The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-12-28
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) Duffer Of the Regiment )
hDOOR fellow, you are really aw-

.
average of once fortnight ever since
the Seventh were guartered here"
Stella was generally voted the pref
tiest and the incest girl in Exminster
by the Seventh, who paid her court in
large numbers, but none with such as
siduity as little Tommy Lascelles, "the
Duffer," as he was called by his brother
officers, who, Notwithstanding, were
roughly kind to him kindness for
which they hardly guessed "the Duffer"
was supremely grateful; he had the
softest heart hidden away in Il rather
quaint little body, and other things
of which nobody suspected him, or per-
haps this story would never have been
written.
But to return to Stella.
"Now," she said, "if it was Maj. Lans-
downe. | could understand your cham
pionship, whereas the Lascelles boy
Really, Cousin Jane, where can your
eyes be?'
'In my head, like yours, my dear, but
the surface. Little Lascelles is one of
those people who are more or less
laughed at all their lives; then they
die, and, 10, and behold! people find to
their huge surprise, that the work they
did in the world so quietly and unob
trusively could hardly be bettered, and
that they themselves will be difficult
to replace"
Stella's expression was a study.
Her cousin, Mrs. Ogilvie, shrewd but
kindly student of human nature, could
have sworn that smile hovered for a
second on her lips, and that something
very like tears were in her eyes, but
the girls next words made her think
that she had imagined it.
"You love to dream that geese are
swans, know" she said, land it's such
charming gift to have; but we aren't
all like that"
Almost as she spoke the door opened
and Maj. Lansdowne" was announced,
then Capt Freke," and few moments
later "Mr. Lascelles."
The last conner was relegated to Mrs.
Ogilvie's tender mercies. Apparently
Stella was too much occupied with her
other guests to have word to spare.
and the little man sat beside Mrs. Oeil-
vie. slipping his tea, and talked.
That lady observed that he was look
ing at Stella with curious intentness.
1t almost seemed as if he wanted to
carry away some "brain photograph"
of her, to learn her features off by heart
for future reference.
Presently he rose to go.
Stella laid her hand in his in hasty.
perfunctory kind of way. but she found
she could not withdraw it-young Las
celles held it fast for moment.
"This is long good-by," he said
very gravely; "you know we are or
dered to the front-to-morrow | go
north to see my people, and on Thurs
day we sail"
Mrs. Ogilvie saw Stella's face grow
deadly pale: she saw, too, that young
Lascelles had noted it, too, and that he
glanced toward Maj. Lansdowne.
If he had said out his thought it could
hardly have been palmer: "She cares
for him and is anxious for his safety"
Then another thought as quick as
lightning and that he did speak out:
DO believe me-" he said in his quiet,
gentle way, that if can shield him for
'our sake in any way it shall be DONE"
An expression of complete bewilder-
nent on Stella's face, noted by Mrs.
)gilvie, was quite lost upon young Las
celles, whose eyes seemed suddenly to
nave grown curiously dim.
He moved toward the door, STUN
bling once or twice.
A seemingly boundless veldt, here
md there its monotony broken by
strips of ground little browner than
he rest. with no growth of low shrubs
lpon them, showing that the land there
lad been cultivated.
But in the British camp there was a
'usy hum going on. 1t was almost a |
ity--so large, so full of life and move
nent and sound.
In the generals tent group of
'fficers were discussing the serious
of small detachment of |
'oNPS "ho "SiS stdtlOucu III tne
mall town Of N, and who (news
lad just been brought) were to be
.ttacked by the enemy next day
bout noon. The wires had been cut,
o to warn by telegram was impos-
ible-to detach a regiment to go to
heir help was equally so--every man
vas needed to hold the present i'm
'ortant position until the reinforce
nents should come up. 1t was too
ar to signal. The only possible thing
vas to send mounted messenger,
ut the general hesitated. 1t meant
imost certain death and might do
% good.
"If anybody volunteered" he be-
an,
The words were hardly out of his
1outh when quiet voice said: "May
go, sir? I've got rather a good
orse.
very slight, rather Insignificant
boxing little man came forward.
The general looked him up and
own.