Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24

occurring. 1 even went 80 far as to remind
him that there had been Abenfeldts among
us FOR four centuries"
He couldn't meet that argument ex-
claimed Adron.
No, he parted 1t gracefully, I admit
He reminded me in turn that there had
been SelpdOrfs also in the guard, and swore
that had he a son of his own to nominate
he must still at this moment have given
the preference to this Englishman. 1 left
him to reconsider the matter, however, and
rode home, to find that already waiting for
me in my quarters, and he pointed to the
parchment in Adolf's hand
Adolf looked up with a smile
He will not join Immediately sir, this
Not for a week"
Then 1t doesn't really matter, you
know added the young man.
Wanenloups red-shot eyes cleaned upon
him suddenly.
las your commanding officer sir" he
said. grimly, Il don't understand your
meaning: but" and an odd smile flickered
about the savage lips.
las private gentleman, colonel" put in
Colendorp.
AS private individual I understand
your meaning very we'll But II 1 were
here as your colonel. Lieut. Adolf by heav-
en-. SIR, not all the officers OF the guard,
past or present che rose to his feet as he
spoke, and, grasping the hilt of his sword,
glared round upon them-"should dare to
hfnt at insult to a comrade! and he drove
the blade home with c1atter Into it's scab-
bard. and strobe out Of the room as he had
come, ike a thunderstorm.
the men waited in silence until the echo
OF his footsteps died away and In the mind
OF each rose vivid memory. It happened
from causes which might in the case of
the guard Of Nassau, be called natural
that the three present lfeutenants, namely
Unfair, Varanheim and Adolf, had Joined
on on the same day and. by way of support
ing the traditions of their immediate pre-
decessors, each instantly agreed to chaI-
lenge each of the others, the result Of
which would, in all probability, have been
cancies in the list of officers
Wallenloup heard of this, and sent for the
Eeutenants whom he considered too vaIu-
ahe to be thus easily lost.
Gentlemen" he said "I am abo,,t To
enforce an old order that expressly forbids
quarrels amongst the members of our cOrps
II you want to fight, fight some one else
IL, rher ere are r, plenty OF men who stand badly
ton to them But If any trouble should
arise between any two of you come to me
There has been enough of this kind of
scandal ABOUT US lately, and, therefore, for
the future We will do the thing quietly with
pack OF cards, or. If you prefer it. with
| dice. The man who loses can-go There
| IS the river or. for choice, his own pistol.
You understand me?'
Varanheim looked at Unfair, and JJnziar
| looked at Adolf, and they smiled
I think, said little Adolf, I'VE might
Hnd others to brawl with"
THE river is abomnably cold" added
| Unfair
And the same dish is served for us ALL
1 concluded Varanheim.
! Wallenioup laughed.
Il have laid the alternative before Won
| gentlemen" he said; 1.-The cards or the
dice"
| This was the story that rose in the minds
or the men round the mess table. and a
minute later they Joined in a simultaneous
| shout of laughter. Adiron's big face was
| flushed as he called for special brand of
champagne wherein to drink the colonies
| health.
| Hes magnifcent-the old mani" he said
4 when he could speak. Let him alone.
| He's equal to any mortal occasion. He re-
/ minds me of the day when his imperial
majesty over the border compiimented him
| on the appearance of the guard, saying he
should feel proud to number US among the