The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-22
TEDDY TARRI)N'5 CHARGE,

Under the lglsAming stars of an Afrl-
can sky twoImen lay on their backs be-
fore their tent deor-the one Major Cop
leigh of the Black Lancers, the other,
a mere stripping, Edward Tarrion, or
Teddy. as his brother subalterns called
him.
The major was about 40, stalwart and
handsome, but his hair was whitening at
the temples and his eyes were usually
clouded with care. Teddy Tarrion was
fresh from school, but full of vigor and
joy of life, and he had come like a
breath of clear, crisp air to the older
man, hardened and disenchanted by sor-
row and disappointments A curious
friendship had sprung up between them.
Teddy's love for his chief was at hrst
talked of among the younger men as a
bit of policy. a clever 'bootlick me
majors brother officers looked and were
interested, for. blase and cynical, Cop
leigh wasn't in the. habit of forming even
acquaintance when it wasn't necessary.
Still the fondness grew apace, ana the
older man had just finished telling the
subaltern the story of his life 1t was a
sad story-of his lonely youth, without
father or mother. without friends, for
the gay. young fellows of the, set in
which he belonged. st last he had met
the one being TO whom ne had poured out
the pent up love of his life rlGn' pas,
had loved him and for two years they
were the world and all to each other.
Then she had died leaving him little
girl. The major sighed. Poor little
woman" he said, I'm all she has in the
world. and should anything happen 90
me
Tarrion sat up quickly:
Great heavens, man, WHAT S gong to
happen to your
utes. Then he said, slowly: I don't
quite know. Ted; but I've got PRESENT.
ment--it's been growing on me for the
past three. days, really. think my times
about up for this world
Tarrion's voice was tense with emo
ton when he answered.:
Major, you're under the weather. This
unbeatable heat and dampness isn't fit
for man like you. Get ieave or = absence enc
ana t 90 norm pn,i 1T 1rce spell
But Copieigh Shook his head. ut isn't
the weather, old chap, he said. Be
sides, there's going to be trouble here
before long and I've got to be here. No
body knows these dirty natives as L do.
Don't worry about me-.
But Tarrion did worry. He tossed
most of the night. an indescribabie dread
death passing rapidly before his vision.
And the next day the Black Lancers
made an attack on native band and
tally wounded. Ten hours later, when
Tarrion got back to camp, his eyes suf-
fused with blood, his face blackened with
powder, he was met by the major s
the officers tent. In less than two min
utes Ted Tarrton was in the stuffy tent
and on his knees beside the rude bed
where George Copleigh lay dying. AT
the sound of the young mans footsteps
Copleigh opened his rapidly dimming
eyes and smiles family
"Oh, my dear old friend, Il so awfully
sorry the younger man began.
Yes" said the other. softly, and
speaking with great difficulty. I'm gone
this time. | knew it was coming" He
his weakening breath coming and going,
could be heard inside the tent.
At last, with greater difficulty, he went
u want to ask you a favor, Ted he
said. "a great favor. My little girl you
know. She's all alone in the world now
and. Ted. | want you to be her guar
were gazing into his with wistful in
tensity not tc be resisted. He would
have promised him anything.
"Of course will, old man: but I'm
BIZ young--isn't it risky to trust her
to me?" The older man shook his head.
You're tne- straightest, strongest man
knew he said. land God bless you
pause, win You send yincent?" he
asked Vincent was the Chaplain. In
half an hour the will of George Copleigh
was witnessed and signed, leaving Ed
of Ethel Copleigh, having $1,000 a year.
The girl was then at Mrs. McLain't select
seminary for young ladies of No. 90
South Kensington square.
At midnight that same day his well
! beloved friend and chief died in his arms
and Teddy was left to face the world
and his new position as best he might,
alone.
Two years later, Edward Tarrion was
registered at London hotel. He was in
England again for the first time since
ne had become the guardian Of Major
copIeigh's daughter He had,s Of course,