Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-27

ed soil
smoke for little while and talk to me?''
He produced his pipe and tobacco. but
he used his right hand awkwardiy, 1t
was evident to her alert eyes that the
torn quick on his injured finger was
hurting him a great deal The exciting
events of the morning had caused him
temporarily to forget his wound, and the
rapid coursinC of the blood through the
veins was now causing him agonized
throbs.
With a cry of distress she sprang to her
feet and insisted upon washing the wound.
Then she tenderiy dressed it with strip
OF linen we'll soaked in brandy, thinking
the while, with a sudden rush of color TO
her face, that although he could suggest
this remedy for her sleight hurt, he gave
no thought to his own serious injury.
Finally she bounced upon his pipe and
tobacco box.
Don't be alarmed" she laughed Il
have often filled my fathers pipe
Tor him. First, you put the
tobacco in loosely, taxing care not to use
any that is too finely powdered Then you
pack the remainder quite tightly. But l
was nearly forgetting / haven't blown
through the pipe to see if it is Clean
She suited the action to the word, using
much needless breath in the operation.
THAT is a tirst-rate pipe. she declared.
My father always said that straight
stem, with the bowl at right angle. was
the correct shape. You evidently agree
with him.
absolutely"
you will like my father when you meet
him. He is the very best man alive. am
sure
You two are great friends, them
Great friends. He is the only friend /
possess in the world"
What, Is that quite accurate?"
"Oh, quite. OF course, Mr.. jerks, / can
never forget how much l owe to you. L
like you immensely, too, although you are
10, DIT hut
you see my father and have always been
together. ] have neither brother nor sister,
not even cousin. My dear mother died
from some horrid fever when / was quite
little girl. My father rs everything to me-"
Dear child!' he murmured. apparently
uttering his thoughts aloud rather than adj
dressing her directly. $50 you find me
gruff. eh?''
"A regular bear. when you lecture me.
But that is only occasionally You can be
very nice when you like, when you forget
your past troubles. And pray, why do you
call me chiid?'
Have I done sou
Not a moment ago. How old are you,
Mr.. jerks? l am twenty-twenty last De-
cember.'
And l. he said, will be twenty-eight in
August
Good gracious!' she gasped. II very
sorry, but really thought you We're forty
al least
Il look it, no doubt Let me be equally
candid and admit that you, too, show your
age markedly.
She smiled nervously. What a lot of
trouble you must have had to-to-to give
you those little wrinkles In the corners of
your mouth and eyes, she said.
Wrinkles, How tcrrible,''
Il don't know. 1 think they rather suit
you; besides, it was stupid of me to imagine
you We're old. l suppose exposure to the
sun creates wriNkles, and you must have
lived much in the open air.
early rising and late going to bed are
bad for the complexion he declared, SOL
EMMY.
Il often wonder how army officers man
age to exist" she said. They never seem
to get enough sleep in the east, at any
rate. 1 have seen them dancing for hours
after midnight, and heard of them pig
sticking or schooling hunters at O'Clock
next morning."
80 you assume L have been In the
army?'
u am quite sure of it,
May ask why?"
your manner, your voice, your quiet air
of authority, the very way you walk, all
betray YOU
Then he said sadly, Il will not attempt
to deny the fact. l held commission in
the Indian staff corps for nine years. 1t
was hobby of nine Miss Deane. to
make myself acquainted with the best
means of victualing my men and keeping
them in good health under all sorts of fam
ciful conditions and in every kind of clim-
ate. especially under circumstances when
ordinary stores were not available. With
that object in view l read up every posi-
BILE country in which my regiment might
be engaged, learnt the local names of COM
mon articles of food, and ascertained par
ticularly what provision nature made to
sustain life. The study Interested me.
Once, during the Soudan campaign, 1t was
really useful, and procured me promotion
TELL me about it,
Inv finy,S in, no Cart
was necessary for my troop to follow up a
small party of rebels mounted on camels,
which, you probably know, can go with
out water much longer that horses. We
were almost within striking distance, when
our horses completely gave out, but luck
lily noticed indications which showed that
there was water beneath a portion of the
plain much below the general level. Half
an hours spade work proved that I was
right We took up the pursuit again, and
ran the quarry to earth, and l got my
ca ptaincy."
Was there no fight?"
He paused appreciate time before re-
plying. Then he evidently made up his
mind to perform some dsagreeable task
The watching girl could see the change in
his face, the sharp transition from eager
interest to angry resentment.
Yes, he went on at last, there was a
fight. 1t was a rather stiff affair, because
d troop OF British cavalry which should
have supported me had turned back, owing
q.
But that did not save the officer in charge
of the oath Lancers from being severely
reprimanded."
THE oath Lancers!' cried Iris. Lord
Ventnors regiment
Lord Ventnor was the officer in oues-
ton"
Her face crimsoned. "Then you know
him?" she said.
"I do"
rs he your enemy?"
Eyes"
And that is why you We're so asitatrd
that last day on the Sirdar, when poor LADY
Tozer asked me If were engaged to him ~
How could it affect you? You did not
even know my name then?'
Poor Iris! She did not stop to ask her-
se1 why she framed her question i'm sucb
manner, but the sailor was now too nro-
foundly moved to heed the Slip She couId
not tell how he was fighting with himself
merely beating down the inner barriers -;
seii-ioVe, sternly determined once and -
AL 10 reveal himself in such light TO tbis
peauuiui and bewitching woman thai In
future she would learn TO regard hin, o,in
as an outcast whose company she must
perforce tolerate until relief came
IL aHected me because the sudden men
. ION oi ms name recalled nv o,,,,
OlSSrace- L Quttad tho S"h