The Washington herald., 1906-11-19
CHAPTER 7.
(OunFu deSr

"Hu.Io, GOre-"
The young soldier stopped, started. col
oTed with annoyance. and with a sur
prised expression turned TO look on the
other soldier who had addressed him.
After a moments scrutiny of the stran-
gers genial smile he extended his hand
with pleased recognition. "Conniston, "
said he; I though you were in Amer
lea
so I am; so don't call me Conniston
az the pitch Of your voice, old boy. His
lordship of that name is camping on
California slopes for a big game shoot
The warrior who stands before you is
Dick West, Of the - Lancers, the old
Come-to-the-F Fronts And what are you
doing as an Imperial Yeoman, Gore?"
Not that name" said the other, with
an anxious glance around Like yourself,
I don't want to be known"
"Oh. So you are sailing under false
cOlors alsO?"
Against my will, Conniston-I mean
West. am Corporal Bernard"
Hunt" said Lord Conniston, with an
approving nod. You have kept your
Christian name, 1 see"
1T is al that remains Of my old life, ~
replied Gore, bitterly. But your title,
Coaniston7'
Has disappeared, said the lancer,
good-humoredly. until can make
enough money TO gid it."
do You hope TO do that on private's
pay?'
West shrugged his shoulders. I hope TO
fight my way during the war to a gen
erals rank With that and V. c., an
old castle and an older title, I may catch
a dollar heiress by the time the Beers
give in"
You don't put in your good looks, Con-
niston,'' said Bernard, smiling.
Dollar heiresses don't buy what's in
the shop windows. old man. But won't you
explain your uniform and dismal Iooks?"
Gore laughed. My dismal looks have
passed away since We have met so op-
portunely," he said, looking across the
grass. Come and sit down. We have
much to say TO one another"
Commission and Gore-they used the Old
names in preference to the new-wali<ed
across the grass to an isolated seat un-
der a leafless elm. The two old friends
had met near the magazine in HYDE Park
on the borders Of the Serpentine. and the
meeting was as unexpected as pleasant
II was a gray damp October day. and
the trees were raining yellow. brown. and
red leaves on the sOdden ground Yet
a breath Of summer fingered in the at
mosphere. and there was a warmth in
the air which had lured many people 10
the park. Winter was coming fast, and
the place. untidy with withered leaves.
hor nF nd al
somber windy sky, looked unattractive
enough. But the two did not mind the
dreary day. Summer-the summer Of
yOUth-was in their hearts, and recalling
their old school friendship, they smiled
on one another as they sat down. In the
distance a few children We're PLAYING
their nursemaids comparing notes or
chatting with friends or stray policemen.
so there was no one near to overhear
what they had 10 say a number of
fashionable carriages rolled along the
road, and occasionally some one they
knew would pass. But vehicles and people
belonged 10 the old world out Of which
they had stepped into the new, and they
sat like a couple of Peris at the gate Of
Paradise, but less disconnected
Both the young men were handsome in
their several ways. The yeOman was tall.
slender. dark, and markedly quiet In his
manner. His cieaT-cut face was clean
shaven; he had black hair. dark blue eyes.
put mas the Irish say-with a dirty
finger, and his figure was admirably pro-
portioned. In his khaki he looked a fine
specimen Of a man IN his tweuty-fifth
year. But his expression was stern, even
bitter, and there were thoughtful furrows
on his forehead which should not have
been there at his age. Commission noted
these. and concluded silently that the