The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-03-21
DuFFER OF
THE REGIMENT.

Poor fellow, you are really awfully
hard on him, Stellal 1 must say like
himr1
''It's all very fine for you, Cousin
Jane, to talk like that, seeing that you
haven't been proposed 70 by him on
an average of once = fortnight ever
since the Seventh Regiment was quar-
tered here.u
Stella was generally voted the pref
test and incest girl in Exminster by
the Seventh, who paid her court in
large numbers, but none with such as
siduity as little Tommy LasseIles the
''Duffer," as he was called by his
brother officers, who, Notwithstanding,
were roughly kind 10 him-kindness
for which they hardly guessed the
'iDuffer' was supremely grateful; be
had the softest heart hidden away in
rather quaint little body, and-other
things of which nobody suspected him,
or perhaps this story would never have
been written.
But 10 return to Stella
"Now," she said, s1ifit were Msjor
Landsdowne, could understand your
championship, whereas, the Lascelles
boy. Really, Cousin Jane, where
can your eyes be7''
'In my head. like yours, my dear,
bat perhaps they see trifie more be-
low the surface. Little Lsscellss is one
of those people who are more or less
laughed at all their lives; then they die,
and, 10, and behold people fad, to
their huge surprise, that the work they
did in the world 50 quietly andu
trnsiveIy could hardly be bettered, and
that they themselves will be difficult
to replace"
SIella's expression was a study.
Her Cousin, Mrs. OgiIvie, a shrewd
but kindly student Of human nature
could have sworn that smile hovered
for a second on her lips. and that some
thing very like tears were in her eyes,
but the girls next words made her
think that she had imsgined it.
'You love to dream that geese are
swans, 1 know" she said, "and it's
such charming gift to have but we
aren't all like that"
Almost as she spoke the door opened
and Major Lansdowne was announced.
then Captain Freke, and few mo
ments later, Mr.. Lascelles.
Tae last conner was relegzted to Mrs.
0gilvie's tender mercies. Apparently
Stella WAS too much occupied with her
other guests to have a word 10 spare,
aud the little man sat beside Mrs. OgIl-
vii, slipping his tea, and talked
That lady observed that be was look
ing AT Stella with curious intentness.
Il 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,
perfunetory kind Of way, but she found
she could not withdraw it-yOung Las
celles held il fast for a moment.
This is a long goOd-by," he said,
very gravely; "you know We are order
ed TO the front-to-morrow go north
to see my people, and on Thursday we
SAIL"
Mrs. OziIvie saw Stellais face grow
deadly pale; she saw, too, that young
Lascelles had noted il and that he
glanced toward MsjOr Lansdowne.
If he had said out his thought ii
coald hardly have been palmer: ''She
cares for him and is anxious for his |
safety"
Then another thought as quick as
and that he did speak out:
'-Do believe me-" he said, in hi. quiet,
gentle way, -that if can shield him
for your sake in any way it shall be i
done"
An expression Of complete bewiider-
meat on Slella's lace, noted by Mrs.
Ogilvie, was quite lost upon young Las |
celIes whose eyes seemed suddenly 70
have grown cariously dun.
He moved toward the door, stumb-
ling once or twice.