Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-09-25

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the other, mere
STRIPPING, Edward Tarrion, or Teddy,
as his brother subalterns called him.
The major was about forty, stalwart
and handsome, but his hair was whiten-
ing at the temples, and his eyes were
usually clouded with care. Teddy
Harrison was fresh from school, tall,
slight, almost callow in his blandness,
but full of the vigor and joy in life, and
he had come like breath of clear,
crisp air to the older man, hardened
and disenchanted by sorrows and dis
appointments. A curious friendship
had sprung up between them. Teddy's
love for his chief was at first talked OF
among the younger men as bit OF
policy, a clever "bootlick." The ma.
jor's brother officers looked and were
interested, for blase and cynical, Cop
leigh wasn't in the habit of forming
even acquaintances when it wasn't
necessary. Still the fondness grew
apace, and the older man had just fin
ished telling the subaltern the story
of his life. It was a sad story-of his
lonely youth, without father or mother,
without friends, for natural difiidence
kept him apart from the gay young
fellows OF the set in which he belonged.
At last he had met the one being to
whom he had poured out the pent up
love of his life, rich, passionate, all
absorbing devotion. The girl had
loved him aud 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 wo-
man," lie said, "I'm all she has in the
world, and should anything ever hap
pen to me-"
"Great heavens, man! What's 60
ing to happen to you?"
Tarrion sat up quickly.
Copleigh was silent for several
minutes. Then he spoke slowly: 81
don't quite know, Ted, but I've got u
presentiment-it's been growing on
me for the past three days. I really
think my times about up for this
world?"
Tarrion's voice was intense with
emotion when he answered:
"Major, you're under the weather.
This unbearable heat and dampness
isn't fit for a man like you. Get leave
of absence and go north for a spell.
Mainwaring can take your place"
But Copleigh shook his head. cit
isn't the weather, old chap" he said.
"Besides there's going to I've trouble
here before long and I've got to be
here. Nobody knows these dirty ma
tives as I do. Don't worry about
me-"
But Tarrion did worry. He tossed
most at the night, an indescribable
dread at his heart, horrible visions of
sudden death passing rapidly before
his vision.
And the next day the Black Lancers
made an attack on native band and
among others, Major Copleigh was
mortally wounded. Ten hours later
when Tarrion got back to camp, his
eyes suffused with blood, his face
blackened wich POWDER. he was met
by the majors orderly and requested
to come at once to the officers tent.
In less than two minutes Ted Tarrion
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
smiled family.
"Oh, my dear, old friend, I'm so
awfully sorry" the young man be-
gan.
eyes," said the other softly, and
speaking with great difficulty, "I'm
gone this time. KNEW twas coming"
He stopped and for few long mo-
ments only his weakening breath,
coming and going, could be heard in,
side the tent.
At last, with greater difficulty, he
went on:
"I want to ask you favor, Ted"
he said, "a great favor. My little
girl, you know. She's all alone in the
world now-and, Ted, I want you to
be her guardian. Will you?" Cop
leigh's dulling eyes were gazing into
his with wistful intensity not to be
resisted. He would have promised
him anything.
"Of course, I will, old man, but I'm
bit young-isn't it risky to trust her
to me?" The older man shook his
head. you're the straightest,
strongest man I know" he said, "and
God bless you for your kindness. "
And then, after pause. "Will you
send Vincent?" he asked. Vincent
was the chaplain. In half an hour the
will Of George Copleigh was witnessed
and signed, leaving Edward Tarrion
the guardian and sole trustee of Ethel
Copleigh, having 92OO0 year. The
girl was then at Mrs. McLain's select
seminary for young ladies, of No. 100
South Kensington Square.
Two years later Edward Tarrion was
registered at London hotel. He
was in England again for the first
time since he had become the guar
dian of Major Copleigh's daughter.
He had, Of course, written Mrs. Nc
Lain at once, informing her of the
death Of Ethel's father, and that, by
the late Majors will, he had become
her guardian, but that it was impossi-
BILE for him to leave the service for
quite while, and would like things
to 60 on as they had been the past
three years. His reply was purely a
business one and thus for nearly a
year all communications had come
through lawyers. But now, that he
was at home once more, his thoughts
naturally turned to the little orphan
in South KensinUton Snnara