The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-01-27
AWAITS CHILD-FRIEND.

1t caused good deal of wonder
among the officers of Jack Amyatt's
regiment when he suddenly doomed
put in new character, that of lit
srarv man.
The Red Horse was very popular
regiment in the service, and Jack
Amyatt was, as indeed he had been
aver since he joined, one of it's most
popular officers. Through the various
grades ofcornet, lieutenant and cap
tain, he had made no enemies, while
he had gathered many friends. He
was essentially good all-round man,
popular with his men, who would have
followed him into the jaws Of death
and back again, and good at sport of
any and every kind.
"What a fuss you make about Ma
or Amyatt," cried a fair beauty one
lay to one OF the youngsters, who
aad been extolling his accomplish
ments.
''Oh, the majors such an out and
put good sort, returned the lad, blush
ing fine scarlet all over his hand
some face at thus being caught at
hero worship.
lis he?" responded the lady, who
tried every fascinating art in her
power on Amyatt, but without avail.
what does he do to win9 him so
much adulation!'
81 don't know about adulation,"
said the lad rather CURLY. "But l
know he is the best soldier l ever
knew, and the most popular. Why,
the regiment would follow him to the
dew, to the end of the world, that
s," correcting himself hastily. 'Hes
good, that is, among the best of any
sport you like to mention, and he's
the best army writer there is, in spite
Of the shoals ofwomen who have tried
their hand at putting us..on paper, and
only succeeded in making their soldiers
look like bagmen out for a holiday in
a blazer and q pair of tennis-shoes.
The beauty drew herself up with a
little more dignity than she usually
displayed. "Dear me, Mr.. Arlington,
you are severe almost as severe as
Major Amyatt looks when he goes 20
q ball, and stands regarding us frivo-
lous and faulty women as stiff and
straight as if he had swallowed his
ramrod as we'll as bringing the other
parts of his uniform with him."
1t was on the tip of young Airing
toms tongue to remind the beauty
that ramrod is not part OF caval-
~ officers equipment, but, as he had
done minute or so before, he re-
n1embered his omanners in time and
let the remark pass without further
notice.
"Well, I don't think the major
cares much about ladies'" he ad-
nitted.
ppm sure they don't care much
about him. returned the beauty
sharply.
He wondered at the tartness of her
tone, if that was indeed the case. but
rs she was a beauty, and somewhat
of a power in the neighborhood OF the
station at which they were quartered,
he did not want to offend her more
than was necessary in taking up the
eudgels in his majors defence. II
never heard him say word against a
woman in my life," he said, eagerly,
never. Only, he don't seem to be
very keen on dancing and afternoon
teas, and 80 on. BY the way, Miss
Vane, will you come and have cup
of tea or anything?"
The beauty thought she would have
an ice, and took the lads arm with
alacrity; glad perhaps, to get away
from the subject OF a man who had
remained blind and deaf to the at
fractions and destinations, literally
set forth for his benefit from time to
time, OF the beauty of the county
The name of major was not mention
ed again, but all the same, the conver-
sation had set young Arlington think
ing about it.
Il say" he said, that evening to
Moore, the senior subaltern,. ''is
Amyatt what you'd call a woman
,hater?"
"Not bit OF it," returned Moore,
promptly; 81 don't believe he thinks
enough about 'em to hate them"
"But that's sailing pretty near the
wind, eh!' inquired Arlington, laugh
ing.
"No, | don't think so. Aymatt
doesn't dare go out to tea much; but
then he has plenty else to do. To me
he never seems to think OF getting
married; but then he's only six-and-
thirty, and what fellow in: his senses
would think OF getting married before
that?"
"a good many d." Arlington ven
tured to say. He felt guilty that his
thrust had gone home, for he at TWEEN
ty-two had thought fondly OF the
marriage state more than once; for
the matter Of that, indeed, he had
thought of it many a time and oft.
Eyes, a good many do" responded
Moore who had never known what it
was to feel qualm at his heart such
as threatened to ruin all his peace OF
mind, land good many fellows wish
they'd let it alone"
''Well, Pm not altogether so sure
about that" returned Arlington, who
in spite of his modest air, was as well
able to stick to his own opinions as
any man in the regiment.
Now this conversation no more en-
iightened him as to the state ofsthe
majors affections or natural inclinar
lions than the one with the beauty
had done, so Arlington put his ques
ton to some one else choosing this
time the senior captain, one George
Trevor; and when Trevor heard it, ne
stared hard at him.