The evening world., 1894-05-05

charged by expiration term of service"
"sergeant, and whose will be the next
bloody 'D?" asked Leighton. without n
ring of feeling.
"There'il he plenty Of EN- II this
blooming heat continues and we remain
In this camp" | replied.
And do you suppose the devil will
sDsr mart rSm nrisS S,s
been an excellent troop blacksmith, but
most constant drunkard, SO his record
was u fun one.
III he does, Murray won't draw brim-
stone liquor for year" replied.
"The lad will bc none the worse for
thn,.,,,r thntwIGr sursiy here he had most
We were working at this official funer-
al In the .sultry summer night by the
unsteady light of hntern-candles, and
were not feeling impressed or reverent.
Leighton was in his undershirt. open at
his handsome brown throat As he
leaned over the books at work n locket
from his bosom fell the slack OF its
gold chain and struck the desk.
noticed 1t, and he took 1t on. handing
1t 20 me with indifference. He had
opened the locket, revealing the por-
trait, which was that OF fresh young
whose. charming complexion and express
sion of confidence are complete. The eyes
arrested you-pathctiC, soft-brown eyes.
so tender they seemed to repronch. and,
hN N'h 'lhIRfu your DblHl VI Wow VI
the miniature. followed you with their
full, warm light | have seen such af-
fectionate light only in the brown eyes
Of faithful dogs watching those they
love.
Seeing my more than casual notice OF
the portrait, Leighton added: ITS an
old story: not worth the telling: don't
know why | keep It."
He spoke with the same absent inter
est we were feeling over this work for
the dead 1t struck me AS peculiar that
In romance accomplished there should
he no trace either OF bitterness or re-
50 quickly fascinated by the face that
Ieighton's manner annoyed me, and
did not ask him for the story. Possibly
overhead makes men irritable. for some.
how resented this careless fellow
wearing about him n face like that
with less interest than he wore his
spurs did not then notice the resem
blance of the face to Leighton's
stopped abruptly and thought OF de
sertion, changing the conversation &c
this. the subject OF my days musing.
to relieve the pressure i know mo the Lieu
tenant would like to do no. He feelt
the pulse OF this camp and knows tn,
symptoms. But what can he do? Hi
and he can't pass ua across the line
" Hunting leave" laughed Leighton.
Hunting leave. then. let Il be-"
replied. with no questions st..rs asked as t !,
what yours will be. You young devil
Tomorrow make out n hunting pas
for SIX" Leighton was humming
catchy service ballad that had appeared
In London music r-halls the year before
and did not reply.
Next morning presented with the re
port n four days hunting pass for 81,
men. The Lieutenant dipped his pen II
the ink and held IL IN contemplation
for a moment above the place for sig
nature, looking thoughtfully across tn,
level plain. Then. with quick decision
II Wish. Sergeant, that you and Leigh
ton would take hunting pass. and let n,
complications arise" He signed tn,
pass, adding our names to the text.
The following evening found us all II
Correlitos. After dinner. while smoking
n fragrant Nuelta Abajo of the Hont
;rts ~ ,Ss o,I n,% snnnsS ,o rne na,fGN
ing the wealth OF n Western sunset
where the after-glow was fast fading
High above the mountain tops lay grea
bllows OF russet flame. with crests lik,
the name of wind-fanned prairie fire