The Red Cloud chief., 1905-07-28

s'aN' 80 btif
usually go to England for their wives.
While In Silnla on ten days leave I
had a foolish row with Lord Ventnor
In the United Service club-hammered
him, In fact. I'm defense OF n worthless
~woman-nnd was only saved from a
severe reprlmand because I had been
badly treated. Nevertheless, my hopes
OF n political appointment vanished.
and returned to my regiment to learn
person | was"
Concerning Miss Morris, you mean?"
Exactly. And now exit Elizabeth.
Not being cut out for matrimonial en-.
tcrprise, | tried to become n good OF.
hcer. a year ago, when the govern.
mcnt asked for volunteers to form
Chinese regiments. I sent I'm my name
and was accepted. | had the good for.
tune to serve under nm old friend, Colo.
mel Costobell. but some mallgn star
sent Lord Ncntnor to the far east.
this time In nm important civil capacl-
~. | met him occasionally, and we
found we did not like each otlpr any
better. Ny torsc beat his for the Pa.
CODA Hurdle handicap. Poor old Sui
tan, | wonder where he IL now!'
Colonel Costobcll fell i'll, and tho
command of the regiment dcvolvcd up.
on me, our only major being absent in
the interior. The colonol's wife. unhap-
PLY, chose that moment to tlirt, MS PEG.
pie say, with Lord NcutnDr. Not hay
Ing learned the ACCESSIBILITY of minding
my wi business, | demonstrated with
her, thus making her my deadly enc
my. Lord Ncntnor contrived an OIL
cial mission to n neighboring town and
detailed me for the military charge. |
sent Il junior officer. Then Mrs. CoSto-
bell and he deliberately concoctcd Il
plot to ruin me-. he for the sake of his
old luminosity you remember that |
had also crossed his path in Egypt
she because she feared | would speak
TO her husband. ON prctcnsc Of seek
Ing my advice she inveiClcd me mt
night into n deserted corner of the club
grounds ut IIongkOng. Lord Nentnor
appeared, and as the upshot of their
vile statements, which created an i'm
mediate uproar. well, Miss Deane, |
nearly killed him."
Iris vividly recalled tbe anguish he
betrayed when this topic was inadvcr.
tcntly broachcd one day early In their
acquaintance. Now he was rccitlng his
painful history with the air OF II man
far more concerned to be scrupulously
accurate than aroused in his deepest
passions by the memory OF past
wrongs. What had happened in the In
term to blunt these bygone sufferings?
Iris claspcd her locket. She thought
she knew.
"The remainder may be told In a SEN
tcnce,' he said. "Of what avail were
my frenzied statements against the
definite proofs adduced by Lord Vent
nor ana his unfortunate ally? Even
her husband believed her and became
my bitter foe. Poor woman! l have it
in my heart to pity her. Well, that is
all. | am hcre!'
Can n man be ruined so easily? ~
murmured the girl. her exquisite tact
leading her to avoid any direct express
sion Of sympathy.
1T seems so. But l have had my re-
ward. If eyer / meet Mrs. Costobell
again l will thank her for n great serv-
Ice"
Iris suddenly became confused. Her
brow and neck tingled with n quick
access Of color.
"Why do you say that?" she asked.
And jerks, who was rising, either did
not hear or pretended not to hear the
tremor in her tone.
Because you once told me you would
never marry Lord VentnOr, and after
what l have told you now I am quite
sure you will not"
"Ah, then you do trust me?" she al
most whispered.
He forced back the words trembling
for utterance. He even strove weakly
to assume an air Of good humored
badinage.
"See how you have tempted me from
work, Miss Deane," he cried. 1--WE have
gossiped here until the fire grew tired
of our company. To bed, please, ut
once
Iris caught him by the arm.
IL will pray tonight and every night"
she said solemnly, that your good
name may be cleared in the eyes of all
men, as ii Is IN mine. And | am sure
my prayer will be answered"
She passed into her chamber, but her
angelic influence remained. In his
very soul the man thanked God for the
tribulation which brought this woman
into his life. He had traversed the