The National tribune., 1902-01-02
CHAPTER XIV.
OUT OF SORTS.

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CHAPTER XIV.
OUT OF SORTS.
Your changed complexions are to me :
J mirror
Which shows me mine changed too: fo,
| must be
a party in this alteration finding
Myself thus altered with it.''-Shakspere
1t would have been quite impossible fol-
me to analyZe my feeling for DIR. Khayme
His affection for me was unconcealed, and
L was sure that no other man was re.
ceived as his cOmpaniOn-not that he was
distant, but that he was not approached
BY nature | am affectionate, but at that
time my emotions were severely and al
most continually rcpressed by my will, be-
cause of condition of nervous sensitive
ness in regard to the possibility of an ex-
posure Of my popularity, so that / often
wondered whether the Doctor fully under
stood the love and reverenceI bore him.
On the morning following the day last
spoken of-that is to say, on the morning
of May 9-Dr. Knayme rode off to the
old William and Mary College, now be-
come hospital, leaving me to my devices,
as he said, for some hours. I was sitting
on camp stool in the open air, busily en-
gagged in cleaning my gun and acc0uter-
| ments, when | saw man coming toward
me. 1t was Willis.
where is the Doctor?" he asked.
s"Gone to the hospital; want to see
him?"
THAT depends"
"He will be back in an hour or two.
Boys all risht?" 1 brought out a camp
stool; Willis remained standing.
ooh, yes; what's left of 'em. Say, Ber-
wick, what's this l hear about your being
detailed for special work."
$50" said l.
''What in the name o God will YOU
have to do?"
Wiliis's tone was not so friendly as 1
had known it to be; besides, / had OBJ
served that he called ME Berwick rather
than Jones. His attitude chilled me. /
did not wish to talk to him about myself.
We talk about personal matters to per-
sonal friends. ! suppose, too, that l am
peculiar in such things; at any rate, so
great was my distaste to talking now with
Willis on the subject in question that /
did not succeed in hiding my feeling.
oh" says he, you needn't say it if
you don't want to-"
81 feel" said !, "as though I should be
speaking OF personal matters, perhaps too
personal"
"Well, I don't want TO force myself
on anybody" said he; then he asked,
How long are you going to stay with Dr.
Khayme?" Il
1t flashed upon me in an instant that
Willis was jealOus-not of the little dis
tinction that had been shown me-but in
regard to Lydia, and ] felt a great desire
to relieve him Of any fear of my being or
becoming his rival. Yet did not see how
i could introduce a subject so delicate In
order to gain time, l replied: "Well,
don't know exactly; | am subject TO or
ders from brigade headquarters. If no Or
ders come. / shall stay here day or two:
If We march, ! suppose / shall march with
the company, unless the division is in the
rear"
'If the division marches and DR..
Khayme remains here, what will you dog
he asked.
This was increasing, thought; to en-
courage him to proceed, l asked, "Why
do You wish to know?"
Because" said he, hcstatingly, "be-
San5n Ga@5e l think you ought to show you,
Please tel! me exactly what you mean
by that" said /.
You know very well what mean,' he
replied. 7tI
let us have no guesswork," said L;
''if you want to say anything, this is
good time for saying it."
We'll, then. will said he; "you know
that ! like Miss Lydia
"Well?'
"And thought you were my friend"
81 am your friend."
"Ihcn why do you get into my way?"
"If / am in your way, IL is more than |
know" said /; what would you have !
me TO dO?'
"If you are my friend. you viii keep
out Of my way"
do you mean TO say that ought not
TO visit the DoctOr?"
"If you visit the Doctor, yOu ought to |
make it plain TO him why you visit him."
Sergeant" said /: "Dr. Khayme knows
very wei why | visit him. j have no
idea that he considers me a bidder for his
daughter"
"Well; you may be right, and then again
you may be wrong"
"And you would have me renounce DIR.
Khayme's society in order to favor your
hopesE"
II did not say that. You are perfectly
welcome to DIR. Khayme's company; but I |
do think that you ought not to let him be-
leye that you want Miss Lydia"
shall ] tell him that you say that?"
81 can paddle my own canoe; you are
not my mouthpiece," he replied angrily.
Then would you have me tell him that
do not want Miss Lydia?'
'1ell him what you like, or keen silent
if you like; all I've got TO say is that If .
you are my friend you will not stand in
my way"
at seems to me, Sergeant" said 7.
that you are forcing me into very deli
cate position. For me TO go to DIR.
Khayme and explain TO him that my at
tachment to him is not a piece of hypo-
crisy played by me in order TO win his
daughter, would not be satisfactory TO the
Doctor or TO me, or even to Miss
Khayme."
"Why not to herr" he asked abruptly.
Because my explanation could not be
made except upon my assumption that she
supposes me a suitor; it would amount TO
my saying, don't want you,' and more
than that, as you can easily see | de.
cline TO put myself into such a position.
l prefer TO assume that she does not re.
gard me as a suitor, and that the Doctor
receives me only as an old pupil. / beg
you to stay here until the Doctor comes.
and talk to him yourself. l can promise