Evening journal., 1892-08-17

house steps.
"Jiercll Dewitt, want" he thought.
"And there he is ON guard, looking
every inch soldier again. My good
word has quite set him up. Mem.-A
iyord Of cheer costs little and may help
much. Now for Sergeant Lincoln and
the negrow
Just at the edge Of the bank, in front
of the farmhouse, Skerrett perceived
. the sergeant sitting.
His head was resting on his hands
The physiognomy of his back revealed
dependency. An old wellsweep bent
over him and seemed to long to comfort
him with a douse Of balm from its
bucket.
The landscape glowed as before. The
jolly pumpkins grinned as before. The
majors spirits were still at bubble and
boil. Every prospect was pleasing
and only man"-that is only sergeant
seemed woebegone.
"He is feeling his wound-the 'wownd
Put talked of fear" thought Skier
rett 81 must cheer him. Unhappy
people are not allowed in the Skerrett
precinct"
"Why, orderlym says the major, ap-
preaching and laying his hand on the
others shoulder; "you must not be
downhearted, mani What has hap
pened? What can do for your
The sergeant raised his head and shook
it despairingly
''Thank you" said he. "Nothingl 1t
is too latel"
"Too latel That is a point of time
my timepiece has not learned how to
mark"
Indeed, the Skerrett movement was
too elastic in springs and too regular
with its balance wheel to strike any
hour but "Just in timer
The sergeant thanked him with a
smile and manner of singular grace, and
repeated sorrowfully, 1T is too late"
"ToO late is suicide" says Peter eve
will not cut our throats till after Indian
summer. Presently you shall tell me
what is and is not too late. First,
have a question or two to ask. The gen
eral tells me you know this country
thoroughly"
aldo by heartily sad heart"
Il have undertaken to cut in, and cu
out, where the enemy is, twenty miles
below on the river"
The orderly at once seemed greatly
interested.
''Twenty miles below? No one car
know that region better than l."
"Was it there his heart was wound
ed" thought the major.
"Ah, theni you're just my man,
Skerrett continued, ignoring the other
depression. Il have volunteered on I
wild goose chase. may need to know
every fox track through all the High
lands to get away safe with my goose, i
catch him."
Major Skerrett, surprised at a suddel
air Of eager attention and almost excite
ment in the older man, paused a mo
ment.
$50 onw said the other authorize
lively, with voice and manner more o
commander in chief than sergeant.
Skerrett felt, as he had done before
the peculiar magnetism of this mysteri
Gus orderly, who quoted Latin an
bowed like a courtier.
Il have taken upon myself, said he
'to cut out British officer Of distinC
ton now staying at a country hous
twenty miles below. may want you Q
my party. General Putnam recommend
you"
The orderly sprang up and graspe
Major Skerrett's arm with both hi
hands.
"Who is the man? Namel Namel
he gasped.
Major Kerr" replied skerret
coolly.
"Waitl wait a momentT cried til
other, in wild excitement.
He rushed to the edge Of the banl
where a path plunged off leading to ii
Highland road, and was lost among I'll
glowing recesses of a wood slSirting IL
base Of the heights. He halted thel
and screamed in a frantic voice: "Vo
tairel Yoltairew
Aud neither the original destructiV
thinker thus entitled, nor any America
namesake Of his answering the call. Il
orderly raced down the slope with hi