Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-29

she expected to to be consulted. and her
advice taken, and by her advice Sir James
MacKennon had been accepted, and she
thought Miriam was acting foolishly in
hesitating to fix the wedding day.
"Did Sir James tell you I approved of an
early marriage?" she asked.
s'Yes, mother; but please don't talk of 1t
any more just now-such dreadful thing
has happened to-day since 1 saw Sir James.
One of the poor soldiers has been shot on
the sands"
''That is terribly sad. How did it hap
pen?"
Captain Escourt's company were prac-
ticing firing at a target, and this poor man
was marking, and I suppose was accident
ally shot"
Miriam's voice faltered against her will
as she made this explanation, and her
mother looked at her somewhat curiously.
"You seem quite upset, Miriam, by this
accident; did you see it?''
eyes mother, saw it, and I believe the
poor soldier would have bled to death before
DR.. Reed came, for Captain Escourt did not
seem to understand what to do, but as had
gained some knowledge from the ambulance
classes last year 1 helped to stop the bleed
ing until the doctor came"
Again the girls voice faltered, and Mrs.
Clyde noticed this and that her daughters
oval cheeks were very white.
81 am glad you were able to be Of some
use," she said; 'fbut you look quite pale,
my dear, and fear this has been a little
too much. Have cup of tea, Miriam, and
it will revive you.
So Miriam drank the tea, and when she
was doing so her mother once more re-
turned to the subject of fixing the wedding
day.
isWhen is Sir James coming again?" she
said.
"He said something about tomorrow, or
the next day." answered Miriam uneasily.
sThen shall see him." said Mrs. Clyde,
calmly. 81 do not approve of long engage
ments, and of course about these things
young girls must be guided by the advice
of their parents"
She had said almost the very same words
to Joan Clyde, when General Conray had
been anxious to fix his wedding day, and
she had carried her point then, and she
meant to carry it now. She was determined
woman, with her quiet manner and her
placid smile. And Miriam knew this, and
grew little paler as she sat there drinking
her tea But any further conversation on
the point was now interrupted by the
soldier-servant Banks opening the room
door and announcing
Captain Escount."
With charming smile Mrs. Clyde held
out her white and shapely hand to welcome
him.
ssYou have just come in time for tea" she
said. "But what is this sad accident Miriam
has been telling me about, Captain Es-
court?"
about the poor fellow who was shot on
the sands" answered Captain Escourt Its
an awful bad business, but Reed thinks he
will pull him through"
'tOh am so glad Colonel Clyde would
be so distressed if anything serious were to
happen to any of the men under his COM
mand," said Mrs. Clyde graciously. "And
he is one of your company, is he not?''
"Yes; and a very good soldier, too. It
seems it was laundering fool called Smith
who fred the shot that hit him, for Dare
was, believe, not out of his position. If
Dare dies, Smith ought to be hanged, in my
opinion"
"Let us hope that Dare will not die then.
OF course the other man will be punished?"
eyes, there will be a court martial held
Dare is going on, as she was kind enough II
wish to hear. You ought to be proud Of
your daughter, Mrs Clyde, though dtre
say you always are"
f'And why should be especially proud
of her today" asked Mrs Clyde, looking
smillngly at Miriam's pale face
because she behaved so splenddly, so
pluckily. Dare would have been dead by
this time if Miss Clyde had not contrived
to stop the bleeding, for one Of the main
arteries was shot through, Reed says. But
1 should not talk thus; you must forgive
me, Miss Clyde, for am making you quite
white"
81 think Miriam is little upset." said
Mrs. Clyde.
"But not at the time; not when she could
be of use; she was as brave and as calm as
any surgeon could be-" answered Captain
Escourt.
He admired Miriam Clyde, as many other
men admired her; admired her grace and
beauty, and certain dignity also in her
manner which was unusual in SO young
girl But Mrs. Clyde, though she was al
ways gracious to them, did not encourage
the attentions of young officers Of no es-
pecial means, and the young officers were
quite conscious of this fact.
She was very charming to them, but still
she made them quite understand that they
were to have no intimate friendships with
her daughter Therefore she was pleased
when Colonel Clyde, her husband, entered
the room and began talking to Captain Es-
court, thus diverting his attention from
Miriam.