The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-04
A MIDNIGHT CHARGE.
A STORY OF LOVE AND WAR.
ny WALTER WOOD.

The Kings own I-anccrs were on Dodio
the Jumna, homeward bound from the
East India was far down on the horl-
zon. a gentle breeze was blowing. the sea
was in jus calnest mood and there was har-
rnony even in the ladies cabin. when re
Junna sailed there were angry chickering's
between the tenants Of the llttle deh as
to who should have the ore spare peg,
and the chickering's lasted until wrath
ful appeal was made to the captain. The
peg is distinctly mine" said the coionels
lady, "as the wife Of the senior officer"
Il got II first" snapped the majors wife.
land l shall keep IT," I think rank
should count In a case like this" said
a captains wife, haughtly. she was
the only daughter Of the first Lord Brad
~, a successful man Of business with
long invented pedigree, and the other Ia
dies were mere commoners. Appeal TO
the captain. and let him settle it," sug-
gested the wife of a subaltern, who mad
nothing TO lose In the matter.
The captain was appealed 10. and gave
the answer that ne always gave to the
same question He smiled serenely upon
the ladies. and said "seniores priores."
Then it viii b. Mrs. Beechams" said
the coioners lady, and she swept out Of
the captains cabin. Mrs Beecham, who
wished the captain had spoken in English.
warily resolved TO let the peg alone; the
Hon. Mrs. Truman fearful Of being
thought old, said she would not have the
peg on any terms; and the subaltern's
wife. courageous in her youth, took tri-
umphant possession Of it.
"Oh. Baldyr she exclaimed to her hua-
band, Lieut. Archibald McLaren, when
she had crammed the peg with garments,
to the modification of her speeches. com
panlons, i've scored over all the old
women in our cabin. and that upstart of
a shoddy Baron's daughter"
She told him how It had come about
and he laughed delightedly. 'Itll be some
thing to tell them at home as a reminic-
eence OF our military life," he said. Il
shan send IN my papers as soon as We
get back 70 England, and then farewell
TO the army"
And welcome to the life Of a country
gentleman, said the subaltern's wife.
"Oh. how / hate soldering and every thing
concerning WAT. dlh oi the btDiy u Allt
soldiers life! Where does Il come in?'
Don't know" said McLaren at never
came my way. But, thank God, we've
seen the tail-end Of the business. In one
short month we shall be quit Of il all, and
settling in our litt.e place In Nidderdale.
Then we can have a glorious time Let
others see TO the affairs OF state; wen
b. satisfied to look after our family, Ell,
Eina?"
McLaren laughed hilariously, and laugh
ed all the more when his wife colored and
left him, feigning indignation which She
was far from feeling
McIAren and his bride built many cas-.
ties in the air as the trooper steamed to-
ward England, and time-expired men told
one another Of the things they would 10
when they were home again. One or two
sick men died before the Arabian sea was
crossed and their places knew them no
more, but the sorrow Of their loss was
past and many woes were forgotten when
the Jumna sighted Alden.
A launch SKINNED over the water and
her, and a tail, grave man
the colonel The conference was short,
but the visitor was hardly over the side
again when the nature Of his mission was
known. The Kings own Lancers were
ordered to the front in Egypt.
There were many bitter partings, but the
bitleieHt Oh al WIS tHdt Oh hcl1aIeh ana
his wife. She shed no tears and made
no sound Of grief but her husband knew
how near her heart was to breaking.
you viii come again." she whispered
and ] shall wait for you at home" Long
years before she had heard her mother say
the same thing 10 her father as he went
10 the wars, and the mother was waiting
sim.
II win come again" McLaren whisper
ed in return God and the enemy spar
ing me"
The subaltern stepped blindly over ire
eide for the transhpmcnt. Sic watched
the Jumna steam away, and gazed yearn-
ingly long after her hull had disappeared,
and then only a little cloud OF smoke mark
ed the course she had taken. Then he
went below and abandoned himself to his
grief
McLaren was lying with his arms on
the table and his head upon them, when
he heard low, unpleasant voice near him
He rose slowly and confronted Bradda, the
senior subaltern.
THE JOYS of marriage, 1t seems, have
eorrows pretty freely mixed with them
said Bradda
AcLaren made no answer though he
had that within him which made him long
TO seize the man before him and dash him
TO the floor. But he kept his anger down,
and pointed to the door.
o. want me 70 fctFt r. SneerCd Brddda.
Il dare say-you don't want to be seen
crying. and by me Of all mem"
McIsaren choked his anger down again
and pointed once more TO the door
II won't 30, so that's fiat" said Brad
ia. I'm here to gloat over your GRIEF.
just as you gloated over mine when you
stole Nina Vannin from me"
stole her, stole my wife-from your ex-
claimed McLaren with a harsh laugh.
"Why, she detesled the very sight Of
you"
"Ay, that was when you came between
us with your fair words and your boys
face. But for you she would now have
been my wife" said the senior subaltern
bitterly.
"Bradda." said NcLaron solemnly.'T ask
for your sake, as wen as mine, TO 20
away. II you stay here and talk like that
i cannot tell what / may do to YOU"
Boy" said Bradda, senselcss In his rage
at the threat, "cry-baby. you talk IKE a
fool when you talk like that Take care
don't break you on the spot, as ia
break the Two of you for what you've done
10 me. Cryl cry!" he went on hooking
~. who are you crying FOR? For a woman
who's Laughing at you in her sleeve. and