Middletown transcript., 1898-11-26

| I amOunt6u aIuuSe
! to insanity. Per-
,ival was Algy's superior in every
it was pity they both fixed on
,he Grey Horse, for If two fellows
lon't like each other, it's rather a bore
20 have them at such close quarters.
But, as ill-luck would have it. nothing
would serve Algy but the Grey Horse
chiefly, believe, because his cousin
had just been appointed.
don't think Percival shared his dis
ike. He had got the best of it all
round. The two men came against
each other at every turn; they were
both good shots, both frst-rate riders.
But Algy carried his jealousy into bis
sport. and the other didn't which gave
him very much the advantage.
: Gradually Algy was making himself
horribly unpopular in the regiment,
and, indeed, in all the neighborhood,
by the bitter cynicism of his tongue,
and also by an idiotic hatit Of practical
Joking, which seemed to be growing
upon him, and ended by shutting many
doors against him. But he was hand
some fellow, tall, well set up, with aW-
fully good manners (when he was so
and he was nearly always q
favorite at first; so when one door
closed another opened, and bis expert
ences, instead Of doing him good, only
served to make him Indifferent to
peoples opinion, and sort of don't
carishness" settled down on him, which
did not help to make him more popular.
When he and Percival both fell in
love with Maude Lafone, we really
thought there would be bloodshed; but
fortunately for the peace of the realm,
there never was question as to which
of the two Miss Maude preferred. Algy
just walked in and won-and, although
I think he adored Maude, half his satis-
faction lay in the besting of Percivall
He, poor fellow, took bis beating like a
man, although he was awfu'ly cut up.
They said he rode very hard that win
ter. and think we were all glad when
the regiment left Harpenden, and poor
old Percival had no longer got the spec
tacie of the triumphant AlgvH perpet-
ually before his eyes.
The engagement was likely to be a
long one, for Maude Lafone had very
little money of her own, and the out-at-
elbow condition of her iance was
proverbial. Things dragged on for a
year, during which Algy's temper be-
came something awful. l think be
couldn't make up his mind to leave the
regiment and try to get something to
do: be was cut out for soldering, and
scarcely fit for any other occupation.
Old Lafone had a little place in Ross
shire, on the coast, where you could
put in q couple of weeks very comfort
ably after plover, rabbits and such like
and even get dozen or SO brace o.
grouse. They had little steam launch
and the deep-sea fishing was rather fun,
all around Cronarty. About the tims
of the Inverness meeting Algy and
went up there and had a capital weeks
sport. All went well until the las
day of our visit, when Old Lafont
talked business with Algy, and upset
him dreadfulIy. He said his future
son-in-law simply must make up BIZ
mind what he was going to do-wheth
or be was going to try for an aejutancy
or leave the army altogether. He (Mr
Lafone) could not have Maude hanginl
on and spelling her life for nothing
All he said was fair enough, if ht
hadn't upset the whole applicant by
saying that it was pity Maude hadn't
fancied Percival. / don't think ht
meant anything py it, but Algy was
simply furious, and there and ther
broke off the engagement. I think ole
Lafone was bit startled, but Algy
was too angry to listen to word, ant
be left the house an hour after without
seeing Maude. In fact, he b haved
like the wayward, ill-tempered chap ht
always was when Anything crossed him
aud yet Icouldn't help feeling sorry fol
him, and, although / disapproved of the
whole proceeding, came away at thu
same time ,he did, and We journeyet
together as far as Edinburgi.
At Inverness an old lady got into oul
carriage, apologizing for the intrusi5D
aud explaining that there wasn't a cor
ner anywhere in the train. OF course
we both put out our cigars, and protes
ted that there was no necessity for tht
old girl's apologies, although !, for one
felt intensely aggrieyed at her presence
What's one to do on long journey il
one mayn't smoke? Thought it simple
cruelty to animals, and then and there
made up my mind to join ''the smokers
league" (" IL any such association exists
for the protection Of helpless males.
must say that this sort of adventure
showed Algy at his besi. He wal
charming to our travelling companion