The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-09

music-she felt for once strangely
touched and moved
Miss Malone" said the sergeant sud-
denly, you are extremely good to talk
10 me. For fcur-yes, I'VE years no lady
has said a word TO me. | feel very much
alone sometimes.
Indeed, 1 can understand that. But
there are other men Of your own class
in your battalion with whom YOU can
make friends2"
yes. now and then. But I know
have gone down hill Not owing to the
company Of the men-ro. 1 don't mean
that; they are far better fellows, many
of them. than I; but if one never sees
woman of ones own class, one be-
comes cOarser in tastes and pleasures,
harder also and more cynical You have
done me good. and / thank you, even If
we should never meet gain"
But we may meet some day. Any
how, l will come and see your ship
start"
Twill you?" And he drew a little
nearer to her. you are very kind to
me-"
How did you know my name?"
81 found it out. And hsve-no. never
mind"
You must tell me yours in return"
''Sergt. Rhodes" He paused a min
ute. That is the name L shall always
be known by
They walked slowly round the narrow
garden, the distant music sounding in
their compassionate, plaintive, tender.
Then they came to a wooden bench,
under a stunted tree For an hour or
more these two sat on, learning so much.
and yet, alas. so little about one another.
A church clock sounded. The music
stopped suddenly. From a neighboring
garden white cat leaped over the wall,
the moon shining on its fur. The music
had ceased. and the world seemed to
have caddar silent
Kitty Malone sprang TO her feet.
"Ohi how late II is. What will my
uncle say, and my friends who were to
have taken me home? GOod-by. Sergt.
Rhodes" She held cut her little hand.
The moonshine quivered on his pale.
handsome face-on the band of his cap
and the scarlet and gold Of his uniform.
He looked at her long with the dark
eyes which had grown graver now, and
less reckless.
"Will you give me the bunch of for
get-me-nots You wear in your dress?'
For a moment there flashed across
Miss Kitty's romantic mind a memory
Of the beautiful American ballad telling
of the lady who flung a rose down from
her balcony as the column Of war-worn
men marched by. She trembled a little.
but she took out the flowers. and he hid
them away in his breast.
When Kitty came back alone, few
minutes later, the great hall was nearly
deserted. Mrs. DOwse was yawning
heavily over her emptied urns, and the
Shaughnessys had gone home. Miss
Malone felt very much ashamed Of her
self, but alas! more joyous than penitent.
In her tremor of excitement she hardly
realized yet that she had been behaving
in foolish and, 70 say the least of Ii.
a very unconventional way--in a manner
which Lady Celbridge. her future hus-
bands ideal of all that a lady should
be. would have stigmatized as bad
fO,m;" she only knew that she had been
strangely happy. for one evening. al
though tomorrow her folly might cause
her twinges Of regret and modification.
And perhaps into the heart Of a man.
reckless and dissipated enough. but a
gentleman still, now lying awake in his
narrow bed within blank barrack walls,
she had brought some short glimpses of
hope and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of re-
demptiOn which, even if they should not
develop into maturity. might not have
been born e1tirely in vain.