The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-06-27

Pouf! You must have been a court
chamberlain once, weren't you? A
great thing have done certainly! Got
you permission to 60 and throw car
tel at old King Death; that is all!
There! Loup-a=griffes-de-fer is coming
to you. That is your summons
The orderly so nicknamed approach
ed and brought the bidding Of the gen
eral in command Of the cavalry for
Cecil to render himself at once to his
presence. These things brook no Sec
ond's delay in obedience. He went,
with quick adieu to Cigarette, and
the little Friend of the Flag was left
in his vacant place beside the fire.
And there was pang at her heart
Ten to one he goes to his DEATH"
she thought. But Cigarette, little mis-
chief though she was, could reach very
high in one thing; she could reach a
love that was unselfsh and one that
was heroic.
A few moments, and Cecil returned.
"Rake," he said rapidly in thee!Fitt i f}eeh
he habitually used, SADDLE my horse
and your own. am allowed to choose
one of you to accompany me-" 49,:
Rake, in paradise and the enyied Of
every man in the squadrons, turned to
his WOrk-with him task Of scarce
more than second - and Cecil ap-
preached his little Friend of the Flag.
"My child, cannot attempt to thank
you. But for you should have been
tempted to send my lance through my
own heart"
keep it's lunge for the Arbicos, my
FRIEND" said Cigarette brusquely
more brusQuely because that new and
bitter pang was on her. "As for me,
I want no thanks"
mo; you are too generous But none
the less do I wish I could render them
more worthily than by words. If /
live, will try; if not, keep this in my
memory. 1t is the only thing I have"
He put into her hand the ring she had
seen in the little bonbonniere-a ring
Of his mothers that he had saved
when he had parted with all else and
that he had put off his hand and into
the box of Petit Reine's gift the. day
he had entered the Algerian army.
Cigarette flushed scarlet with pas
sions he could not understand and she
could not have disentangled.
''The ring of your Mistress! Not for
me, if know it! Do you think want
to be paid?'
''The ring was my mother's," he an
sWered her simply. "And I offer it
only as souvenir
She lost all her hot color and all her
fiery wrath. His grave and gentle
courtesy always strangely stilled and
rebul1ed her. But she raised the ring
off the ground where she had flung it
and placed it back in his hand.
IF so, still less should you part with
it. Keep it. It will bring you happi-
ness one day. AS for me, have done
nothing.''
"You have done what 1 value the
more for that noble disclaimer. May
thank you thus, little oneY'
He stopped and kissed her, a kiss
that the lips Of man will always give
| to the bright, youthful lips of a wom-
an, but a kiss, as she knew well, with
out passion, even without tenderness.
With sudden, impetuous movement
with a. shyness and refusal that had
never been in her before, she wrested
herself from him, her face burning, her
heart painting, and plunged away from
him into the depth Of the shadow. And
he never sought to follow her, but
threw himself into saddle as his gray
was brought up. Another instant, and,
armed to the teeth, he rode out Of the
camp into the darkness Of the silent,
| melancholy, lonely Arab night.