Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-12-15
my Acknowledging your parton, s1Ny
added the sergeant, with @ ill-concealed3


"By Jovel remember" he cried at
length. "she must be the little girl
in short frock who wanted to give me-
o shilling, and begged me to tell herr
my name. You say she asked for Tonpd
my Atkins?"
eyes, SIR. And she recognized YOU
as him-begging your pardon AGAIN.
SIR"
'rhen she doesn't know me? I'M
zee her. What q coincidencel And she
really thought was q private? Did She
have good look at me when I passed?1
'No moro than glimpse, should
say, sir"
"A smart soldier-servant entered FROM
an inner room.
II want you to change tunics With
me-" said the colonel, cor lend me
yours. You are about my size, I Think
When Miss Kingston entered, Coll
Graham was standing at attentiou1
with his thumbs pressed tightly
against the seams Of his trousers, in the
stiftest Observation-Disclosures
attitude that he could assume. But his
eyes saids lawfully pretty grill" "a
plainly as eyes can speak.
II am so glad to meet you again" She
said tive never forgotten you; and
I've brought you little gift, II you viii
accept It."
Col. Graham executed half-righd
turn and faced Private Crockett.
'Is it against the regulations to rel
ceive a reward for doing my duty, sir?st
he asked.
I'LL don't think So" stammered
Crockett, almost as red as the tunic thad
covered his manly breast.
Miss Kingston looked at him in SURF
prise, then glanced inquiringly at hen
hero, whose bronzed features wore tha
most wooden expression that he could
summon up. Evidently she suspected
something, but she produced the watch
end chain and the purse and presented
them with a few graceful words.
Il had the name you gave me ena
graved on the watch" she said; 'but
that Is not correct, thinkf"
mo. miss" answered the colonel!
glancing at the case. ''That was a 1oksd
But Tommy Atkins will do very WE'LL
am very much obliged" 1
It was q rather singular coincidence
that on the day following her return
to Balcomer Miss Kingston should tel
ceive q visit from Miss Raynor, epinA
ster sister OF the late squire, who had
hitherto, for some reason or other, held
aloof, and that this white-haired old
lady should almost at once INTRODUCED
the subject Of her nephew, Richard !;
"You don't know him, think, MY
J, DEAR" she said. "He is lieutenant
) colonel In the army, and must tell you
|, that he was always led to expect that
! he would succeed to Balcomer. Unfor1
! tunaely for him he quarreled with your
uncle, and, in consequence, you sre|
] here"
II never heard word OF 1t. Why did
he quarrel?"
"My brother wished him to marry 4
!, certain lady. end Dick did not bed
5 his way" 1
!, what shamel" exclaimed the girl
i deeply interested. IT am SO sorryI
feel tfat have no right to Balcouper,
! Can't something be done2 sit possible
to divide the property" :
y Miss Raynor smiled.
u Wouldn't that be rather quixotic
}, my dear7" she asked.
!, II don't know" was the reply 81
4 think I oughtto do it."
q Miss Raynor soon atterward took lei
leave. But week later she paid Rf
a other visit to Balcomer.
q Il have heard from Dick" she said,
{ "and he'll call on you the first time ha
a 10 in the neighborhood. He says BE
< doesn't resent your being here IN the
least, and he will be very pleased to
8 know you" q
s Miss Raynor had scarcely been at
Il Balcomer Is minutes-devoted to
4 praises OF her nephew Dick-when that
gentleman arrived and sent UP his
4 card.
4 Lieut.. Col. Richard Graham, First
I battalion, Hertfordshire regimeuAln
q! exclaimed Miss Kingston, reading from
/. the card. why, was at Pembury ten
= days ago, and saw"
! "Dick?" Intercepted Miss Raynor,
4 blandly.
y II don't know, saw Private Tommy
4 Atkins, and, think, his colonel. It's
very funny. The colonel looked and
d spoke like private soldier, and Tommy
q Adkins like gentleman"
3 The footman retired. Next moment
8 the colonel came in, and Miss Kingston
stood face to face with her hero, across
J whose white waistcoat the massive
q chain she had given him was proudly
4 displayed.
& "Why-why-" she began, blushina
almost as red as Private Crockett when
4, seated in the officers chair, 1--WE are old
: acquaintances!"
J "And cousins" added the colonel,
= bowling.
"You saved my life?"
al 1T pleases you to say so. I have
come to thank you for your offer to
share the Balcomer property with me-
J.. "1t would be a pity to divide Bal.
conner, my dears." interposed Miss Ray,
! nor, shaking her white ringlets archly
4 "Im't there better way to put things
straight?"- Louis Republic.
i The plumbago or leadwort is thus
:, called because 1t was once supposed to
y cure lead poisoning.
8 A Ksen-Minded suitor.
"Why do you send Ethel such hand.
: some presents? Candy and flowers are
}. enough" s.f,
' "That's all right. She eats the candy
and the flowers fade. When we get
r married get the diamonds back."-