Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-22
CHATTER IL.
The Chaplain of ArdmiIIan's ReEi-
ment.

CHAPTER II.
The Chaplain of ArdmiIIan's ReEi-
ment.
Nothing could have been more brilliant
IMAM the camp OF the allies before Nnmur.
When the motley hosts which conquered
IalIard at Blenheim were gathering for the
Tray. The bun and blue OF a regiment Of
Scottish foot, Wurtemburg light borsemen
gold-banded and fretful like wasns. bIuo
Franconian hussars, their boots glitter
Ing with broad silver bands at the knee ana
ankle.
Yet through the Babel OF tongues the
broad give-and-take of compliments in
score OF languages, Flower-o'-the-Co Corn
moved easily and placidly, smiling sweetly
down from the tall horse Of Major North.
she sat barebacked, but as II on an easy
chair, one little white hand laid lightly on
the name, and her eyes rowing hither and
thither over the ranged tents. and further
on on the long white line Of the CITY forti-
ncations, from which came ever and anon
the dull reverberation Of a heavy gun or
an upward burst of white vapor as a NOR.
tar was discharged.
Many men looked at her. They had not
oeeh men else' but the hasty jibe in rough
camp English, learned in the trenches ana
"hhopCA " post 10 post. WAS
nushed by the quick elbow OF a comrade.
The Scots priests daughter-bewar
Her father has the evil eye-she the Gift
OF tongues. Only once Black KesseI Of
Taxis spake roughly to her, and his tongue
crave TO the roof of his mouth. On the
tnirI day he died-as It we're, in the flames
OF hell hre!" This was no i'll repute To
have in such an unruly army.
suddenly she called upon the soldier
servant to halt.
Thank Major North for the use OF his
beast!' she said. tell him Frances Well
wood said sol"
She smiled as she had spoken. like a
princess. The soldier Ia man of InRoldby's
Fusileers) %saluted. drew himself erect as
II ne had been praised by his oficer on
parade and was gone.
II was In front Of a little whitewashed.
rea-tiled Flemish house that Frances had
slid easily and lightly from her horse.
Under the porch, zine covered in broad up.
equal patches. stood an old man. tall and
spare his black cooked hat in his hand.
he was IN talk with a younger man, al
ready grizzled and Drowned with service.
Dut FRANCES was far from paying any at
tention TO this. She ran impulsively to the
OLD man and without noticing his compan-
ion she cast her arms about his neck and
kissed him, in continental. fashion, on both
cheeks.
Frances, Frances" said the minister.
disengasing her gently. will you never
learn manners? Do you not see that I am
presently In c~olloQuy with my colonel, Sir
Archibald Ardmillan2 1t is an affair of
the regiment. / pray you 20 in and leave
us. dear Frances!"
Indeed" said his daughter. az will do
nothing of the kind. II 1t is an AFFAIR of the
regiment, you have your study-ColoneI
Ardmiilan has his orderly room and his
quarters This In at present my front gar
oen' ana II you have anything to say that I
may not hear-there is a gate leading out
Of IT,"
The grizzled shortish man Iaughed-a
bachelors tolerant laugh.
four daughter is right, chaplain" he
said. MY Lord Duke said nothing OF con-
cealing the matter from her. She may as
wen Know soon as syne, as the Ayrshire
folk say"
The old man frowned. with perhaps more
zeal than sincerity upon his brow.
she hath no respect of persons. this
maiden" he said. 'It is the fault Of her
upbringing in camps and the assemblies OF
violent men"
AS he stood In speech with her father,
Colonel Sir Archibald ArdmilIan had kent
mis- hat on his head. For he was one of the
Few who, fearing neither God nor the devil.
took small heed to the belief prevailing in
, the allied armies that the chaplain of his
regiment had intimacies with the dwellers
In strange places. and could summon the
demons from their own places.
He now turned on his heel with a brief
| salutation Of respect TO Frances. and nod
DIM to her father. took his way back to the
headquarters Of his regiment.
. you have offended our colonel. girl
said Patrick Wildwood. THAT is not well
done. Remember that upon his goodwill
depends your very permission to folloH
the eampl"
!. The camp would miss me worse than
would miss the camp!" returned the girl
pattlng her fathers white locks indul.
e gently; you and l can do very we'll with.
. out the camp"
"A great quest" he said. raising hi,
c hand with a kind Of rapture, and his voice
n taking on its pulpit infection, "a great
quest-to deliver the people Of the Lore
$ out OF the hand Of the oppressor. from
n under the hooves Of the horses shod FOL
war"
Then he looked at his daughter with :
y kim OF soft sadness, remarkable In 50
e stern q man.
But this my dove" he went on, mi
dove that stitch among the rocks. tina
hath had her dwelling all her days among
the defensed rocksl What shall do viii
a her In the day Of perll2'
1t The girl arose and put up both her arm
a about the old mans neck.
Patrick Wildwood" she said, using Il
the old Scots fashiOn the full name OF he
,e parent. lis II not written. 'Entreat me no
to leave thee or to return from followin
N after theel For whittier thou Eoest I vii