Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-06-10
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he could not see the tender light in
her eyes. but the quiet sympathy OF
her voice restrained the protest prompt
on his lips. Yet he biurted out after a
slight pause:
That is a very uuSavOrv subject"
rs it, | do not think so. l am a
friend. Mr.. jerks. not an old one. I ad-
NIT. but during the past six weeks we
nave bridged an ordinary acquaintance
ship Of as many years. Can you not
trust me-"
Trust her: He laughed softly. Then.
choosing his words with great delibera-
ton. he answered: Yes. l can trust
you. l intended TO tell you the story
some day. Why not tonightg"
Unseen in the darkness. Iris hand
sought and clasped the gold locket sus-
pended from her neck. She already
knew some portion OF the story he
would tell. The remainder was OF
minor Importance.
1T is odd" he continued. that Won
should have alluded to six years mo-
ment ago. 1t is exactly six years al
most TO day since the trouble began
with Lord NentnorT' The name
slipped out involuntarily.
Yes. I was then stan corps sub
alt2rn. and my proficiency in native
languages attracted the attention OF
a friend in Simla. who advised me TO
apply for an appointment on the DO
htical side Of the government OF In
dia. l did so. He supported the anpli-
cation, and ! was assured Of the next
vacancy in native state provided that
4 got married. | was not a marrying
man. Miss Deane. and the requisite
qualification nearly staggered me- But
! looked around the station and came
10 the conclusion that the commission
er's niece would make a suitable wife.
l regarded her points so To speak. and
they tlled the bin She was smart.
good looking. lively. understood the
art of entertaining was first rate I'm
sports and had excellent teeth. Indeed.
81 man selected wife as he does a
horse. She
Don't be horrid Was she really
pretty"
Il believe so. People said she was"
But what did you thinkT"
AT the time my opinion was biased.
! have seen her since and she wears
badly. She is married now and after
thirty grew very fat"
Artful jerks, Iris settled. herself
comfortably 10 listen
Il have jumped that fence with lot
in hand" he thought.
I'VE became engaged" he said aloud.
'She threw herself az him." commun-
ed Iris
Her name was Elizabeth Eliza
beth Morris" Tie young lieutenant
OF those days called her Bessie. but no
matter.
We'll. You didn't marry her. any
how" commented Iris. a triie sharply.
And now the sailor was on level
ground again
Thank heaven. no." he said earnest
ly. we had barely become engaged
when she went with her uncle to Sim
Ia for the hot weather There she met
Lord Nentnor. who was on the vice
roy's stan. and-if YOU don't mind. we
viii skip a portion OF the narrative
/ discovered then why men in India
usually go 10 England FOR their wives.
While in Simla on ten days leave /
had a foolish row with Lord Ventnor
in the United Service club-hammered
him. in fact. in defense OF a worthless
woman-and was only saved from a
severe rcprmand because l had been
badly treated. Nevertheless. my hopes
OF a political appointment vanished.
and | returned to my regiment 10 learn
after due reelection what very lucky
person I was"
Concerning Miss Morris. you meany"
Exactly And now exit Elizabeth.
Not being cut out for matrimonial en-
terprise, tried 10 become a good Of
ficer. \ year ago. when the govern
ment asked for volunteers TO form
Chinese regiments. sent in my name
and was accepted. had the good for
tune TO serve under an old friend. Colo
mel COstobell. but some malign star
sent Lord Nentnor 10 the far east.
this time in an important civil capaci-
~ l met him occasionally. and we
found we did not like each other any
better. My horse beat his for the Pa
CODA Hurdle handicap. Poor old Sui
tan, / wonder where he is nowr'
Colonel Costobell fell III. and the
command Of the regiment devOlved up-
on me. our only major being absent in
the interior. The cOlOners wife, unhap-
PLY. chose that moment TO fiirt, as PEG
pie say, with Lord NentnOr Not hav-
ing learned the ACCESSIBILITY of minding
my own business, | demonstrated with
her. thus making her my deadly enc
my. Lord Nentnor cOntrived an Off
cial mission to a neighboring town and
detailed me for the military charge. /
sent junior officer Then Mrs. Costa
bell and he deliberately concocted a
plot TO ruin me- he for the sake Of his
old animosity-you remember that /
had also crossed his path in Egypt
she because she feared / would speak
10 her husband. On pretense OF seek
ing my advice she inveisled me at
night into deserted corner OF the club
grounds at Hongkong. Lord Ventnor
appeared, and as the upshot OF their
vile statements, which created an inn
mediate uproar. I-well, Miss Deane, /
nearly killed him"
Iris vividly recalled the anguish he
betrayed when this topic was inadver-
tentfV broached one daV early I'm their