The evening world., 1894-05-05

charged by, expiration term of service
Sergeant, and whose will be the next
bloody Dr." asked Leighton. without n
"There'l be plenty Of 'em. II this
blooming heat continues and we remain
in this camp" l replied. -.
And do you suppose the devil will
ever. want . transport from Murray's
court-martial record?" Murray had
been an excellent troop blacksmith. but
a most constant ~drunkard. so his record
"If he does, Murray won't draw brim-
stone liquor for q year" ! replied.
The lad will be none the worse for
%s Snasw5ST surely ,5irs here he had a most
We were working at this official funer-
al In the .sultry Summer night by the
unsteady light of lantern-candles. and
Leighton was In his u~ndershirt, open at
his handsome brown throat. AS he
leaned over the books at work a locket
from his bosom fell the slack OF Its
l noticed II. and he took II OFF, handing
1t to me with Indifference. He had
opened the locket, revealing the por-
trait. which was that Of a fresh young
girl-one OF those sweet English faces
whose charming complexion II express
sion of confidence are complete. The eye.
arrested you-pathctiC, soft-brown eyes
so tender they seemed to %reproach. and
as you changed you point of view OF
the miniature, followed you with Their
full. warm light. | have seen such af-
f%ectionate light only in the brown eyes
of faithful dogs watching those they
love.
Seeing my more than casual notice OF
the portrait, Leighton added: IT'S ar
old story: not worth the telling: | don
know why I keep IT."
He spoke with the same absent inter
est we were feeling over this work fol
the dead IL struck me as peculiar tina
ia n ~ a IN - an "a "a, l-.- .L-,.l
he no trace either of bitterness or re
morse, only weary Indifference. | wa
So quickly fascinated by he face tina
L.eiGhton's manner annoyed me, and
did not ask him for the story. Possihl,
overhead makes men irritable. for some
how I resented this careless fellow
wearing about him a face like that
with less interest than he wore hi
spurs. | did not then notice the resem
blance of the face to L~cighton's
stopped abruptly and thought of de
sertion. changing the conversation I,
this, the subject OF my days musing.
Leighton. something's got to be don
to relieve the pressure. ] know the Lieu
tenant would like to do 80. He feel
the pulse OF this camp and knows II
symptoms. But what can he do? Hi
orders TO remain here are imperative
and he cant pass us across the line"
Hunting leave Laughed Leighton:
Hunting leave, then. let It be-" =.
replied. :" with no questions asked as L
Eame or gpreserve, though | can tel
what yours will be. you young devil
Tomorrow make out "A hunting pas
for six" Leighton was humming
catchy service ballad hat had appeare
in london music-halls the year before
and did not reply.
Next morning 4 presented with the re
port n four DAYS hunting pass for 81
men. The Lieutenant dipped his pen 4
the ink and held 1t in contemplated
for n momen above the place for sig
nature, looking thoughtfully across tn
level plain. Then, with quick decision
" 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 Inner. while smokinl
a fragrant Nuelta Abajo of the "ZonI
Libra ! strolled through the marrow
streets OF this old Spanish town. watch
ing the wealth of a Western sunset
where the after-glow was fast fading
High above the mountain tops lay grea
hillows of russell flame, with crests lik
the name of a wind-fanned prairie fire