The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-09-08
II do"
us he your enemy?"

IT do"
rs he your enemy?"
"Yes."
And that Is why you were 80 agi-
tated that last day on the Sirdar, when
poor Lady Tozer asked me If I were
engaged to him."
EYES,"
"How could it affect you? You did
not even know my name them"
1T affected me because the sudden
mention of his name recalled my own
disgrace. 1 quilted the army six
months ago, Miss Deane, under very
painful circumstances. A general court
martial found me guilty Of conduct
unbecoming IN officer and q gentle
man. l was not even given a chance
to resign. l was cashiered."
He pretended to speak with cool
turbulence. He thought to compel her
Into shrinking contempt. Yet his face
blanched somewhat, and, though he
steadily kept the pipe between his
teeth and smoked with studied uncon-
Germ, his lips twitched a little.
And he dared not look ut her, for the
girls wondering eyes were fixed upon
him, and the blush had disappeared as
quickly as it came.
II remember something Of this" she
said slowly, never nee averting her
gaze. "There was some gossip con-
corning it when I first came to Hong,
kong. You are Captain Robert An
struther"
81 am"
"And you publicly thrashed Lord
Ventnor as the result Of a quarrel
about a woman?"
"Your recollection is quite accurate"
"Who was to blame"
'The lady said that l was"
"Was it true"
Robert Anstruther, late captain of
Bengal cavalry, rose to his feet. He
preferred to take his punishment stand
ing.
"The court martial agreed with her,
Miss Deane, and I am a prejudiced
Witness" he replied.
"Who was the-lady?'
1.-THE wife Of my colonel, Mrs. Costo-
bell"
"Ohw
Long afterward he remembered the
agony of that moment and WINGED
ever at the remembrance. But he had
decided upon a fixed policy, and he
was not a man to finch from conse-
Quences. Miss Deane must be taught
to despise him, else-God help them
both-she might learn to love him as he
now loved her. So, laundering toward
his goal, as men always blunder where
a woman's heart is concerned, he blind
ly persisted in allowing her to make
such false deductions as she chose
from his words.
Iris was the first to regain some
measure Of self control.
II am glad you have been SO candid,
Captain A%nstruther," she commenced,
but he broke in abruptly:
"Jenks, if you please, Miss Deane;
Robert jerks.
Certainly, Mr.. jerks. Let me be
equally explicit before we quit the
subject. have met Mrs. Costobell. l
do not like her. l consider her q de-
ceitful Your court martial
might have found a different verdict
had its members been Of her sex. AS
for Lord Ventnor, he is nothing to me.
1t is true lie asked my father to be per-
mitted to pay his addresses to me, but
my dear old dad left the matter wholly
to my decision, and l certainly never
gave Lord NentnOr any encourage
ment. I believe now that Mrs. Costo,
bell lied and that Lord Ventnor lied
when they attributed any %dishonorable
action to you, and l am glad that you
beat him in the club. l am quite sure
he deserved it,"
Not one word did this strange man
v%ouchsafe in reply. He started vic
lently, seized the ak lying at his feet
and went straight among the trees
keeping his face turned from Iris sc
that she might not see the tears in his
eyes.
AS for the girl, she began to Scout
her cooking utensils with much en-
ergy and soon commenced a song. Con
sidering that she was compelled to con
stantly endure the company of a de
graded officer, who had been expelled
from the service with ignominy, sht
was absurdly contented. Indeed, will
the happy inconsequence of youth, sh'
quickly threw all care to the winds an(
= devoted her thoughts to planning
; surprise for the neXt day by preparing
some tea, provided she could surrepti
tiously open the chest.