Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-21
CHAPTER III.
NJ T~-L n-L

There Is 40 doubt that OF the two young
people who met that pleasant clean
| breathed day Of July on the Brabant corn
lands Maurice Raith was the one who
thought most of the encounter
This. Of course. was not at all according
to the rules Of the game. The dashing
young aid and favorite secretary, to whom
his chief looked to draw secrets from the
breasts of the great ladies (who sometimes
held such In their keeping)-what would
he care for the daughter of the Presbyte-
rian chaplain Of Scots regiment, lately
transferred from the Dutch roster?
Yet striding back to headquarters. he
ground his heel into the earth to think that
she had laughed at him. Had she not bid
den him go home and set to the careful
copying of his letters on pain of being
whipped?
Repeating this to himself with unnecessa-
ry vehemence. he suddenly laughed aloud
and 80 felt eased. For when a man once
has treated matter as joke be 1t ever
so brief period, he can never take it bac
again into the region Of the highest tragedy
where alone danger lies.
30 Maurice Raith, laughing plt awav b,s
1ll-humor. and made the saner resolve. ssThe
little vixen! will be even with her yetp'
But Maurice Raith had not reached head
quarters before he saw that something of
nrst-rate importance had happened there
The chief. his sword pitched on the near
est chair his plumed hat lying broadside on
the ascedc camp bed. was striding to and
iro, debating furiously. Mounted officers
and west. ~
"Raith! Raithr' Maurice heard his name
shouted with increasing volume of sound
Raith to see his gracer young subaItern
. ..s the words. adding In a lower tone,
ana devf OF temper you will find him
IN my friend, when he does get hold of Won.
He has been demanding you with oaths and
cursings for the last half hour
mus encouraged. Maurice faced his chief.
he stood IN the middle OF the room yollev
ing orders dispatching brusque Commands
70 the faThest limits of the camD arrang
ing rendezvous with his allies, Eugene Of
savoy and the sulky Badener prince.
Ihfs was the day Of Corporal John when
ne nad matters Of weight upon his mind, =
All, Raith!Capt. Maurice Raith-and
pray inform me whose kissing curls have
kept your Presbyterian Drawn and con-
have here under my hand a mission for
you, Master Maurice. that had better he
wholly private betwix you and mel"
And Maurice Rajth. bowling humbly he
ner apartment.
Marlborough did not daily with his s,1b-
ject. but put his wishes with characte ris-
tic vigor and clearness.
The army marches at once to the south
Rhiner' 10 inc
The young man started
My Lord, you promised me a regiment -
he said.
The commander-in-chief laid his hand IN
his shoulder with more tenderness than
could have been expected from 50 cold ard
stern man.
II promised your father Raith. that Won,
should earn 1t first. Were you my own son
you should do no less. should do no
morew ~
II krow 1t. my lordH' said Maurice
Raith. Only show me how am to do II
My desire is to use my sword in your sery-
Ice as well as my per"
Ah, said the duke, with not a trace Of
his recent haste. you make the mistake Of
all brisk young men. There are more WAYS
of earning military renown than the way
of bu.i at fence. You have head. Can
tain Raith. but you need not knock it
against stone wall. There are a thousand
youngsters in my army who VIII lead q for
lorn hope, run headfong upon a breach
storm a fort, endure danger and hunger or
lie out three days in the open fields with
their wounds unattended, yet think that
they have done nothing out Of the com
mon. But there are not so many-indeed
know Of but one whom I would intru Il
with the commission which 1 will nut into
your hands this day. His name Is Maurice
Ratthg
The yodng mans heart beat fast at the