New-York tribune., 1903-06-11

moment later: and looked UP and saw young
redcoat sauntering toward US.
Her tone was fooshly glad to observe, had
not been entirely joyous And Master Archi-
bald as he drew near. did not seem In the best
of ten1pers He was beyond all doubt hand
some youth. and straight 1irnbed; but apparently
sulIen one. He kept his eyes on the ground
and only lifted them for a moment when close
in front of
Good afternoon. aunt"
Good afternoon Archibald. This is Harry
my friend Harry, OF whom you have heard me
speak.
He glanced at me and gave a curt nod.
could see at once that he considered me a null
sance An awkward silence fell between the
three of US broken at length by a start and
smothered exclamation from Miss Plinlimn1on
Archibald glanced his shoulder carelessy
"Oh. yes" said he, they are batting bull
down yonder."
The ridge hid the bull ring from Dogs
had been barking there when we seated our
selves. but the noise had meaning for us. 1t
was the bulls roar which startled Miss Pin
limmon
Pray let US co. She gathered her shawl about
her in a twitter. This is quite horrible.
There's nothing to be afraid Of he assured
her The brute's tied. fast enough. Don't so.
He glowed at again, and this time with
meaning l saw that he wished me gone, and
I moved to go.
This is Harry's birthday I keeping with
him: his birthday as well as mine, Archibald
Cad. l forgot, I'm sorry. aunt-Many happy
returns of the day
Thank you said she dryly- And now if
you particularly wish TO speak to me, I will walk
a short way with you, but only short way,
Harry meanwhile shall find another seat"
She rose and they walked away side by side.
1 gazed after them and then turned my head TO
look for a bench further removed from the bull
ring: and, in doing So became aware of another
soldier in uniform similar to Mr Archibald's.
stretched prone on the turf a few PAGES behind
me.
When 1 stood UP and turned to have a look at
him. his head had dropped on his arms and he
appeared TO be sleeping. But I could have
sworn that whel first caught sight of him he
had been gazing after the pair.
Well. there was nothing in this (you will say
to disturb me- yet for some reason it made
alert If not uneasy 1 chose another seat, but at
no great distance, and kept him in view. He
raised his head once. stared around like one con-
fused and not wholly awake, and dropped into
slumber again Miss PIinlimnon and Archi-
bald turned and came pacing back: turned
again and repeated This quarter deck walk thrice
or four times. He was talking, and now and
then using q slight gesture l could not see that
she responded: at any rate. she did not turn TO
him. But the the grass occupied most
of my attention. and 1 missed the parting. An
odd fancy took me to watch If he stirred again
while l counted a hundred. He did not and
shifted my gaze to find Miss Plinlrnmon COM
ing toward me unescorted- Master Archibald
disappeared.
Her eyes were red. and her voice trembled
little And now," said she. that's enough OF
my affairs please Godr' She began 10 put ques
tions about the Traps. and I told her that Mrs
Trapp spring cleaning and described how
during this process Mr.. Trapp and I took our
meals in the back yard under the Citadel wall
aIl frislky,'' he called IT, and I could not think
why for in fact while it lasted he chas
tened air. not TO say a Iugubrious. Perhaps
we sat sharing bread and bacon under the
naked rock the situation set him thinking
Here. but for the grace OF God. sits Samuel
Trapp homeless outcast" His discourse (usu-
ally so cheerful) would at such times run on
war prices, the scarcity of gold the famine al
ready gripping the very poor. He did not tell
nle-but I had learnt it from the boys the
Barbican. fed themselves sky blue and sink
ers''-tnat was the luckiest apprentice IN the
parish. Even the ropey smell OF the bread they
nurched and it's color. often bright green.
with nnildew, used TO turn my proud stomach.
There few but would have given their
honest parentage and all il brought them
except perhaps their liherty-for mess OF MI
Scougalis porridge.
Now, while I answered Miss Piinlhnmon's
questions, happened 20 hook along the fat