The Indianapolis journal., 1902-10-26
GIFT OF THE GODS
JOHN STRANGE WINTER.

her. Now, had better go direct, just call.
or shall go and. Oh, hang 1t all! It's
a very awkward situation"
AT that moment there came a thump,
thump on the door.
Come in!'' shouted Roslyn. "Oh, It's
you. is it?''
1t was a merry young face that appeared
as the door opened.
Roslyn, could you lend me the loan Of a
clean, white tie?' was the question.
"Oh, yes, think so. Look in that top
large drawer. There. yes. If there isn't
a clean white one, there's a spotted one, 1
know"
The newcomer pulled open the drawer
and took out a handful of clean cotton era
vats. His choice fell upon white one with
pale blue spots.
''Bedad, and this is a findr' was his re-
mark. "And you are a good-natured fell
low, you are, Roslyn.''
Somehow O'Donoghue always took on an
extra touch of the brogue when he was
asking favor, and he asked many during
the course of the twenty-four hours,
though everybody excused him because he
was always so ready to confer them him
self.
"ODonoghue," said Roslyn, "er-I-I say,
did you ever-h'm-did you ever meet a
Mrs. Bruton?'
''Bedad, and 1 did that samev' returned
ODonoghue.
"Oh, you did? You know her?"
Il do that same" replied ODonoghue,
who. like all Irishmen, seldom committed
himself to yes or mo-
What sort of a woman is she?'
'She's a confoundedly pretty woman!" re-
turned O'Donoghue.
Eyes, know. have heard so; but what
sort Of woman is she in herself?'
"Oh, she strikes me as a clean, whole
some woman enough" said O'Donoghue.
suddenly dropping his brogue and assum-
ing a matter-of-fact tone.
"Ah, you go to see her sometimes. What
are you doing this afternoon?
Nothing"
"Will you take me down to call on Mrs.
Bruton?'
"Will take we to call on Mrs Brutong'
suddenly taking on the brogue again; Twill
1 take ye to call on Mrs. Bruton, were ye
saying? Well. now. what might we be
wanting there?"
81 want to know her,
one a lone Wlddy woman
I've heard that she's lone wildly wom-
an. and I've also heard that she's very
pretty. 1 want to know her. have rea-
sons. Will you take me? If you don't i
shall go by myself and chance it."
Faith! And to save the honor of the
regiment I don't mind sacrificing myself
just for vance in a way"
''All right Well, I'll get out of this and
into some decent clothes, and I'll be ready
as soon as you are. Bawl for Jenkins when
you get to the door. will your
The Irishman went out, and the next
moment yell which took the form OF
'Jenkins!" resounded through the corridor
The result was that within ten minutes OF
so Captain Roslyn had divested himself OF
his uniform and had got into what he
| called decent Clothes" otherwise a light
| tweed suit Of a somewhat loud pattern.
by the way. where does the widow
woman live?' Roslyn asked, as the two
men stepped away across the barrack
square.
We'll, she lives in the little house down
by the river. It's but a modest little place
and it has a very convenient garden wall
Shure the wildly sits on the garden wal
4
passing along the river side look up and
they think there's a goddess among the
trees And they can't tell how she gets or
the top of the high wall, not at all, at all
And it isn't until they come UP the steps
| into the terrace that they realize that wher
she sits on the top of the high wall the
lady's feet are on solid ground"
| "Oh, I know the house. And, egad! I've
seen the lady. She's pretty, by Jove!"
"Yes, the little WILDLY woman is pretty. a.
pretty as paint" was O'Donoghue's re-
| joinder.
The result of the call upon Mrs Brutor
! was that Roslyn asked, on taking his de-
parture, IL he might come and see hel
again.
"Of course you may" she answered
brightly. - should be charmed to see you
Life is very dull in Blankhampton, whert
I scarcely know SOUL
why don't you get to know them?"
Because don't think shall stay here
very long,"
| "I see.'
"If had intended to stay 1 would have
| got letters of Introduction and would have
done the thing properly. AS it is, dom,
care about the place. only came here fol
my little girls sake. It has suited her very
well for the few months have been here
Yes, do come and see me again, Captain
Roslyn. I am at home nine days out of ter
| at o'clock
So Roslyn went away back to barracks &c
find Pat Devereux hanging about obviously
on the lookout for him.
"WeI?" he asked, eagerly. Have YOU
! thought of anything?''
st have been to see the lady,"
.'what! You have been to see Mrs. Bru.
| ton?''
| "I have"
How did you manage it?"
"Oh, O'Donoghue took me. He knows
| her"
| YES 1 know he knows her. Well?"
''weI, of course didn't tell her exactly
| nv errand. I'm going to see her again.
| couldn't say anything with ODonoghu.