The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1903-03-26

their occasional ferOcity n haDltual
tecklessness, traces and touches of the
noblest instincts of humanity. His
heart was with them always, as his
purse, and bis wine and his bread were
alike shared ever among them.
The laughter, the work and the clat-
Ter Of conflicting tongues were at their
height. Cecil sat, now listening. now
losing himself In thought. while he
CAV the last touch to the carvings be-
fore him. They were a set of chessmen
which 1t had taken him years to find
materials for and to perfect. The
white men were in ivory. the black In
walnut, and were two opposing squad
rons Of French troops and of mounted
Arabs. STOPPING over them he did not
notice the doors open at the end of the
chambree until a sudden silence that
fell on the babble and uproar round
him made him look up. Then be rose
and gave the salute with the rest of
his discounted and awe stricken
troopers. Chateauroy. with a brilliant
party. had entered.
The colonel flashed an eagle glance
round.
"Fine discipline! You shall go and
do this pretty work at BeyIickl
The soldiers stood like hounds that
see the lash. They knew that he was
like enough to carry out his threat,
though they were doing NJ more than
they had always tacit II not open per-
mission to do. Cecil advanced and
fronted him.
milne Is the blame, SIR"
He spoke simply. gently, boldly.
standing with the ceremony that he
never forgot to show to their chief.
and his eyes met the dark glance of
the Black Hawk unfinchingly. He
never needed that there was a gay,
varied. numerous group behind Cha
teauroy. visitors who were looking over
the barrack. He only needed that his
soldiers were unjustly attacked and
menaced.
The marquis gave a grim. significant
smile that cut like so much cord of
the scourge.
whenever there Is insubordination
in the regiment the blame Is very GER
tain to be yours. Corporal, If you al
low your chambree to be turned into
the riot Of a public fair you will soon
6nd yourself degraded from the rank
you so signally contriye to disgrace"
Cecil stood mute. bearing the rebuke
ms 1t became a corporal to bear his COM
mander's anger. A very keen observer
might have seen that a faint flush rose
over the sun tan of his face and that
his teeth clinched under his beard. but
he let no other sign escape him.
The very self restraint irritated Cha
tenuroy. who would have been the first
TO chastise the presumption Of a reply
had any heen attempted.
Back TO your place. sir" he said,
with n wave OF his hand as he might
have waved back a cur. Teach your
my rate.."
Cecil fell back in silence. With a
swift warning glance al Rake. whose
mouth WAS working and whose fore
head was hot as fire. where lie clinched
his lion skin and longrd 10 be once free
to pull his chief down as lious pull in
the death spring. he went to his place
mt the farther end OF the chamber and
stood. keeping his eyes on the chess
carvings lest the control which was SO
bitter TO retain should be broken If he
looked on at the man who had been the
curse and the antagonist OF bis whole
life In Algeria. A voice woke him from
his reverie.
Are those beautiful carvings yoursT'
He looked up. and In the gloom of
the alcove where he stood he saw a
woman's eyes resting on him. proud.
lustrous eyes. q little naughty. very
thoughtful. yet soft withal as the deep
est hue of deep waters. He bowed to
Der with the old grace of manner that
had so amused and amazed the little
vivandlere.
"Yes, madame: they are nine"
"Ah. what wonderful skill"
She took the white king. an Arab
sheik on his charger. In her hand and
turned to those about her. speaking of
Its beauties and its work manship In a
voice low. very melodious. ever SO
slightly languid. that fell on Cecil's ear
like a chime of long forgotten music.
He looked at her. at the CLEAN of the
brilliant hair. at the arch of the proud
brows, at the dreaming. imperial eyes.
II was a face singularly dazzling. i'm
pressive and beautiful at all times.
most so of all In the dusky shadows OF
the waving desert banners.
you have an exquisite art. They
are for sale?" she asked him. She
spoke with the careless. gracious cour-
tesy OF q grande dame TO a corporal of
chasseurs. looking little at him. much
nj the ivory kings and their mimic
hosts OF zouayes and Bedouins.
They are al your service. madame"
"And their priceT" Old habits van.
quished: he forgot who and where he
now was. He bowed as IN other days
be bad used TO bow in the circle of st
James.
"ls-the honor of your acceptance. II
sou will deign to give that"
He forgot that he was not as he once
had been. He forgot that he stood but
as a private of the French army before
an aristOcrat whose name he had never