Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1904-12-16

o~'
kind, and Arthur accepted the position
and looked M to John. His sole in
b%critance frCm his mother was an In
/. clination to think that all was for the
best in this best of possible worlds.
That the treatment he received In it
was different from that awarded to his
brother did not affect his finding.
In spite of the great gulf fixed be-
tween them by their mothers injudi-
cious hand, tho twins had taken each
progressive step in their existence side
by side. They had gone to Harrow
together, and had entered and had left
Sandhurst at the same time. That
Johns name appeared near the top
OF the list and his brothers not far
from the other end surprised no one
Only one person among all Mrs.
Rilineton's friends had the temerity to
remark that It was astonishing. Mrs.
Rilington's reply was "A self-revclation:
Poor little Arthur. he hasn't done
badly for him! He must have worked
hard to have got through at all. We
didn't expect he would. ! fancy Johns
thdllJlt lIllIleIttu INN IlI'I1f 'ldu any
Of us know. Oh, no! There is not
the least fear that he has ovcrworkcd
himself. lie is perfectly strong and
never complains. lie has not given
me an hours anxiety since he was
born"
The rash friend smiled, and agreed
with the last remark more emphatic
ally than was, perhaps, quite polite.
Arthur, she was certain, had never
cost his mother n moments uncasi-
ness since he was born.
So life-the easy, pleasant life Of
the rich--Dassed happily enough for the
young Rilington's, with plenty of pas
time and very few troubles until the
year after they left Sandhurst. Even
at this point where, in the natural
course Of events, there should have
been the parting of the ways, the
strange iutcr-llcndinp of their fates in
terfcrch.
They were both pazettod TO the
same regiment. Then the Boer war
was declared, and with III, down hard
" formed on their faces, and IN com
pany with most that was young and
eager and strenuous in the Empire,
John and Arthur Ellington set sail for
the front.
At Johns express wish their mother
consented that the larcwclls should be
said AT home instead Of on the crowded
transport. Dry-cyed, haRgard and
intense, she followed the young mems
movements. and hung on their words
durinG the BRIEF hours they could pass
with her. WhOn the moment of part
ing came gho watched them, in an
agony too great Tor word, mount tho
dog-cart that was to take them To the
station and out of her sight, perhaps
forever, The rcins were in Johns
hands when her white lips parted in
a supreme effort to speak. Then She
put ont her hand and pulled her young
est son by the arm till her lips were al
his ear.
Take care of John" she whispered
'Our buglcs sang truce for the night,
cloud had lowcr'd
And the sentinel stars set their watch tT
the sky"
Tonight the lines REQUIRED inccS
sanity to Arthur. "Thc scntinc
stars he repeated to himself, lineer
ing on the expression. lie loved Il
think OF them as such. for he. too. wa;
on sentry Co." and had been eve
since his mothers last injunction fel
} on his ear.
The campaign had lasted IS months
and for the most of the time Thu
regiment to which the |Itilingtons be
~longcd-thc Light Dcfcncibles -ha'
been in the thick of the fray. In Thu
Orange Free State, in the TranSyaal
in Cape Colony, they had followed thu
trend Of the fighting; and, although
many a brave soldier had fallen out o
the ranks, never to rise again, the Ri
ineton brothers, the Gomlni, as the.
were commonly called, had ESCAPED
unhurt. Among their brother officer
IL was said that Arthur's a%nxiet.
formed an invisible protective armo
round John that turned both shot AM
shell. AS there was no such shield 70
Arthur, his immunity, they agreed
HIISt Dt iS'l lD'u W ih'hs o'iih h''i''i
neither noticed nor returned the solici
tude.
Arthur's presence tonight In tn
] little camp under the stars ins'ea'
> of In the comparative comfort Of tn
mess tent at the temporary base, wa
: due TO this ~well-known tie betwccI
him and his brother. John, his seniO
In the regiment as he was In life by