The Irish standard., 1898-03-26

thence, Us the youngster had ruff"
Of preparations to make, and it was
very late, nearly IL o'clock, before he
had rccstablisbed the sentry posts us
ordered by the new officer of the day.
The trumpcts sounded taps" to heed
less cars. and the lights burned bright
ly in ali the barracks. and the troopers
who were not to 60 were chatting the
"dough-Ioys" who were, and SO mix
ing up not II little in the work of prep
arntion. He had seen llayne IL moment
and had been told that Mrs. IIayne
would run back to Florence again as
soon as she had seen to the pncking
OF Ills mess chest and field Kit. The
children were to he allowed to sit up
and see the regiment oil. Merriam sup
posed when taps came that by this time
Mrs. llaync was with Florence but all
the same he left the guard i'll charge
oI the sergeant n few minutes and lur-
ried away over the parade and up to-
her room, and there he found her lying
almost as he had left her---fuce down
ward upon the sofa, and MI alone.
Throwing aside his belt and s:.ber,
Handy knc!t by her side and strove
gently To turn her toward him.
"1Iave you no welcome for me now.
my little girl?" he murmured. do you
realize this is the first trouble that has
ever come between us, and that I'm be-
ing very, very much abused for some
thing that is no fuult OF mine?" His
tone and manner were almost playful.
despite certain soreness Mt heart Ec
could not quite ignore. but Floy re-
sisted and was silent. Il have only
moment Or two. my wife," he presently
continued, gravely and sadly. "you are
soldier enough to know should not be
away from my guard even now. but nay
henrt s-earnrd over you, Florence, in
your illness and distress, and had to
steal moment. Won't you come into
my arms n little while, and let me kiss
away The traces of those foolish tears"
ALI, who knows how much hcr heart,
TOO. may have been pleading with his
pleading voice at the moment, yet the
devil of her jealous love kept rigid
guard between them.
Il shall do very WELL" she answered.
colby. "Mrs. llaync was here. and
told her not to ay"--pausc--thca.
neither need you"
At first he could not believe his
senses. The Wild outburs: of a few
hours before was something easily ac-
counted for in c:ie so young and pas
&ionate, but This cold. rcr.llant, re-
morseless refusal, this practical dis
mlssal OF Ills proffcr of love: comfort
and caresscs. this was something ut
!crly unlike Florence. 1t not only
amazed, it stung him, and, rising slow
~ to his feet. lie stood one moment look
ing down at her in deep bewilderlncnt,
and with no little effort curbing his
tongue and temper. The pretty wrap
per she wore hnd BECOME tlisarrangcd,
and nue slender, slippcrcd foot that pro-
jcc!ed from beneath its shelter was
tapping ncrvousiy the foct o; The sofa.
Sitting a sigh, he locked about Kim.
took from 4 ncig!:bu;;nH chair Il heavy
shawl she had been ilsiGg earlier in tie
day. and, carefully spreading 1t OYER
her az - co:er cvc,: the .-"ic!iic:ls Scot,
he quietly picked un his seeker and as
quietly .vllke.: TO the door. There.
turning about, lie looked Lack q! :c:..
Without changing her position, she had
calmly stripped cf' the a'.aw. with her
right hand and t:crrrd !, to the floor.
The slip?e: ed Scot ,sps s:::!' lc.tiny :fs
nervous, irrcennci,a',:r tattoo as lie
slow,!y, descended he stairs.
She hc"s:: him let l,i::.self c,lt irt., the
night ana lie c:a2!. of the scnA,,ard
against the sa:c:,cSt ;r,! :hc tramp %
lis cavalry Ieu; 80 lie ss::sscd :hc road,
liz walked slowly. heavily nn;v. not
eagerly rs lie came. florence heard
and i:o;ct'. aod the., Ter nr;;!;. AID reso-
ln!!oi: saTa aw;.:'. en:i nga;n ::he vert
bitter. bitter: yet pst wholly peni!:xt
tears.