The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-04
PRIVATE BROWN"

ny l.. Il. LUCY.

~NNNNNNN>~N~~~~AAN
the sergeant's nose-"see that? I'm
a-going to buy a box of cigars next
pay day and be a toff!"
Shut up, will your" And the ST.
lence was broken only by the scratch
ing Of the writer's pen and Browns
heavy beathing as he sliced away at
the tobacco with huge clasp knife.
For a cavalry sergeant's bunk" the
little room was very neatly furnished.
The bed cot and accoutrements were
hidden from sight behind a curtain,
and few cheaply framed engravings
hung on the walls. A small book shelf
was filled with a number of red-cov-
cred drill books and q few dog-eared
novels On the table we're some pho
tographs in upright frames. and one
which occupied the centre place seemed
to have a great attraction for the SER
geant, for he repeatedly looked at 1t as
he wrote. IL represented a tall, slim
girl of about 18 with lovely true
looking face. II could hardly belong
to Sergeant Hollis, for on the back
of 1t was written, ITO my own dear
Douglas-from Marie," and his name
was not Douglas"
Suddenly a trumpet call rang out
sharp and clear on the night air, and
the sergeant jumped to his feet.
There's first post going, and
haven't finished the parade slate yet.
It's all your fault, Brown!" he ex-
claimed angrily. forgetting that he had
taken an hour over five minutes work.
Hastily finishing the letter, he handed
it to Brown, and said. There you are
left the bunk" he added. in kindli-
er tone, Mind you go to school to-
morrow and keep off the drink. You
can come in here in the evening and
tell me how you've got on"
"All right, sergeant. Good night"
And the door closed on Brown, and the
sergeant was alone.
Mamma, what are you going to do
about it now? ,ge don't know where
my poor Douglas is, and his father
says that they have not heard q word
from him since he disappeared. Some
thing must be done"
How ridiculous you are, Marie!"
said Mrs. Crowther, as mother and
daughter sat together in the morning
room of Taunton court. "Wnat can l
do in the matter? It's his family's
place to find him out and tell him what
has happened"
Mono, mammal" objected Marie,
with tiny spot Of red on each cheek.
1T Is our place to do so. 1t was
through one of our family that he was
disgraced, and we ought to be the very
first to let him know about it,"
How unfeeling you are, Marie! I'm
sure your poor dead brother never in
tended that Douglas Gordon should
have to bear the Diaine. II Mr.. Cor
don hadn't been so stupid, there need
have Oeen no scandal; you might have
been married to him now, and your
brother might have been alive"
Notwithstanding her mothers quer-
ulous speech, Marie felt impelled to de-
fend the absent one. and said:
II cannot imagine what makes you
talk like that, mamma. You know
why Douglas took the blame, and yet
every time we speak about him you
pretend that you don't know how noble
it was of him." And as she thought of
all her lover had given up to save the
honor of her family, the girl grew moro
vehement in her championship of him.
Poor Douglas! He wouldn't make
any defence; and to think that he gave
up his name, his home and me, all to
save our name from disgrace, and now
we can't find him to tell him that his
innocence has been proved! Oh, man.
ma, have you no pity for him?"
Softened for the moment by the pas
slonate entreaty of her daughters
voice, Mrs Crowther smoothed down
her frills with her bejewelled hands
and said:
my dear child, of course I'm sorry
for him, and I've no doubt he'll turn
up some day. But you are most fool
ish to keep thinking about him in the
way you do. You've lost three good
chances since your engagement to him
was broken off by me. and don't sup
pose he has thought of you once since"
Marie said nothing, but the happy
confident smile on her face gave her
mother an answer, and, with an indig-
nant swish OF her dress, Mrs. Crow
ther rustled out of the room in a
rage.
In the old days Marie Crowther and
Douglas Gordon were to have become
man and wife. The scion of an old
Scottish family. Douglas had been at
once the pride and hope of his family
and Marie's blameless knight. But a
great disgrace fell upon him. A way
ward, spoiled and unprincipled youth.
Marie's brother, Harry. had been a
guest OF the Gordon's in their High
land home, and had there forged and
uttered check. The forgery was dis
covered, and. dreading exposure, the
| guilty young man had confided his
fears to Douglas, having first bound
him over to secrecy. Neglecting Doug
| las advice to throw himself upon the