The St. Johns herald., 1901-08-24

"Oh, I assure you, the officers will be perfectly wild about it. It's just the thing they can understand"
 Dear mel You astonish me. Yet, 1 perhaps, a peace which contains no element of shame"
 "Oh. it's all right in that way"
 Would appeal even to an officer in his majesty's service.
 The canon leaned back in his seat, and meditated on this new view of life, while the lady resumed her newspaper. and the express panted out of the Box tunnel, and was encouraged to hasten by the scent of Swindon in the dis tance.
 The canon felt in his coat pocket and found Reggie's letter. It was just the sort of impetuous boys letter which ir- ritates the middle-aged. Canon Beck ford read 1t once again:
 Dear Governor: I'm awfully sorry to disobey you, but whatever happens, I am determined to marry Cissie. If you would consent to see her, am sure you would like her. She Is the best girl in the world. If you cut off my al- lowance of course I shall have to chuck the law and try what can do on the stage. I daresay shall get on all right, because Cissie is just the sort of girl to help man. But, all the same, I should be grieved if you turned your back on your affectionate son.
 REGGIE"
 Consent to see her, indeedp' nut tered the canon, as the preposterous conduct of his son stood out before him in its most outrageous colors. He tore the letter across and across, and threw the pieces on the floor of the carriage.
 You have dropped the envelope" |" said the young lady, sweetly, handing it to the canon.
 "Oh, think yon-thank youI Pardon me, was agitated A pure ly personal matter"
 The lady picked up her dressing bag and put it on the rack taking care to cram the label into obscurlty. Then she sat down opposite the canon.
 "Tell me-" she said. You needn't mind: we may never see one another again-and a woman can often help a man."
 The canon stared. But pretty wom- an who offers assistance is not gen. erally denied.
 You could scarcely understand" he said. "But Pm bothered about son of mine who wants to marry a girl fro1n-from the footlights."
 And why not?"
 "Oh, obviously"
 "You have never seen herf'
 God forbidr'
 And does she insist on-on your son marrying her?'
 "I should assume that she would be glad of such an alliance"
 The young lady leaned back a mo- ment and thought. Then. bending for ward, she began again:
 "Canon Beckford-"
 "How did you know?" asked the canon, as she hesitated.
 "Oh, saw your name on the envel- ope. But what I was going to say Is this: That if she was a good girl, really a nice girl, she wouldn't want to marry your son at the risk of drag ging him down. If she felt that she would ruin him she would send him away, and-well-and perhaps she would ruin herself to save him. You see what I mean"
 "If she took that view"
 Perhaps she does. You've never seen her."
 Young women of that class" the canon began, and hesitated. "But, of course, you know nothing of them" "Oh. but do! Do you know. I'm in precisely the same situation. An ob- durate parent refuses his consent to his sons marriage with me-absolutely re- fuses"
 "Why does he refuse?" asked the canon.
 Because he thinks I am not worthy of his son."
 "He has not seen you" said the canon.
 "He has," replied the young lady. Frankly. can't believe it," said the canon. If he had seen you, he must have consented"
 Tickets. please" called the inspect ors.
 For two minutes conversation was in- corrupted, owing to the stop at West bourne park. Then the train began to slide into Paddington.
 "What are you laughing at?" asked the canon.
 Do you really mean you would have consented"
 Certainly. But may I call you cab, or"
 Thanks. I'm being met" said the young lady.
 The train drew in to the platform in its deliberately weary way.
 The canon opened the door of the car riage, lifted out the young lady's dress ing bag. and tried with his finger to bring the label into the line of vision. AS he tried a young man stalked up to the platform and linked his arm in the canon's.
 "Hullo, Governorp' he said, extending the other hand to the owner of the dressing bag. Tt was jolly of you to bring Cissie up. knew that letter would fetch you."!The King.
 Singing Soldiers.
 A London paper notes that during the recent Austrian maneuvers the General in command tried the original