Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-28


 months ago, Miss Deane, under very painful circumstances. A general court martial found me guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer and gentle man. was not even given chance to resign was cashiered."
 He pretended to speak with cool truculence 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- cern. 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 1t came.
 "I remember something of this" she said slowly, never once aVerting her gaze. There was some gossip con- corning 1t when I first came to Hong kong. You are Captain Robert An struther?"
 "I am"
 "And you publicly thrashed Lord ventnor as the result of quarrel about woman?"
 Your recollection is quite accurate v
 "Who was to blameF'
 "The lady said that 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 prejudiced witness" he replied.
 "Who was the-ladyT
 "The wife of my colonel, Mrs. Costo- bell.''
 "Oh!
 Long afterward he remembered the agony of that moment and winced even at the remembrance. But he had decided upon 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, blundering toward his goal, as men always blunder where 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.
 T am glad you have been so candid Captain Anstruther.' she commenced, but he broke in abruptly: "Jenks. If you please, Miss Deane; Robert Jenks.
 Certainly. Mir. Jenks. Let me be equally explicit before we quit the subject I have met Mrs. Costobell. do not like her. consider her de ceitful woman. 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. It is true he asked .ry father to be per mitted to pay his addresses to me, but my dear old dad left the matter wholly to my decision, and I 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 dishoDorable action to you. and I am glad that yon beat him in the club. I am quite sure he deserved it."
 l, Not one word did this strange man vouchsafe in reply. He started vio- lently. seized the ax lying at his feet and went straight among the trees. keeping his face turned from Iris so 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 song. Con- siderfng 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 to planning surprise for the next day by preparing some tea. provided she could surrepti- tiously open the chest.