Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-08-30

above fond Of the domestic hearth. ''Tfme
enough when she and Fred were old
oddities in spectacles and slippers"
Leaving Gussie Illuminating over her
wardrobe with all the power of her shifty
little brain. and Esme casting anxiously
about for some good excuse to remain at
home, we turn once more to Miles and
his friend Captain Gee. The latter has
been in England for six months on med
ical certificate, basking and butterhying
in ladies' societys not only in his native
north, but in the larger, pleasanter pas
lures of the great metropolis. He does
not look much of the Junior Army and
Navy in the wake Of his friend Miles
Miles. who only landed from South At
rica within the last twelve hours. 1t is
nearly two years since he last stood. in
the dining room of the club; two drearJ
years spent on Afric's sunny strand,
struggling TO make the best of a dull,
monotonous existence, endeavoring, with
all his might, to forget what might have
been," and yet dreading every newspaper
he took up, every letter he opened, to see
the announcement of his cousin EsTe's
marriage. OF course, she would marry!
From words ignorantly let fall by his
brother officers lately from home, from
copious descriptions from Annie, he was
fully alive to the fact that Miss Braba-
zon was no longer a mere pretty little
country flower, born to blush unseen; but
that all through the full, fierce light of a
London summer, she had ranked as one
of the seasons beauties.
1t was by no wish of his own that he
found himself in London. He had been
sent home, at two days notice, in charge
of invalids, and had only had time to tele-
graph to Dicky from st. Vincent. He
found that gentleman eagerly awaiting
him at Southampton, ready to welcome
him the moment the gangway was out.
The two friends journeyed up to Lon
don, and of course dined at the club to-
gether, sitting long time over their meal
and talking any amount of ''shop," for
Captain Gee was greedy of regimental
news. When he had severely cross-exam-
ined his companion down to the personal
appearance of the latest, he suddenly said
in the most matter-of-fact manner, but
looking askance under his white eye
laShes:
by the way, Miles, I'm going to take
you to a party tonight"
Miles merely stared at his friend for
some seconds with lazy amusement, and
then said, as he deliberately helped him
self to cheese, Not if l know it, old
man."
'Oh, come, you know; none Of your
nonsense. You must come to Oblige me.
"And why? What is the special attrac-
tion?'
81 promised Mrs. De Montmorency Bo-
hun to go. to be sure, and put in an ap-
pearance, and could not disappoint her,"
with conscious Importance.
''Bosh, my good sir; she'll never miss
you,' said his companion, discouragingly.
"She will never know whether you were
there or not. I'm afraid you are getting
that red head of yours turned"
''I promised to go and bring friend"
proceeded Dicky, frmly-''to bring a
friend You are the friend" with
pompous sweep Of his hand.
Gam I?'' ironically. Il rather fancy
that By the time you are fighting your
way into this good lady's drawing room
l shall be in bed
''I have invested in two of the most
touching buttonhOles in London, and I'm
not going to have yours wasted" return
ed the other, coolly ignoring his friends
remark 1T would be rather hard lines
if we did not spend the first evening to-
gether, 'eh? And, strictly between you
and me, there's little girl l particularly
wish you to see"
Meaning the future Mrs. Gee?" ex-
pressively.
I'm not sure" grinning; anyway, she
does not stand half bad chance"
But can you not manage to present me
some other time? Why not tomorrow"
feebly. You know how l loathe par
ties"
You won't loath this one, I'll go bail.
You'll come? You must come'
well" irritably, Il suppose I must;
but, mind you, III only look in for half
an hour Remember, I'm not as keen a
society man as you are, and I'm only go
ing to oblige you"
Within five minutes of midnight we
discover the two gentlemen leisurely
winding their way up Mrs. Bohun's tsair-
case.
Ito be coutinuedI