The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-07
Copyright, 1901, by Charles King

rance sternly "You know as well as
II was because of-of Mr.. Langdons be-
ing here. and such demonstrations are
disrespectfll TO the colonel"
The colonel didn't hear II, sir. He'd
gone home"
He'll hear OF II and hold me respon-
sible.' said Torrance angrily. Not only
that. but l observed men saluting when
they spoke to Mr.. Langdon. That's all
wrong"
The battery sergeant ground his heels
together and his teeth. but held his peace.
You know, a dismissed officers en-
titled TO no such honors." said Tor
rance. Just order II stopped. You
may go" And Flynn turned away.
thinking things he could not say. Lang
don spent that night at Melvilie's tent
and was TO leave for the railway after
breakfast In the morning. Before break
fast he and Ethel Grahame we're stroll
ling slowly up the shaded pathway In the
north ravine. The brook came tumbhns
down its rocky bed TO their right. and
half a mile out they met little squad
OF battery men, with the familiar ID"
upon their hats. They were carrying
tempting little strings OF trout. Two OF
them glanced at Languon. reddened. half
raised their right hands. dropped them
and gazed awdwardly away. They were
his own old men. Then they met third.
who looked sausrely at him and raised
his hat as courteously as Virginian and
stood aside 10 let them by. A few rods
farther on two others fishing from the
bank, turned and gazed. then glanced
quickly at each other and exchanged
grins. These last were strangers-men
who had come into the battery after he
had left n, rather III favored pair.
There was no reason why they should
salute: there were reasons why they
should not. But, on the other hand, a
nd
should have been observed n for no other
reason than the presence OF woman,
member OF the majors household. But
Il pleased these two young cubs. only re-
Gently from the streets of some eastern
city, 10 litter audibly and follow the
pair with impertinent glances Langdon
could not but see It. and his soul rose up
in wrath Miss Graharne. too. had not
failed to notice q thing 30 utterly unlike
the pleased, smiling manner OF the vet
eran soldiers whenever the garrison la
dyes ipa ppened to pass their way. Eager
to dissemble. as though she had not seen,
Ethel plunged instantly into enthusiastic
comment on the view before them. II
was indeed a lovely scene. but Langdon's
soul was hot within him. The indignity
was as much TO her as to him. He half
turned. as though intending TO step back
and accost them. She read his purpose
and with quick movement placed herself
before him.
"Oh. Just look at that vinel' she
cried, pointing 10 a climbing plant
among the rocks across the tumbling
hgeok,,t then. all smiling confidence.
beamed upon the fishing twain. "Oh,
could you reach me spray of that?
IGl thank you so much"
No answer. With broad, blue fnannel
backs ostentatiously turned toward the
speaker, the two young fellows hung their
heads, slyly glanced at each other and
giggled again. 1t was more than Lang
don could stand. Springing past her.
standing stunned and aggrieved at such
boorishness-the first and only evidence OF
III will she ever saw among the soldiery-
he was upon them In an instant
"Out Of the way. you hulking brutes''
he ordered. low and stern. as he laid
heavy hand on the shoulder of the near
est
II don't have to-" sneered the fellow.
''You amt givin' orders here" and went
spinning backward at the instant. hurled
BY al the force Iangdon's arm could mus
ter IL wasn't too much. His old training
stood him in good stead but practice had
been stopped by the wound of the previous
winter. and in another moment he realized
that he had two ruffians 10 deal with ana
was alone unarmed. Ethel Grahame's
shrlek Of terror rang through the ravine
as the two sprang at their helpless VIC
tim and bore him down among the rocks,
The next instant n tall young soldier
bounded past her and hurled himself upon
the topmost assailant. 1t was the iao