Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-06-03

unbecoming an offcer and a gentle
man. 1 was not even given q chance
| TO resign. ! 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 little.
And he dared not look at her. for the
| girls wondering eyes were fixed upon
him. and the blush had disappeared as
| quickly as it came.
Il remember something of this" she
| said slowly. never once averting her
gaze. There was some gossip con
corning It when 1 first came to Hong.
kong. You are Captain Robert An
| struther?"
AZ am"
"And you publicly thrashed Lord
Ventnor as the result Of quarrel
about womaA2"
your recollection is quite accurate
'Who was to blameT'
''The lady said that was"
"Was II trueT'
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-ladyT
The wife OF my colonel. Mrs. Costo-
bell"
"Ohr
Long sfterward he remembered the
agony OF that moment and WINGED
even at the remembrance. But he had
decided upon a fixed policy. and he
was not man 90 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 i'm allowing her TO make
such false deductions as she chose
| from his words.
Iris was the first to regain some
measure OF self control
Il am glad you have been 50 candid.
1 Captain Anstruther." she commenced.
but he broke il abruptly:
jerks. If you please. Miss Deane:
Robert jerks.
Certainly Mr.. jerks. Let me be
equally explicit before We quit the
subject. have met Mrs. Costoben I
do not like her. I consider her q de-
: ceitful woman. Your court martial
might have found u different verdict
| had its members been or her sex. As
| for Lord Nentnor. he Is nothing TO me.
IL IS true he 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 ! certainly never
gave Lord Ncntnor amy encourage
ment. I believe now that Mrs. Costo-
bell lied and that Lord Ncutnor lied
when they attributed any dishonorable
action 10 you, and I am glad that You
beat him in the club. ! am quite sure
| he deserved it,"
Not one word did this strange man
vouchsafe I'm reply. lie started VIC
lently. seized the AK lying at his feet
and went straight umong the trees.
keeping his face turned from Iris 50
that she might not see the tears in his
eyes.
As Tor The girl. she began To scour
her cooking utensils with much en-
ergy and soon commenced "a song. Con
siderlng that she was compelled to CON
stantly endure the company OF a de-
graded officer, who had been expelled
from the service with ignominy. she
was absurdly contented. Indeed. with
the happy inconsequence OF youth. she
quickly threw all care TO the winds and
devoted her thoughts 10 planning a
surprise for the next day by preparing
some tea, provided she could surrepti-
fiously open the chest.