The silver star., 1900-04-06

4 IL. NIl<AA ASAs
Z Don Gordon came out Of the mess
room of the regiment at Rawal Pindi
and. vaulting the horse his native serv-
ant held in readiness for him, took his
way through the balmy Indian spring
evening toward the pretty bungalow OF
Capt. Derwent of the Gordon High
landers.,
Don's pale cheek was flushed, and ne
carried his slim young figure, in Its
Kharki uniform. with more of its Old
majestic swagger than had character
lied it for many weeks. for he had been
twice In hospital since he had volun-
teered from home for active service on
the frontier with the first battalion OF
the Sherwood Foresters.
: He had only now just recovered from
a severe gunshot wound from an
Afridi rife, received whilst leading a
score of his brave Derbyshire company
on foraging expedition.
But the exhilaration OF hope more
than of renewed health was account
able for his springing step and the
light in his large brown eyes.
The British mail had brought him a
letter from his cousin Roddy, which
afforded him much satisfaction, for 1t
contained the announcement of Rod
dys engagement to Don's sister, Diana.
thereby setting at rest forever lurk-
ing fear in Don's heart that Roddy's
thoughts were centered on Capt. Der
vents fair daughter, Lille.
The white Lily" she was not in
aptly called in the cantonment whittier
she had accompanied her father from
Aldershot some months gone by.
Don rode at brisk canter through
the lines toward the green compound,
where teak and peupul trees rose dark
ly against the clear blue sky. and the
red firefiies flashed in and out among
the slender shafts of the graceful bam-
boos.
But in the minds eye of the soldier
it was another scene which suddenly
rose before him.
He seemed to see a beloved and love-
ly landscape in fair Aberdeenshire. He
heard the murmur of river and the
song of thrushes from the privet hedge
rows. He looked upon the lordly Scot
tish home of Gadie Ha', to which he
had grown up from infancy to believe
himself the heir. and his grip on his
mares rein frightened, and the still un-
conquered bitterness of fierce disap-
pointment swept his heart anew.
His mothers deathbed confession
had proved his foster-brother. Roddy,
to be the heir: but it was not against
Roddy that Don felt any personal
grievance-Roddy. one of the gay Cor
don Highlanders with whom he had
fought side by side through the recent
campaign of the Tirah field force, and
who had heroically saved Don's life in
the deadly thick of battle.
No; 1t was against the cruelty Of
circumstances which had robbed him
at one fell blow of rank and wealth
and that natural case SO dear to his in
most soul.
For king DON" as his brother off,
GERS jokingly termed him. was born to
rule with high-handed self-righteous-
ness. and to his proud spirit disinher-
itance had well-nigh been more bitter
than death. His uncle, the present
Laird of Gadie, might still allow him
ample means out OF the Gadie reve-
nres; but to Don II were small COM
pensation for his forfeited rights OF
heirship.
He might yet succeed in winning the
peerless. heiress. Lille Derwent. for
his bride: but as Don knew In his Sc
cret heart, 1t was only when Lille Der
went had unexpectedly become an heir
ess his thoughts had ever turned to
her with anything akin TO love. and
once already he had well merited her
rejection OF his proposal.
Alas! and alas, for IL was loves
acutest suffering alone was to proye
to Don at last
Not 10 understand treasures worth
TIL time has stolen away the slightest
good.
Is cause for half the poverty we feel,
And makes world the wilderness IL Ia.
AS Don neared his destination he
rode forward more slowly. for he was
now conscious OF II little quickenIng OF
his pulse.
In the circle OF home society. an nj
ready disappointed man would scarcely
return to his fair one. like a moth to n
candle. after lapse OF months: but
olrc,imstnnccd as he and Lille were
now cast for the time being together
In foreign land, matters seemed very
different.
Capt. Dorwcnt was absent with tho
field force: Lille was aione in n
strange country, at present sharing her
bungalow with the young widow and
baby boy of an officer recently killed
on the front. and to whom LillIe's
heart had gone out In deepest SYM
pathy.
Don was subtly conscious that tho
Lille Derwent OF to-day was a very
different Lille from tho coqucttc who
had toycd In the past with his Cousin
Roddy's boyish love. or even the Lille
who had repudiated his own oiYer OF
marriage with such scorn. For he
realized now thnt Lillie had come "a
know the solnce OF reliance upon that
Divine Anchor. whose storm. tossed
souls are never shipwrecked.
Don know himself 20 be but rud.
a --I-..