The Holly chieftain., 1900-08-24

waving curtains An slssant apssp
ment. furnished after European styIa.
and with every sign Of wealth anl
luxury around. And two people 1T
ting togsther. talking very earnestly
and in low tones man and
woman.
The man. looking many years older
than when We saw him last. though
only two years have actually passed,
whose bronxed face weArs an anxious
and serious expression. b Paul Gle
land: and the woman. whose dark,
rich beauty, soft liquid eyes and az
quisitely nodded figure. govned in
some CONNECTION" from Paris. have
already won for her conspicuous
place in the European society Of Cairo.
Is the widow OF wealthy government
omcial. and has, since her husband's
death, lived with her brother. Colonel
Beauchamp. one OF the most gallant
officers who had gone through the ter
rible campaign of 1885.
A soft-footed native servant had
just brought In the afternoon cup Of
tea, retiring as silently as he had en-
tered; and the two were too deeply en-
crossed In conversation even to notice
that
Il trust matters may not be 20 bad
as the Colonel makes out. Mrs Breyn-
ton." Paul Cleland was saying. "Thess
turbulent Arabs seem to require a lit
tie blood-letting now and then: but
they are no match for European SOL
diery. The affair cannot be more
than mere skirmish at most"
Adrienne Breynton's soft eyes met
Cieland's face for moment. and then
suddenly dropped.
You do not know the fantastic der
Wish az I do. she said. and her voice
was one Of the sweetest ever woman
possessed. There is nothing in ali
the world will make men fight like
religious zeal. Doctor Cleland, ans
they are intoxicated with It. They
hight like men inspired. All. have
reason to know how they fightr'
She sighed. but there was not any
thing deeper than gentle regret In
the sigh. Cleland had heard the story
of how Oscar Breynton had been
hewed to pieces in mistake for an OBJ
noxious officer by horde OF shriek-
ing, half-mad Arabs: but he had also
heard how his wife. beautiful and
good as she was. had been strangely
neglected by Breynton for years. and
he guessed that her grief must have
been less than her horror at his ter
rible death.
Our cause Is one OF justice aad Of
mercy" said Cleland. after pause:
land think there is no man who
would dare to say that we do wrong
in trying to free the Soudan from the
rule of these barbarous, bloodthirsty
massacreing hordes. confess to shar.
ing the enthusiasm Of the war spirit 3,
far. have made up my mind to &C
on to Atbara, Mrs Breynton."
A strange expression fitted sudden.
ly over Adrienne Breynton's face. II
was like CULVER.
You are not going to the desert?'
she asked, little pantingly.
"Yes. They require doctor, and
have offered my services. 1 am going
next week.
Adrienne's white hand moved the
fan 1t held to and fro gently. Cleland
could not see that her cheek was grad
ually growing as white as that hand
You don't know the Soudan." she
said at last. in low tone. 1T has
killed our best and bravest men. 1t l.
man-eater. sucking the life out oi
strong men, not by battle or murder
or sudden death, but by slow, ignoble
disease. Think Of the days Of weary
march through storms of sand. be.
meath a sweltering sun! And the
nights. sometimes Icy cold. sometimes
hot and close as an oven. Think Of
sickness there!" She shuddered.
Il shall not think of 1t at ALL" said
Cleland. quietly. Others do not, ant
why should 1? l could not stay here
and lead this life of ignoble eas.
while others are bravely facing dan
ger or death. You would not thlnl
the more Of me for doing so, 1 an
sure. Mrs. Breynton."
A lovely color, soft and warm lik,
the blush of pale damask rose
swept over her face for a moment
Did Cleland notice it? 1t was no
likely. For two years only one WON
ans image had dwelt in Paul Gle
lands mind. and he had never ever
imagined that any other could obtair
an entrance there.
j. Yet there was no woman for whom
he had 80 high respect 80 warm al
admiration, SO true friendship, as fo