were all, except the color
d. and the senior subaltern, a lit
IF. disappointed that the scandal h
d, come to nothing. But this is hum
nature. There could be no two wor
ed about The Worms acting. 1t lean
lis as near to a nasty tragedy as al
he thing this side of joke can.
irl When most of the subalterns s
OF upon him with sofa cushions to fl
lis out why he had not said that act
was his strong point he answered VI
OF quickly: al don't think you e
M. asked me. l used to act at home W
to nv sisters" But no acting with g
he could account for The Worms disp
Sc. that night. Personally | think it v
no in bad taste, besides being dangero
MS There is no sort of use in playing W
llv fire even for fun.
he The "Shikarris" made him presid
ing of the regimental dramatic club,
as when the senior subaltern paid up
ere debt, which he did at once, The VIC
zen sank the money in scenery and dress
of Hewas a good Worm and the "Shib
int ris" are proud OF him. The o
drawback is that he has been christ
ed "Mrs. Senior Subalterns," and
ect there are now two Mrs. Senior 5
s." alterns in the station, this is so
len times confusing to Strangers
OF. yard Kipling.