Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-05-18

ars. George was my uncle
and I was his guest, but, al
though middle-aged man when l was
but boy, he had always treated me
as younger brother. was lucky in
my host, for he had Travelled wherever
the foot Of man had trod and fought
in every campaign for half century,
and read everything worth reading
from the Bible to the latest novel, and
withal was as modest as q schoolgirl
on her holidays.
George" said !, "let us have a
story"
The dear old chap threw himself
back in his chair and set himself a.
thinking.
81 declare" said George, ''I am quite
out o. practice as a reconteur. find
1t as hard to put my finger on a story
now as if 1 had lived my life in a
convent CELL"
Don't trouble; let us talk Of the
past and the stories will come" I said,
mindful Of earlier days when our
evenings always ended in tale.
ITO be sure" said George, there's
enough to talk of from the day that
Haughton and I landed at Bombay to
begin our soldering till I returned
swords after half a century"
"Haughton," repeated; II never
heard you mention his name before
that can remember"
A shadow seemed to fit across the
fine old face, and he stroked his luXur-
liant silver hair, buried in thought.
Poor Charley! 1t was n dark crime
laid him Iowa dark crime committed,
like many another, for a woman.
Years have since passed, and have
seen human blood flow in torrents, yet
still look back with horror on the
deed of murder I permitted in the
hackless jungle when I might
But a truce to vain regrets. You
will hear the story. Haughton and
were at Eton together, and chums
all our time there. We were in every
thing together, from making rove to the
head masters twin sisters to the fog
gings meted out by their brother. On
the same day we were gazetted to the
same corps in John Companys service,
and embarked on the same vessel,
which, by the way, you would call
convict hulk, for the East.
"Our regiment was quartered at Ghaz-
napore, and we had been quartered
there scarcely three months when
Haughton was the idol of his brother
officers. 1 do believe there was not
man among them who would not
have trusted the handsome, debonair
youngster with his life-except, per-
haps, one, a junior captain named Bar
net. ~. .4a..--
Barnet was as jealous Of Charley as
the serpent of Adam in the garden be-
cause Milly Pritchard brought all her
forces-horse, foot and artillery-to
bear on the heart of the dashing,
golden-haired sub.
"A1illy was just such a girl rs you
may find in every garrison town in the
kingdom-fond of fun and jollity, and
always ready for q Irritation, whether
1t be with the gray-haired command
ant or the dapper sub. She is always
handsome, always n coduette, ready
to laugh at the fellows jokes or be
the confdante of their troubles, and
the favored subaltern invariably looks
forward to his captaincy to marry her
If such q girl is common at home, il
India she is an institution, and the
Garrison Belle was a standing toas
at every mess in my time.
"Milly Pritchard was the daughter
Of an old officer of the company. Hel
father had the reputation of being ex
frnrnn1u Ju0a1fhy- hn
only child she had in addition to he
other charms all the attractions of ;
great heiress.
"This regimental nffaire de coeu
was watched with lively interest, an,
there was many sly jokes cracked a
Barnets expense, which, no doubt
did not help to soothe his wounde,
pride. Haughton bore himself splen
didly. He neither courted nor avoide
the girl, nor betrayed the slightes
consciousness of unusual favor at he
hands. No old campaigner could hav
worn his laurels more gracefully, an
no gentleman could have behaved wit
more perfect breeding to his less fol
tunate rival.
But Barnet was bitterness itsel1
AT first he affected to treat Charlie
contemptuously but the latter 500
showed himself his equal in mos
things, his srperiors in many. The
matters became more strained. Bal
net was barely civil and Haughton wa
contemptuously Indifferent
$50 things continued for about 81
months. Then one evening Haughto
came to my quarters. His face wa
deathly pale and his lips were firml
set. knew he was struggling to SUI
press some violent emotion. 1t wa
evident something serious had hal
pened. A row with Barnet was tn
first thought that flashed through m
mind. He threw himself into cha
and there was pause for several mil
utes.
George he said at last, I must ge
AWAY from hprn' His VOicp hoors