The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-07-17

II
M the end OF the Strand. and was pass
ing Trafalgar square, there was 10 one
shouted and cheered more vigorously
than the old soldier, james Bennett
late member Of il, who had come up
from the pretty Surrey village with his
daughter Elsie, to have look again
upon the flag and uniform which he had
so long respected.
.sThere he goes, Elsiel That's Con-
nell." cried out the veteran, as the nero
of the day rode past, in the battered
Iancer's helmet, and with the trusty
lance i'm hand.
The girl looked eagerly nt the soldier,
who was the cynosure of all eyes, and
saw a dark. tanned face, with frank
look i'm it's brown eyes. which just that
moment fell upon her as she stood on
the pavement facing their owner. Then
one who had noticed closely would have |
seen that the soldier turned his gaze |
ouickly away, with look of pain ON |
his face.
But the girl had seen that look, quick
ms Il was, and sudden jerk OF the
fathers arm made him turn round 10
his daughter She had tainted, and
several of the bystanders aided him In
getting her into a shop close by.
"It's the excitement" said some or
them. shell soon be all right"
She rallied in a few moments, and
looked round half-vacantly. Then, see
ing her father beside her, she whispered
TO him:
"Did you see who ii wasp
"Who what was, my dearY"
"Why, this Robert Connell."
"Why. no; of course, that is, il was
Robert Connell who saved the flag from
the enemy" said the veteran.
Father" whispered she, don't think
|, I'm rambling in what say, for I'm not.
Father Robert Cornell is Reginald Bar
! low-that's as true as I'm here!"
The old man looked at her IN pity,
and set down her words to her mind be-
/. ing unhinged, so he thought IT wisest
to say nothing more.
/, But when, few days after they had
= rome back 10 the calmness OF their lit
!, tie Surrey village, a knock came one
day at the door, and without waiting
for its opening. a tall soldier, in the uni
form OF the --th Lancers, came walking
in. announced himself as Robert Con-
: nell. late Reginald Barlow, even the in
credulity of James Bennett himself had
TO give way 10 surprise at his child's
: quick perception of the truth. There
was no reticence on the part of any of
;, the three. With a quick movement, al
:, most before she knew what she was do
: ing, the girl had risen and rushed for
y ward to the arms of her never-forgotten
= lover. whilst he, on his part, had adj
: yanced towards her; and the father
~ had risen and saluted in military fash
ion. matchmaking he was saluting the
regimental standard in saluting the
hero.
Reginald, my Reginald" sobbed thu
girl, cor Robert, oh, I'm lost; | dom
seem to know what I'm saying or doing
Whatever made you leave me2'
Call me Robert, my dearest; let u
forget the other name. Nobody blu
YOU knows, or would ever suspect tina
Reginald Barlow and Robert Connel
are onel And IL Is better they shouli
not know, after what has happened
so call me Robert Connell from now
And sit down, Elsie, darling, whilst
tell you my story"
So the girl sat down, still holding hi
hand, whilst he explained that ate
leaving his landlady's house on tina
fatal morning so long ago, he had me
the postman at the gate. and receive
letter from n friend saying that he ha
better get out of England II possible, a
the police held a warrant for his arre'
on a charge of forgery. He explaine
that, some weeks before, at friend
-, house, he at his suggestion copie
signature upon a note given him Il
the purpose in order to show his ski
,ee in copying, never thinking of the VI
ns to which such note might be put.
re seemed that this so-called friend hf
~ used the document for procuring loa
- of 6 80 later on; and, now the pole
~ were on the track, he had decamped Q
-. ready. and written Barlow 10 do u
- same.
-. "What could / do" went on the Sc
- der, "but act as 1 did? To be arrcste
g. g. even innocently, and brought up
ra court on my wedding day. IL wou
- have killed you. Elsiel knew you
feel IL terribly as IL was, but / knew
re was innocent, and so perhaps wron
ly-thought IL best to efface myself
a.. completely as possible.
49, $50 / left at once for Kings Gro
80 and thence TO York, where | enlist
- the same day in the til Lancers Al
20 had always had a taste for adventure
Iosa knew that soldering would suit me.
!. 20 took the name of Robert Connell. Tn
,ad with the uniform and the place of q
49, listment, secured me from any fear
anI. detection by the police, as long as
Ne kept my secret TO myself. The rest
mo my story you know. ! dared not ey
ives write you, as knew everyone's lett'
'o,,s in village are more or less public pre-
~ nrt,r 20 the nnsfmnn and the fnct O