Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-05-07
ANOTHER JOHNNIE.

81 shall never marry" said a mans
voice from the depths of a huge
lounge chair. people are fond of
telling me l shall change my mind, be-
cause I've got title and fair amount
of money. That shows all they know.
1t makes me laugh when my people
wisely tell me 1 shall have it one of
these days, and have it badly. I've had
it, old chap, lis badly as l could have it
to live, and Pm inoculated for all
time.''
$50 that's it, is it?" murmured
Graves, sympathetically.
Eyes, that's it. The only girl 1 ever
loved,' Lord Kiddersleigh went on, not
looking at Graves, but staring hard up
at the ceiling high above their heads,
"loved another Johnnie. Now, 1 take
it, when a Johnnie loves a girl that
loves another Johnnie there's nothing
to be done but clear out; so 1 cleared
out of the Old Black Horse into this
regiment for no other reason than that
it would bring me out here, and at least
keep me from seeing the other Johnnie
having it all his own way"
''Is she married yet%'
81 suppose so. I really don't know,
for I never heard a word about her.
My people knew her, ah, yes, but
E they've never mentioned her in their
letters, as they don't know take any
interest in her-they think 1 haven't
had it" he added. with burst of
nbald laughter that all the same had a
ring of wretchedness in it.
"Do you know the other man?" asked
Graves.
mo, l haven't the least idea who he
is, and 1 don't feel like making any
particular inquiry on the subject. But
that's why l never moon about after
the women, old chap; I'm off all that
kind of thing
81 never suspected it, said Graves.
I've often wondered why you kept
yourself as you do, but, by Jove, nev-
er guessed at the reason
Il daresay not. 1t amt the kind of
thing Johnnie cares to talk about to
everybody. 1 wouldn't have told you,
old fellow, if you hadn't happened to
chum up with me as you have done,
and nurse me through that last go of
fever"
"Oh, that was nothing at ALL" Graves
thrust in hurriedly.
Nothing at all from your
point of view," declared Kiddersleigh
in his mildest tones ''From mine,
though, it's the sort of thing one don't
forget, and, by Jove, if you ever go
home, just you GO and tell my mother,
and you'll find out whether she calls it
nothing any more than do.'
'Oh, l say. Stop that" said Graves,
shuft1ing uneasily in his long chair.
For few minutes neither of them
spoke. Then Kiddersleigh went on. ST
don't know that I'd mind India if it
wasn't for the beastly climate he said
in the querulous tones of a semi-con-
valscent. ''It's all right if it happens
to suit you. Look at you, for instance
you're as sound as a bell, and as
healthy as a roach; but it don't seem
to suit me, somehow, and three goes
of fever take it out of one horribly"
Kiddersleigh got leave next morning
to go to Simla to recuperate, but in less
than a month after returning to the
regiment he was down again with
fever.
This was the worst attack of any,
and long before he was free of it
Graves took upon himself to write. to
Lady Kiddersleigh his exact impress
sion of her sons state of health. He
felt easier when the letter was fairly
gone, and after that Kiddesleigh took
turn for the worse, and there was
some serious talk Of sending him home
by the very first ship.
Kiddersleigh, however, refused to
listen. mo, no. he said, obstinateIy.
Il came out to see some sport, and I've
had none. This beastly fever must
wear itself out in time, and I'm not
going to be beaten by it. 1 never allied
thing in my life till came to India.
and if Johnnie gave in at the begin.
ming he'd never be able to call his soul
his own again as long as he lived. Give
me stronger doses of quinine, doctor
you medicos are so afraid of your nos.
trums.''
The doctor shook his head and left
them. Graves" he said, little later
in the day, ''that young fellow will
croak one Of these days if we don't
look out. Can't you persuade him into
listening to reasonw
You mean he ought to go homer"
81 do. Can you do nothing"
'Ill try" said Graves.
And Graves did try. He opened the
conversation by speaking of Kidders.
leigh's home-going as certainty, at
which the invalid caught instantly.