The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-05
The Kissing Of Jacintha.

"Humi" said Captain DAILY. Eyed nav
9 me ride fourteen mile. find a woman
l don't know, drink three bottles of he
fathers port, and kiss her pretty cheek:
! All that for twenty guineas! 'Sruth, Cap
2 tain Masham. it isn't good enough"
Il thought he wouldn't take it," de
clared Major Appleby, shaking his head
The danger is out OF all proportion L
} the stake. They say the French have
cavalry picket in the village"
DAILY turned round and stared at him.
Maybe ye can inform me, Major Apple
by. whether tbs a handsome wench?"
How should 1 know" protested Apple
by. J1
Then" declared Captain DAILY, I'm no
going until ] fEd out
Come, come. said Masham, testify
what does it matter to you what She.
like?" ,.,.,-t.
Thank We. Captain Masham,'' returned
Daily, when ye ask me to risk my immor-
tai soul for your twenty guineas you might
at least consider my temporal happiness.
Cornet Chevening chirped in:
That captain of Chasseurs we found
down there beyond by the brook, the chap
that had lost his leg, told me just before
he died that the French army counted
Jaeintha as the prettiest girl in the PEN
insula"
They seem to have studied that sort
of notation said Captain Daily But dye
suppose this Jacintha is the one he
meant?"
There can be no mistake about that, :"
| declared Chevening. Muller, OF the Le-
gior. knows all about her. She is the inn
keepers daughter at st. Iago de Cadenza
| di Montijos." joa
| And Jacinsha's fathers port, is that
sound?" Captain Daily enquired.
The bottles with the yellow seals are
all right, Muller says"
Captain Daily sprang to his feet.
Make 1t twenty-five guineas to twenty,
Captain Masham, and I'll engage to kiss
the girls lips and bring ye the bottles
Taken" said Masham
DAILY called his servant.
'Tomkins. ye son of Satan, saddle Pious
William, lay out my parade kit, all but the
boots. borrow me a loaded pistol shave me-
and bring me brandy and water quick as
lightning, for I've got to ride ten Irish
miles this very minute, and my will not
made"
why do you want shaver" asked Nor
gate, the adjutant.
Faith. I'm going to call on lady, that's
why" answered the captain by the same
token, adjutant. will ye draw up me will
for me? Twill save time. and if the worst
comes to the worst I can sign it when
get back"
Ten minutes later. shaver, spruce and
debcnair. Captain Daily. of the Horse Gren-
adiers, was cantering out of Aquinqua VII
lage, where the foremost part of the Brit
ish Army found itself in Spain on certain
year in the second decade of the present
century.
Captain Days heart was light, for the
day was yet young and Pious William GO
Ing strong, so he counted on being hack
by bedtime. if be came back at all. II he |
did not come back. so much the worse for |
the Horse Grenadiers. who would certainly !
miss him.
Road to st. Iago de Cadenza di Montojos |
there was none. but the path was easily |
traceable by the ruts OF the artillery and !
wagon wheels which the opposing armies |
each had alternately drawn backward ard |
forward from one position to the other.
Seven quarters OF an hours trot brought |
him within sight OF the hamlet, which nes-
tied TO the hillside forming the further
boundary of valley once closely wooded, |
but now despoiled of its timber partly to
clear ranges and partly for fuel Here and
there clumps of cork trees still rallied to-
gether, and of their. cover the Horse Gren-
adler awaited himself es he advanced
AT first he thought the place deserted,
but presently he observed that a slender
column CT smoke curled in the placid air
from houe in the middle of the only
street.
''That'll be me lady loves said CAPTAIN
Daily to Pious William, and Pious William
whisked the stump of his tail in silent af-
frmation, wondering whether there was
any fresh hay to be had this journey His
master also thought OF provender 'WiI
We come to luncheon % be asked a fat
chicken, which futtersd past Pious VIII
liams' forelegs; but ths bird tarried not to
reply, and her clucking nearly made an end
of Captain Daly--a carbine bullet whizzed
by his nose as the capote of a dismounted
Hussar popped up from behind hedge
Bad luck to your unsportsmanlike con-
duct" calculated Captain Daily who in
the name OF the Goddess of Reason are ye,
armico. or ami?''
Anil" retorted the Frenchman suspi-
ciously. srQu'est ce que c'est pour IN
ami?' He reloaded his carbine while
awaiting the reply. but Days spurs closed
in Pious Williams TANKS, and in two
bounds he was at the soldiers side. hold
ing the borrowed pistol to his temple
fNeHueE- fOuss ye lHnOSp1taDle black |
guard" said he. The man pluckiIy OPEN
I'd his mouth to call, but Daily promptly
slipped the pistol barrel in it and frus-
rated the attempt
When the Frenchman had grated his
eeth on the iron in a vain effort to articu-
ate. he felt that he had done enough for
lonQr. and grew more tractable. 6
After the minutes had elapsed which
DAILY allowed for the defiant spirit to coze '
tut of his prisoner. ne withdrew the pis-
oil until 1t was Just clear OF the French
mans lips and proceeded to interrogate
linn.
do ye know any English at alp"
81 can a YER little 8
What regiment are ye?" c
lie cinquieme Chasseurs Cheval." d
Were we at Talavara?"
'si, Monsieur Yes" I
Dye know man called Durand?"
pierre Durand, Antoine Durand. Paul r
)urand?" ;
Paul Durand-that's he" :
He is a corporal now"
Have you ever heard him speak OF a =
aptain Daly?" 7
Isl. 81, Capitaine Anglais, who has him
iven the liberty to see his wife, n'est-ce n
as?"
81 am Captain DAILY" .
The man lifted his right hand to his {
lpote "Quel bonheur de vous recontrer, D.,
Ionsieur."
This politeness constrained the Irishman
, drop the pistol from its unfriendly atti- h
Ide and return it to its holster. The t
ian bowed. U
And what may be your pretty manner"
sked DAILY. CT
GARNER mon officer, from the town of j.