The morning call., 1894-02-25

to take it,
No response from fanny one of the half
dozen men louuging in the snug armchairs
of that most perfectly appointed smoking
room.
Il don't mind" said Sir Alan. 1.-TWO or
three hours in bed are enough for me at
any time. Please pass the spirit case.
Jones. [ wonder you're net sleepy. Tom
Everton. You always used to be IN pea
by II when you had an early morning In
prospect but ] suppose matrimony has
cured you of that along with your other
falings.
tom says he isn't going. some one re-
marked.
Not going? Pooh. nonsense! thought
he'd make ND his mind To bring down
hart roval al least. or leave his bones Oh
BalmaQuidder Brae.
Mr, Fverton looked decidedly uncom-
Portable.
he staumpred; but-well-I WON'T
least | tbink-l-I shan't 90 with you to-
'morrow-that is, if Sir Alan will excuse
me-"
please yourself and you'll please me-"
replied the hospital BarOnet; "but if it
isn't any secret, I'd like to know what has
made you change yOur mind so suddenly"
He promised Mrs. Eyertou he wouldn't
go, broke in the previous speaker 'She
dreamed dream. and, like Pharaoh's chief
baker, she thought there was something
in IL"
DO be quiet, JONES'" interrupted Ever
ton, irritabiy. my wife had a rather odd
dream last night. and she's bit nervous.
You know, and-well. after ali, it's not
much to give up one days Devastating.
II any ones going to make herself misera-
bic over it,"
We all knew each other pretty well, this
little circle OF guests COLLECTED by Sir Alan
10 help him to shoot his Scotch mountain,
and very free and outSpoken was the
chair that few around poor Tom Ever
toms devoted head. III bore it with great
good humor for some time. till Jones made
a rather uncalled for remark involving
questions Of free will and "petticOat gov
eminent" Then Tom flared up.
II don't stay at home because I'm afraid
OF anything, but simply because ! have
promised. My wife dreamed that | went
oct with this party and 1t grew late without
any of US coming back. Then she thought
she saw me lying face down in the Balma-
quidder, and she seemed to know ! was
dead. don't Temem Der the details, but |
know she worked herself up into shock
ing nervous state about Ii till [ promised
not TO 90. OF course it's all nonsense I
know that, nut what can l dO?'
do as you pT0msed!' 1t was Colonel
Eyre'S deep voice that uttered the words
and we all glanced round at the speaker
- He had remained silent during the badin-
UPtAFmJ0 a.
ton, sitting with his tum bier of Scotch
whisky aud water in front of him, putting
away silently at the short briar-root whose
bowl scarcely cleared the sweep of his
heavy, griZZed mustache. He was holding
the pipe In his hand now sitting erect and
speaking with Cnmistakable earnestuess
OF manner do as you promised. and
don't be too sure it's all nonsense either
have known cases in which men have
lived to be very thankful that they yielded
to r DTeSentiment.
But this was q dream, colonel F." broke
In the irrepressible Jones.
Dream be it. theni Stay at home.
Everton. As you say, IFS net much to
miss days shooting And if you neglect
this warning the chances ara Won NAV
never live TO regret it" The speaker tool
a sip from the bier in front of him. re-
faced his pipe between his lfps ana
Famed back as if the subject was at an
ead.
But the colonel. an Indian officer of
many years service, was popularity sup
posed to have led n life Of adventure. and
10 have figured in more than one story
whose exciting incidents could well bear
repetition. AS rule. he was a taciturn
man, and it was by no means easy to "set
him talking" as the story goes The pres
ent seemed an opportunity too good to be
lost. and several voices demanded the ex-
perience by whose authority be had spoken
so decidedly.
well, yes." said Colonel Eyre, SLOWLY.
have seen a presertiment very remark
ably fulfilled. / am not much of a hand
at EARNING. but II you wish | have no OBJ
lection to give You leaf out of my book,
il it's only that you may leave my friend
Tom here in peace TO follow his own
course without badgering him about il.
I es, L mean you, Mr.. Jones'" he went on,
1mpaling that helpless youngster with a
glance that sent him nerVously to the
spirit case, while the rest of US settled
ourselves comfortably tn listen, and Sir
Alan. with Fire ahead. colonel" drew
his chair forward into better position.
ut was a goOd while after the breaking
of the monsoon in 1865" began the colonel
slowly. the weather was cool and pleas
ant enough, so that. on the face of it, it
seemed no great hardship when I was
ordered to take detachment down to
Sumbalpar l was stationed at Raipur at
the time. in the Orissa district. and word
came of some trouble with the Zemindars
above Sumbalpar The only thing that
seemed inconVenient was the suddenness
of the order. 1t was just Fall in and
march out without delay in an hour.
was young married man in those DAYS,
pretty much in the position of my friend
Tom Eyerton, with wife of two years
and bit of baby few months old. It
wasn't pleasant to leave them behind me
ID place like Raipur, and. of course. it
was out OF the question 10 start them at
an hours notice. l spoke to my
bearer, Joseln, one of the best native ser,
wants l ever saw, and directed him TO
make arrangements for an early march on
the following morning He was to see my
family driven quietly over to Sum balpar
in the tonga. They were 10 travel Dy easy
stages under the charge of careful bile
waIahi IL there are any 'grffs' in this
company l may explain for their benefit
that tonga Is kind of bullock wagon
and q biewalIah is the driver of the same
Well. l had just time for a few words of
comfort and farewell-TOm viii appreciate
all that-befOre l rode out to Raipur at the
head of my column. We camped tha. night
in the jungle. after march of about
twenty miles, and it was under canvas that
I was visited with the dream of present.
ment, or whatever you choose to call it.
that gives such point as it may possess to
this old-time yarn of mine"
The colonel paused to refill his glass. but
every ones interest was now awakened,
and no one broke the momentary silence
that ensued.
at was pretty late before fell asleep"