Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-09-22

of view the colonel seemed to possess
most things which are generally con-
sidered to- constitute mundane happi-
ness. His liver had survived pawnees,
curries and a tropical sun, intact; his
income was ample; he belonged to two
or three good London clubs; he had
an excellent cellar of wine; he was re-
spected by his neiehbors and worship
ed by his tenants, and he rode to
cover on the best Of cattle. Yet with
all this the colonel had two eternallY
grinning skeletons in his cupboard.
The first was the possession of a
ne'er-do-well son and the second was
the non-possession OF q wife.
Augustus Chopleigh, Jr., although a
ne'er-do-well in the eyes OF a parent
who was more rigid and precise than
are most gentlemen who have breath
ed the atmosphere OF barracks CAN
tonments during the best part of
their lives, was after all but an ordi-
nary, "every-day young man." He
bet little, it is true; he belonged to a
club where play was sometimes high
OF an evening; he could drink his
claret like a man; he was a connois-
seur in cigars; he possessed two or
three long tailors' bills, and he was
given to staying in town sometimes
for week at time.
Still after all, what could beexpected
OF a high-spirited young fellow who had
received a first rate education and
was therefore untitled for any serious
walk in life; who was good-looking.
who dressed we'll, who found life at
stately pan Dunn hall a little monot-
ono T.. times and who had a
hail .. u..le annual allowance at his
disposal?
But in the eyes OF the colonel all
these little peculiarities were heinous
crimes, and the poor old gentleman,
as he pondered in the solitude of what
necalled his study" aw very clearly
that unless theyoungman was settled
in life with we'll bred, we'll connected
girl he would infallibly follow at head
long pace, that broad road which
leads to destruction.
Often alone at Dunn Dunn hall, de-
prived OF the society of his son, and
not caring very especially for that
society when offered, it was hardly to
be wondered at that the colonel
yearned for suitable partner in his
exile.
The memory of the departed Mrs.
ChopleiGh could hardly be said to be
yet green, for she had succumbed to
an aggravated attack of jungle fever
some twenty years before, when Agust-
us. junior, was but STRIPPING in
short dresses and bare legs. 1t might
be said that the remedy was easy.
Why didn't the colonel take unto him
self a second Mrs. Chopleigh? There
were pelnty of eligible spinsters who
would have jumped at an offer from
such fresh-faced, active wealthy
gentleman who was little beyond the
prime of lie.
There was, however, an almost in
vincible obstacle to the colonies
marrying again. Unlike most mill
tary men, he was painfully shy; per-
haps remembrances of the departed
Mrs. Chopleigh, who was known as
the Dunn Dunn Tartcr, had driven out
the youthful assurance which had
won her; at any rate, the futter of
petticoat awakened feelings within tho
gallant colonel's breast which were
not to be stirred by a horde of yelling,
mutinous Sepoys or by the stifest
bultinch in the country. He had low
ed at a distance score of times. but
he had never placed himself within
speaking reach of the various objects
of his affections.
Suddenly matters took a. different
turn.
A young lady of strikingly prepos-
sessing appearance-Milliceut Van
john, only daughter OF the Rev. Alloy
sius Vanjohn, the only vicar-had
been espied by the CO onel proceeding
up the lane which ran parallel with
his grounds, as he paced along his
favorite shrubbery walk. Being on
his own property had inspired him
with courage-he had gazed at her
and she had blushed and looked
down. He hurried into the house and
SuuC Hlusell p III lin STUDY.
81 am 55," he said to himself. II
am-well, l am good-looking- my
waistcoat is of decent girth; I have a
good complexion and man is only as
old as he feels. Why shouldn't l? l
may be called an old fool. Well, there
are plenty OF even older fools in the
world. I-well-I will!'
Miss Vanjohn was walking at the
identical hour the next day and the
next day after that, and SO on for
more than week and each day the
same little comedy was played
sheep's-eyes on thepart ofthe colonel,
bushes and looking down on the
part ct Miss Millicent Vanjohn.
Did Miss Vanjohn walk in that lane