The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-09-21

Ell before had his blue eyes fiinched. He
had been their comrade and commander
i'll years Of frontier service, and his
bachelor home had been the rendezvous
of all genial spirits when in garrison.
They had missed him sorely when he
went abroad on long leave the previous
year and were almost indignant when
they received the news that he had met
his fate in Italy and would return mar.
ried. "She" was the widow of
wealthy New Yorker who had been
dead some three years only, and though
over 40 did not look her years to mascu.
line eyes when she reached the fort i'll
May.
After knowing her week the garri.
son had decided to man that the colo.
mel had done wisely. Mrs. Maynard was
charming, courteous, handsome and &C.
complished. Only among the women
were there still few who resented their
colonel's capture, and some of these, OBJ.
hvious Of the fact that they had tempt
ed him with relations of their own, were
sententious and severe in their con.
domination of second marriage, for the
colonel, too, was indulging in second
experiment. OF his first only one man
in the regiment besides tho commander
could tell anything, and he, to the just
indignation Of almost everybody, would
not discuss the subject 1t was rumored
that in tho old days when Maynard was
senior captain and Chester junior SUBJ
altern in their former regiment the two
had very little in common. 1t was
AT.,. GAL
while still young and beautiful, had
died abroad. 1t was limited that the res
ignation of dashing lieutenant of the
regiment, which was synchronous with
her departure for foreign shores, was
demanded by his brother officers but
it was useless asking Captain Chester.
He could not tell, and-wasn't it odd?-
here was Chester again, the, only man
in the colonel's confidence in an hour Of
evident trouble.
'By Jove! What's gone wrong with
the chief" was the first exclamation
from one of the older officers. II never
saw him look so broken.
AS no explanation suggested itself,
they began edging in toward the Office.
The door stood open, a handbell banged
a clerk darted in from the sergeant ma
jor's rooms, and Captain Chester was
revealed seated at the colonel's desk.
This in itself was sufficient to induce
several officers to stroll in and look in
quiringly around Captain Chester
merely nodding, went on with some
writing at which he was engaged.
After moments awkward silence
and uneasy glancing at one another
the party seemed to arrive at the con-
clusion that it was time to speak. The
band had ceased, and the new guard
had marched away behind its pealing
bugles Lieutenant Hall winked at his
comrades, strolled hesitatingly over to
the DESK balanced unsteadily on one
leg, and with his hands sticking in his
trousers pockets. and his forage cap
swinging from protruding thumb and
forefnger, cleared his throat, and with
marked lack of confidence accosted his
absorbed superior:
Colonel gone homer"
Didn't you see himf'' was the I'M
compromising reply, and the captain
did not deign to raise his head or eyes.
"Well-er-yes, I suppose did,
said Mr. Hall, shifting uncomfortably
to his other leg and prodding the floor
with the toe of his boot.
"Then that wasn't what you wanted
to know, Ipresume, said Captain Ches-
ter, signing his name with vicious dab
of the pen and bringing his fist down
with thump on the plotting pad, while
he wheeled around in his chair and
looked squarely up into the perturbed
features of the junior.
"No, it wasn't" answered Mr.. Hall
in an injured tone, while an audible
smoker at the door added to his sense Of
discomfort What I mainly wanted
was to know if could go to town."
"That matter is easily arranged, Mr..
Hall. All You have to do is to get out
Of that uncomfortable and unsoldierly
position, stand in the attitude In which
you are certainly more at home and in
finitely more picturesque, proffer your
request in respectful words, and there
is no question as to the result F"
"Oh, your in command, then?" said
Mr.. Hall, slowly wriggling into the po'
sition of the soldier and flushing through
his bronzed cheeks. II thought the colo
mel might be only gone for minute"
1.-THE colonel may not be back for
week, but you be here for dress parade
all the same, and-Mr. HallP' he call
ed as the young officer was turning
away. The latter faced about again.
"Was Mr.. Jerrold going with you to
town.
eyes, sir. He was to drive me in his
dogcart, and it's over here now"
''Mr. Jerrold cannot goat least not
until have seen him"
"Why, captain, he got the colonePs
permission at breakfast this morning."
THAT is true, no doubt, Mr.. Hall. !"
And the captain dropped his sharp and
captious manner, and his voice fell as
though in sympathy with the cloud that
settled on his face II cannot explain
matters just now. There are reasons
why the permission is withdrawn for
the time being. The adiutant will mott.