Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-22

10 plOpdplS vi Iel way W IldhldA-
then the disappointment and the
change of plans and the waiting. No
one to look out for her. Now, some
women can take care of themselves,
ing little thing"
Il think your wife can take care of
herself" said Brereton, smiling faint
ly. Then he seemed to pull himself
together and went on to tell how many
such mishaps and instructions had
arisen from the war. There was old
Blinky, of the Derbyshires-"
IF she had only answered my cables"
interrupted Lloyd.
Too strict a sense of economy, per-
haps," said Brereton.
she never thought of economy" pur-
sued Lloyd. Just a delightful little
madcap-that was so much of her
charm. Why. you remember when
she ordered the luncheon for a hundred
and had things enough for regiment.
The place seems so bare without her;
all the new and most of the old Off
GERS bore me. / am so glad to have
some one to talk to who won't always
chop cheap wit like a nigger tune. Even
other day she was poking fun at me.
We all firt little in the army said
She 50 be prepared Wasn't that
beastly about a girl like Marjorie?"
"Shall we have that parade tomor-
row." broke in Brereton.
"Now, old fellow. this is no question
of a parade. | want to have talk
with an old friend about Marjorie"
Yes. of course said Brereton, with
a painstaking emphasis. and then sat
back and looked out for a long time
over the sea, while Capt. Lloyd went
on and talked of Marjorie to his hearts
copious discomfort.
We'll, good night" said Brereton,
rising abruptly.
But | was just telling you of my
dream and how it has haunted me for
days. 1t was of Marjorie, who seemed
to be i'm some deadly peril which she
could escape but would not, and be-
hind her was a mans face, obscured
as by a mist. I could see it but dimly.
Sometimes the mist would clear a bit
and I would almost recognize the fea-
lures, and then it would elude me. Jove,
what an ugly dream!"
Let us all have pleasant dreams to-
night" said Brereton as he went to
his quarters.
MATTERS ran dIOuS LOT Il week Ill the
lazy camp routine until one day the
mail came in. Lloyd eagerly scanned
his letters when his orderly brought
them in. Not word from Marjorie.
Two letters from Halifax, one a laun
dry bill and the other from his friend
Tilinghast saying that the steamer had
brought neither Mrs. Lloyd nor any
news of her. In his keen disa ppoint
ment he turned to Brereton for COM
fort but Brereton had gone to fetch
his own mail.
More eager than even I am"
Come along and drink something
cool with fire in it," declared Brereton,
passing his arm through Lloyd's and
drawing him to the Crows Nest, where
the major, who never got any letters
and never needed any, was seated, tell
ing rabid stories to the subalterns.
stick by me, old man. said Lloyd.
"I feel uncommon blue" And all that
afternoon Lloyd held Brereton by him
and talked of Marjorie.
growled Lloyd, as he flung himself out
of the door.
Brereton was sauntering back from
the regimental postoffice.
Not a word from Marjorie. Now
what's to be done?" blurted out Lloyd.
Arthur" said Brereton, you're all
right. You'll get good news. Don't
doubt your fate so much, even if your
deserts are small
Jack, you're brick, a bully brick.
If you hadn't said such cheering words
believe I'd have"
Brereton seemed like a man in a
dream. hoping, fearing, trusting. There
was something lying close to his heart
that seemed to weigh upon it, for all
the promise of joy it gave him. Just
one hasty glance he had had of il
when he deserted Lloyd coming toward
him from his quarters. How he had
managed to conceal it he scarcely
knew. He wanted to read it through,
every word of it, but he must wait.
wait, wait. and he lapsed away into
his thoughts while Lloyd went on and
on about Marjorie.
Lloyd drank many times Of strong
waters and the bulldog In him strug-
gied with the mice of melancholy that
We're gnawing at his brain and drove
them off. Still he held on to Brere-
ton.
At dinner in the messroom that even
Lloyd heard something that pleased,
if it astonished him. 1t was Anstruth-
er, who broke out:
"Glad of your luck, Lloyd. My
mother writes me all about it. 1t was
Mrs. Lloyd who worked heaven and
earth to bring about your transfer to
Jamaica, and she's coming out as soon
as your arrival here is reported. Here's
TO the lady, true to her West Indian
first love"
Brereton looked hastily at Lloyd, a
strange smile in his dark eyes. Then
he raised his glass and drank to the
captains wife.
1t was very merry after that and
Lloyd enjoyed the pleasure and cleverly
kept the surprise of it from his fell
lows. Once Rrereton's eyes seemed to