The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-05-11

he might save himself from punish
ment- But il broke him-he got to
drinking oftener, and the general had
- send him to his regiment; and then
when he heard of Canker's charge
against you, saw the way 10 wiring
the truth out of him. He worshipe6
your father. as did every Irish dragon
that ever rode under him; and l told
him you were 10 be brought 10 trial
for the crime. Then he broke down
and gave the truth-and her penciled
order-to me-"
In the silence that followed the SOL
der of 40 and the lad of only p sat
looking gravely into each others face.
IL was Armstrong who spoke again:
Gray, 1t was manly in you to tell
me your story and your trouble.
could help you here; but-who can help
you when you have to tell it-neXt
time?"
Next time father, do YOU mean?"
queried Gray. puzzled look in his blue
eyes. Il hadn't thought, do you know,
10 worry dear old dad-unless he
asked"
Armstrong; grave face grew dark.
''You ought 10 know what ! mean
Gray. This story may come up when
least YOU think for, and-would you
have il told Miss Lawrence before she
hears it from you?'
Miss Lawrence" answered Billy.
flushing. isn't in the least interested -
do YOU mean that You are nOt-that
You were not engaged TO herr" The
colonel had been gazing out over the
swirling river; but now, with curious
contraction of brOws, with a strong
light in his eyes, he had turned full on
the young officer.
Engaged to her! Do you suppose
could have been-been such an ass if
she would have had me? No, She
she had too much sense
1t was full a minute before Arm
strong spoke again. For a few seconds
he sat motionless, gazing steadily into
Gray's handsome, blushing face; then
ne turned once more and looked out
over the Pasig and the SCARED level of
the rice fields beyond. And the long
slant of the sunshine on distant towers
and neighbOring roofs and cOPse and
wall, and the unlovely landscape
seemed all tinged with purple haze and
tipped with gold. The blare of a,bugle
summoning the men to supper seemed
softened by distance, or some new,
strange information, and gave TO the ug-
lest of all our service calls the effect
of soft, sweet melody; and there was
sympathy and genuine feeling in the
deep voice as he once again held out
his hand TO Billy.
Forgive me, lad, for l judged you
more harshly than you deserved"
One lovely summer-lil1e evening some
five weeks later, in long, heaving surges
the deep blue waves of the Pacific came
lazily rolling toward the palm-bordered
beach at Waikiki, bursting into snowy
foam on the pebbly strand, and, softly
kissing. swept like fieecy mantle up the
slope OF wet. hard-beaten sand. then
broke. tapping and whirling, about tie
stone supports of the broad lanai of
one of the many luxurious homes that
cot the curving line of the bay 20 the
east Of Honolulu. Dimly outlined in
the fairy moonlight. the shadowy noun
tains OF the Waianai range lay low upon
the western horizon. Eastward the
bare, bold. volcanic upheaval of Dia-
mond Head cleaned in bold relief. re-
fiectiug the silver rays. Here and there
through the foliage shone the soft-col
Ored fires of Chinese lanterns. and far
ther away. along the concave shore. dis
tant electric lights twinkled like an
swering signals TO the stars in the
vault of blue, and the riding lights" of
the few transports or warships swing
ing at anchor on the tide.
From little grove Of palms close TO
the low sea wall came the soft tinkle of
guitar, and now and then a burst of
joyous song, while under the spreading
roof of the broad portico, or lanai. the
murmur Of voices, the occasional ripple
of musical laughter, the floating haze
of cigarette smoke. told where party
of wOrshipers were gathered, rejoicing
in the loneliness of nature and the
night.
Ii was a reunited party. too, and in
the welcome Of their winsome hostess.
in the soft, soothing influence of that
summer cline. and through the healing
tonic of the long sea voyage. faces that
had been saddened by deep anxiety but
a few weeks gone smiled gladness into
one another now. \ tall gray-haired
man reclincd in an easy lounging chair
his eyes intent on the clear-cut face of
4 young soldier in trim white uniform.
who. with much animation, was telling
of an event in the recent campaign.
BY his side. her humid eyes following
his every gesture, sat a tall. dark,
stylish girl, whose hand from time to
time crept forth to caress his-an evil
dent ease of sister worship. Close at
hand another young fellow in spotless
white. his curly head bent far forward,
his elbows Oh his knees. his finger tips
joining. was studying silently the eff
feet Of his comrades story on another
"A far girl whose sweet face. serene
and composed. was fully illumined by