Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-08-29

good and wholesome, don't see any fun
in the things we see fun in"
NO humor at all, assure you. said
the Captain. Nothing but sober
truth. Fact is, this chap WHO felt the
| north so strongly until he ought to-
have felt it, was my brother; he's down
in Cuba now, broiling for the sake OF
a lot of yellow people whose souls are
in their stomaehs.'
The others of the party had returned
20 the rGncae-house The two stood
within the circle of the freight. the
semi Seminoles busy about their own
amusements, not noticing their pres
ence. Harding saw the leaping lights
of the flames playing upon the dark.
red masses of her hair. the smooth
curves of her powerful ard graceful
figure. the clear flush upon her cheek,
the delicacy of her profile, the somber-
ness in her half-veiled eyes. Suddenly
she spoke:
Il have another feeling, Captain
Harding 1t has come to me while we
are standing here. 1t is that | shall
need a friend ere long. am drawn to-
ward you, because you are the first
American gentleman | have seen for
long. AS an American woman, in a
people OF kindred blood, but still not
my own people, ask you: Should oc-
casion arise, will you be that friend?'
He looked at her gravely. and he
knew instinctively the effort it had
cost her to say this. He no more i'm
agined that she desired Irritation or
that she lacked sincerity than he
thought that his own idolatrous
troopers would rise and butcher him
where he stood. So he said.
IF there is anything that an Ameri-
can officer may do Miss English, to aid
or succor countrywoman you may
count on me. | trust that no occa-
sion may arise, but if it does, will do
my best
She thanked him gravely and sweet
ly. Come to the house" she said.
Il haven't anything of value with
which to repay you, but If you like
music. | will sing to you"
Now, deep in the somewhat battered
heart of Bob" Harding was memory
a sister back in the old home in the
Pennsylvania hills, and this sister
used to sing him songs in the twilight
in voice that was rich and deep and
low. During his years on the frontier
those notes had fingered with him. as
the perfume of flower will sometimes
linger in the nostrils long after the
flower is dust. So, when in the hushed
drawing room her glorious voice pealed
like chime of golden bells, he sat ST.
lent, absorbed, once more a careless
youth, with his newly-won epaulettes
glittering on his shoulder; the wide
world ahead of him and those visions
reckoning which beckon every man iii
his life's morning march, when his
bosom is young.
In vain did Glynn, with nod and
wreathed smile intimate that there was
genial company in the smoking room.
In vain did Allyn tiptoe in and whisper
to him and tiptoe out again, realizing
that the gallant captain had sworn at
him softly, but violently. In vain did
the Hon. Henry Lascelles appear in the
semi-dark of the hallway, catch his
eye, lift tall, thin glass, drain 1t to the
dregs and back solemnly out of sight.
Harding sat on, transported on the
waves of liquid sound to the sunny
hillside where he was born, with the
scent of the clover about him and the
heavy busy hum of bees upon the
summer air.
(To be continued)