The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-07-03

thoughtful looking girl Of some y
ears, was sitting anxiously awaiting
the arrival of an expected visitor.
Presently there was tap at the door,
and a servant entered.
Captain Walter Granville, miss"
The girl rose as a TALL bronzed man
OF about 80 came into the room.
Il hope you will forgive me for ask
ing you to call, Captain Granville she
said with a grave smile. 81 heard you
were back in London, and felt that
under the circumstances you would not
think it liberty. My aunt, Lady
Ehenley, has retired with bad mead
ache, else she would also be here TO
receive you"
81 am only too glad to be Of any SER
vice." he responded as he sat down
Elm fact, If you had not written,
should have ventured to call
She sat down opposite him. The
only previous occasion on which they
had met had been at Liverpool three
years ago. when he had set sail TO
take up his command in West Africa.
With him had been her brother, young
Dick Raymond, then starting his mill
tary career as subaltern, and she and
her aunt had journeyed down to see
the last of him.
He remembered every detail of the
short time he had spent in her com
pany; now as he met her again, after
the terrible thing that had happened,
his heart went out to her in pity
~You know what I want to know"
she said quickly. 81 only saw your
official dispatch published in the pa
peTs."
God knows it was hard enough to
WRITE" he broke out
at was kind of you to say what you
did-'A gallant and promising officer. "
she exclaimed. But tell me all,
please" she finished pleadingly.
1--WE we're in Sierra Leone when the
rising in the Badakuta district broke
out" he began, speaking in a low, dis
jointed voice. II was Immediately dis
patched with an expedition to quell 1t;
your brother came along with me, the
only other white officer who could be
spared. We got up near to Acandro
and encamped over night on the south
bank of the river. In the morning we
prepared to cross; the natives, we I'M
,derstood, were ambushed about two
miles away on the other side" He
paused Suddenly, as we began to
cross, we were attacked by them in
the rear. They were in full force; we
were surprised, and the fighting was
desperate Numbers Of our men fell,
and it looked as If were were in a
tight corner, when Sherston and his
relief party came up on the opposite
bank, just in time. We dropped fiat
on our faces and they fired over our
heads-the situation was saved"
"And Dick?" she inquired tremu-
1ously.
"The last time saw him was some
minutes before Sherston came up" he
said. speaking with difficulty. "He
threw UP his arms suddenly and stag
;gered backward ON the bank"
Unto the river?" she whispered. He
nodded.
There was moments silence, then
the girl rose to her feet. The tears
were glistening in her eyes, but she
was smiling.
"Tf it had to be, thank God he dice
as he did-fghting at his post" she
cried. tits something for me to bt
proud OF"
He looked at her steadily.
eyes. it's good to think that" hi
said slowly.
She stood before him with shining
ewes. for the moment full of enthusi
asm. Then it died away and she sanl
down and covered her face with he
hands.
A little later he left with a promis
to come to luncheon one day witt
Lady Shenley. He went straight to tn
rooms which his man had engaged
for him in Duke street, Piccadilly
Sinking into an armchair, he burie
himself in thought
Eyes, l did right" he said at last
with a sigh. About a week afterwar
he received an invitation to luncheo
at the house in Mayfair, and he wen
with a curious feeling of eager anticI
patton. Violet Raymond treated hi'
in the light of an old friend, and h
found the couple of hours spent in he
society more enjoyable than anythin
he had yet experienced. Presently
when he rose to depart Lady Shenlei