Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-05-27
CHAPTER XIV

had presented Mudge to her sovereign,
and Madgc was in high spirits and enjoy
ing her gayctics immensely. June had
been home once. and Sir Thomas had
spent two nights in London, on the ecca-
sion of his wifc's giving Il dinner party Mt
which it was thought desirable he should
preside as host.
The season advanced, and rumors be-
gan to fly about of an expedition to Egypt
III which the Guards were to take part.
AT first the idea was ridiculed, but grad
ually it came to he entertained piorc Sc
riously, and then to he recognized us II
fact. Dallas battalion was for service,
and as soon us this was known to the
ladies' in Grusvcnor street it had n most
d%ampcning effect upon their spirits:
Madge, it is true, affected to share the
enthusiasm of Dallas, and talked gayly
of the distinctions he would carn-thc pos
sihility of medals and Victoria crosses.
Mrs. Ellcsmcre was seriously depressed
mt the thought of the hardship and dam
ger her favoritc nephew might incur, and
as for june, each time she realized it, a
Knot rose i'll her throat and II mist came
before her eyes, and she felt as il life had
suddenly become blank. She would look
f%urtivcly a. him as he was laughing and
talking III the gaycst of spirits, and then
her vivid imagination would see him lying
dead, with livid. upturncd face, on a bat
tlcfleld. or worn and wasted by fever in
some wrctclcd hospital.
Late one July afternoon June md Mrs.
Ellcsmcrc left the carriage at the top of
the Row and took chairs under the trees.
Dallas was to join them there. Madge
was spending the afternoon with a friend.
Mr.. Carsiakc passed, then stopped, turn
ed and asked permission to sit down by
Lady Ncvil. Presently IL friend of Mrs.
iIllcsmcre Joined her, and the first pair
We're left to each other. Naturally
enough. the conversation turned on the
coming campaign, and June, who was al
ways trying to get comfort on the sub
Jcct, asked MIR. Carslake his opinion of
the chances of fighting.
june tried to draw consolation from Mr..
Carslakc. He did not think it would be
III very serious affair: he was not Impress
ed with Il belief in the fighting qualities
of the Egyptians: n change of masters
would make very little difference to them;
they would still he oppressed under my
rule. The climate was the worst part
of it, though the Bedouins and the Nile
might seriously impede our operations.
Then Mr.. Carslnke, not looking mt Lady
Nevil, bnt trying to make his voice in
different. said:
= II suppose Miss Ellesmcrc feels Brokc's
going very much!"
In II moment his meaning dawncd on
June. and she saw that a golden oppor-
tuniiy was before her.
81 90 not think So" she answered. Not
nearly 50 much as my aunt-and l. She
only thinks of the brilliant side of war,
and not of-of the danger"
'i;lic will feel it more when he is gone,
no doubt said Mr.. Carslakc. tracing II
pattern in the gravel with his stick.
II do not KNOW replied June. "Peo.
pie never think anything is likely to hap.
pen to their friends unless it is IL matter
of vitality absorbing interest to them"
but l thought such was the case"
'Ccrtainly not" exclaimed Lady Nevil
with great animation. "Thcrc is nothing
of any sort or kind between Madgc ant
Mr.. Broke. except the most ordinary
friendship
OH and Mr.. Carslnke looked up a
her. Il VAS told that if not actually en-
gagged they were next door to it."
June felt that her opportunity had como
What do not people sayy" she remark
ed. "Do you believe every report 70,
hear?'
oni! wheh IL Is porhc out ny appear
nnccs.'
you are quite mistaken" said Lad,
Ncvil. "Mndgc has never been in low
but once in her life, and then so s%eriousl.
that l think it will quite prevent he
ever caring much for anyone else"
''Tcll me frankly" said Mr.. Carslake
"arc YOU speaking of me? l should no
venture to ask, unless"
Eyes, l am" replied June, with cqun
frankness.
"And-and do You really believe she i
not Indifferent to meg"
II nm quite sure that you are the onl
man for whom she has ever cared SER
ously."
To Mr.. Carslake's infinite chagrin. Dal