Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-08-06


to do their reluctant duty. Tho discov-
cry pleased him. 1t was possible for one
to open and close these portals noise
lessiy, if need be, and without disturb
ing sleepers il either room.
Returning to tho east chamber. he
opened the shades, so as to get moro
light, and his eye fell upon an old al.
bum lying ON a little table that stood by
tho bedside. There was a night lamp
upon the table, too, little affair that
could hold only thimbleful of oil and
was intended evidently to keep merely
faint glow during the night hours.
Other volumes-a Bible, some devo-
tional books, like THE Changed Cross, F"
and hymnal or two-were also there,
but the album stood most prominent,
and Armitage curiously took il up and
opened it.
There were only half a dozen photo
graphs in the affair. It was rather a
case than an album and was intended
apparently for only a few family pic
lures. There was but one that i Ieress-
ed him, and this he examined intently,
almost excitedly. 1t represented little
girl of or 10 years-Alice undoubted-
ly-with her arms clasped about the
neck of a magnificent ST. Bernard dog
and looking up into the handsome fea-
lures of a tall, slender, dark eyed, black
haired boy of is or thereabouts, and the
two were enough alike to be brother and
sister. Who, then, was this boy?
Armitage took the photograph to the
window and studied it carefully. Parade
was over, and the troops We're marching
back to their quarters. The band was
playing gloriously as it came tramping
into the quadrangle, and the captain
could not but glance out Mt his own old
company as in compact column of tours
it entered the grassy diamond and
swung off toward the barracks. He saw
a knot of officers, too, turning the cor
ner by the adjutant's office, and for q
moment he lowered the album to look.
Mr.. Jerrold was not of the number
that came sauntering up the walk, drop
ping away by ones or twos rs they
reached their doors and unbuckled their
belts or removed their helmets i'll eager
haste to get out of the constraint Of full
dress. But in another moment Jerrold,
too, appeared all alone, walking rapidly
and nervously. Armitage watched him
and could not but see how other men
turned away or gave him the coolest
possible nod as he passed. The tall,
slender lieutenant was handsomer even
than when he last saw him, and yet
there were gloom and worry on the dark
beauty of his face. Nearer and nearer
| he came and had passed the quarters of
the other officers and was almost ut tho
| door of his own when Armitage saw n
little, wiry soldier in full dress uniform
running across the parade as though in
| pursuit. He recognized Merrick, one of
the scapegraces of his company, and
wondered why he should be chasing
after his temporary commander. Just
as Jerrold was turning under the piazza
the soldier seemed to make himself
heard, and tho lieutenant, with an
angry frown on his face, stopped and
confronted him.
II told you not to come to me again, "
he said, so loud that every word was
audible to the captain standing by the
open window above What do you
mean, sir, by following me in this
way?''
The reply was inaudible. Armitage
could see the little soldier standing in
the respectful position of attention, ~
looking up and evidently pleading.
Il won't do it until I'm ready" was
again heard in JCrrold's angry tones,
though this time the lieutenant glanced
about, rs though to see if others Were
within earshOt. There was 10 one ap-
| parently, and he grew more confident.
You've been drinking again today,
| Merrick. You're not sober now, and
won't give You money to get maudlin
| and go to blabGinS secrets. No, siri &c
back to your quarters and stay there.
The little soldier must indeed have
been drinking, as the lieutenant de
clared Armitage saw that he hesitat'
ed, instead of obeying at once, and that
his flushed face was angrily working
then that he was arguing with his su
perior and talking louder. This wa:
contrary to all the captains ideas O
proper discipline, even though he wa:
indignant ut the officer for permitting
himself to be placed in so false and un
dignified a position Jerrold's words
too, had acquired n wide significance
but they were feeble as compared Will
the sudden outburst that came from tn,
soldiers lips:
"By God, lieutenant, you bribed IN
to silence to cover your tracks, and thel
You refuse to pay. If you don't wan
me to tell what know. the sooner yo'
pay that money the better.
This was more than Armitage coul'
stand He went down stairs three at
jump and out through the colonel
garden with quick, impetuous steps
Jerrold's furious face turned ashen a