The Princeton union., 1900-11-15

idle ?jOltng UitlOinr'
for he was choleric, although not CROSS
grained. Under stern face and rough
manner he had kindly nature far
down, for he did not wear his heart
upon his sleeve, certainly not for an
erring subordinate, as he considered
me just then.
felt rather sheepish and uncomfort-
able as | appeared before the great
man. The general was tall in stature,
very thin and straight. while his
strong. weather beaten facc-the deep
bronze contrasting sharply with the
bristling white mustachios and long,
projecting eyebrows, over fierce stee}y
blue eyes commanded respect.
He began on me at once. by the
Lord Harry, this won't do, Wood!" he
| cried, with amazing volubility and
force. What have you got to say for
yourself? Slept late? OF course you
will sleep late if you waste the night
flirting and philandering with that lit
| tie madcap devil, Frida Fairholme. But,
tell you, won't have the business Of
this office neglected. Now you are late
| for parade and you know insist upon
| punctuality. And | practice what /
| preach. was here as the clock struck
10 this morning. and I'd already been
to Hounslow and back on my bike
But there, you'll end by putting me out
Of temper. Don't do it again.
! 81 won't Sir Charles" said meekty,
yet wondering why I, man of mil
lions. submitted to such slavery, and
turned to go.
"Ah, by the way, Wood, bring NE
that report of yours, will you, on the
defense of the Canadian frontier? 1t
is ready, I presume?"
"Well. no, Sir Charles. not quite.
have been delayed by"-
"Great Scott!' he rOared, instantly
blazing up into white heat. "You lazy
idle young villain! l believe you want
to drive me mad You know as well
as l do that the foreign Office is press
ing for the paper, that promised it tc
Lord Salisbury within a week, and
here you, YOU Oh. go away! I want
none of your excuses. I've had enough
of you. You shan't stay here, bringing
discredit on the Office. I'll have none
of it. You shall go back to your grovel
ing. guard mounting routine, and wheI
you are grizzling your soul out in thai
beastly tropical hole. Bermuda, yor
may be sorry for the chance you've lost
Go away, say. I've done with you
hate the very sight of you"
And l went, meaning in my rage
for l, too, had become furiously angry
to take him at his word and wall
straight out of the house. But custom
is strong. The spirit of subordination
Of obedience, the soldierly sense O.
duty, when once imbibed, are not to b.
shaken off in second. When I re
gained my desk and saw the paper!
there, remembered that was bount
in honor to fulfill my obligations. NJ.
chief had, no doubt, gone too far, bu
that did not release me. Before tool
any further steps l. must first com
plete my work.
There was not much wanting to fin
ish my report on the Canadian from
tier, and did it out of hand. Then
sent it in to the chief and prepared t.
tackle the second set of papers, whic]
proved to be scheme, marked ''strict
ly confidential" for combined attacl
upon New York by sea and land. (Ou
, political relations at that particula
moment were greatly strained. Their
+ were rumors Of grave disagreement, i
nothing worse.) But now I noticed th
word "speak," and knew that mus
take verbal instructions before set t
5 work. l must face my irascible chic
+ again, and Ishad no great fancy for il
I However, it must come sooner or LAT
er, so scribbled a few words on
: sheet Of foolscap and went in.
. The-general was at his standing des
r Che seldom sat DOWN pouring over m
]. other report, but he looked round as
. entered and nodded pleasantly. Brigl
9 sunshine had already succeeded the a
) ways fugitive storms in This hast
! temperament.
i '"Chis will do first rate, Wood. Their
are only one or two points that nee