Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-22
N the most beautiful of all the
West Indian islands, Jamaica,


West Indian islands, Jamaica,
and within mile of its princi-
pal city, Kingston, is Up Park camp,
where are quartered the native black
soldiers and English officers.
1t is picturesque spot, with its long
avenues of enormous trees and ex-
quisite view of the bay, palisades and
ocean to the south and the ever chang
ing mountains to the north.
On the top of one of these lies New
castle. The English regiment is sta
toned there. out of the intense heat of
the plains, the barracks and houses ap-
pearing as mere dots to those below.
1t was guest night at camp, and,
dinner being over several officers were
seated smoking in the Grows Nest"
the little veranda just outside the mess
room.
All were in high roirits that night,
for Jack Brereton of the First w. I.
r. had just returned. Being a great
fovorite with one and all, they were
delighted to have him with them again.
Capt. Arthur Lloyd was especially
glad. for he and Jack" Brereton, now
Capt. Brereton, had been schoolfellows
in England, had entered the army to-
gether and had been inseparable friends
until year before, when Brereton had
been wounded in the Boer war and had
been invaiided home. Now, both re-
turned from South Africa, they had
met again in Jamaica.
The night was as perfect as only
tropical nights can be, the palm trees
swaying and silvered in the moonlight,
the white turbaned soldiers playing on
the lawn, the distant murmur of voices
of the darl<ies who had come to listen
to the music; the click Of the billiard
balls within the brilliantly lighted room
all We're so delightfully."- familiar to the
man who had just returned.
Jack" Brereton had many tales to
tell. He had been at the disastrous
battle of Colenso, had fought like a
tiger at Spion Kop, although others had
to tell that, and his singular boast was
that he got his wound unpleasantly
near the heart on a day when the
British forces came desperately close to
victory. All the later phases of the
war were lost to him, except as they
1rifted in with the other wounded on
the way back to England,
Ibid you lose your heart to a hos
pital nurse?" piped up little Titmarsh.
NO" said Brereton, mot to hospi-
tai nurse, though they were jolly good
Capt. Lloyd listened to it all, not ques-
tioning his friend but when the names
of men well known in the service came
up he would smile pleasantly on Brere-
ton, for there was no envy in his make
UP. When, however, Brereton told of
the many odd meetings that chance
brought about between men and women
long sundered Capt. Lloyd's eyes took
on a faraway look, for he was at the
moment wrestling with a somewhat try
ing situation. Presently the chat around
him died out of his ears and his young
wife was before the eyes of his spirit
mo wonder" he was thinking "Brere-
ton looked astonished to see me here
and almost babbled when he tried to
put his surprise into words. had no
luck at all. Sent Marjorie back to her
mother in Scotland when I was ordered
to the Cape; then to fall sick in Cape
Town and become a thing of a quarter
of million men spreading net for
couple of thousand Beers, and never
seeing one with a rifle in his hands.
Such beastly luck! Then ordered to
Halifax. No sooner there and arrang
ing to send for Marjorie when l am
dropped down here only a fortnight
ahead of Brereton, and where is Mar
iorie? Didn't answer my letters or my
cable Suppose she's jolly well on her
way to Halifax, only to find me gone
when she arrives, poor little girl. But,
jove. wasn't Brereton surprised to find
me here?"
Lloyd hasn't heard a word for the
last ten minutes" said Carrigrew, the
red nosed major. as he stirred his
fourth toddys Arthur, my boy, you're
growing as moody as a moon calf;
you'll presently be dangerous"
Capt Lloyd smiled and said: "Carri-
grew, there are. lemons left; don't be
uneasy" Which, having no relevance
to the majors remark, was construed
as mildly suggesting the bibulous acid
ity peculiar TO the major
When Llody and Brereton sat smok-
ing together an hour later it was
Lloyd who broke the silence. Jack,
old man, I'm so glad you are here. I've
been longing to have somebody l could
talk to about Marjorie"
Brereton sat very still, not shifting
his position an atom, nut pressing his
fingers little closer in their grasp
on the arms Of his chair.
You seemed so surprised to see me.
20 wonder. Just fancy that poor girl