Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1905-1906, 1906-02-06


looked around cautiously 1t was he,
who possessed the most remarkable
memory of any army man west of the
Mississippi, and who had often vowed
that he knew his subalterns SO well
that he could always successfully
prescribe for their livers!
81 was just about to turn into the
club for my mail" declared the colonel.
at was very good Of you to stop me.
I'll wager you've been specializing in
the shops, "-touching the bundles with
his cane.
You win" laughed Betty. But
I'll give you a hundred guesses in
which to find out what any one u
these packages contains"
Guessing is bad business. What
ever these things are, they can add
but little to the beauty OF those who
will wear them; for / presume Mrs.
Chadwick has some claim upon these
bundles"
VERY adroitly worded," smiled Mrs.
Chadwick, who loved a silken phrase.
I'VE shall see you at dinner to-
night?"
''All the battalions of England could
not keep me away from that festive
board" the colonel vowed. (Another
spasm for the groomD And how is
that good father of yours"
LAS kind and loving as ever"
Il wish you could have seen him in
the old days in Virginia." said the colo
mel, who, like all old men, contin-
ually fell back upon the reminiscent.
"Handsomest man in the brigade, and
a fight made him as happy as bull
pup. / was with him the day he met
your mother,"-softly. How she hu-
inflated him because he wore the blue!
She was obliged to feed him-fortunes
of war; but could see that she hoped
each mouthful would choke him.
What! My mother wished that?"
Mrs. Chadwick laughed. The groom's
chin sank into his collar.
wait a moment! She wasn't in
love with him then We were
camped on that beautiful Virginian
home Of yours for nearly month.
You know how courtly he always was
and is. Well, to every rebuff he replied
with a smile and some trifing favor.
She never had to lift a finger about
the house. But one thing he was firm
in: she should sit at the same table
during the meals. And when Johnston
came laundering down that memorable
day, and your father was shot in the
lungs and fell with dozen saber cuts
change! He was the prisoner now,
she the jailer. In her own white bed
she had him placed, and for two
months she nursed him. All, that was
the prettiest love affair the world ever
saw"
"And why have you not followed
his example?" asked Mrs. Chadwick.
The colonel gazed thoughtfully at
his old comrades daughter, and he
saw pity and unbounded respect in her
eyes. They say that for every heart
there is a mate, but l do not believe
It, Sometimes there are two hearts
that seek the same mate. One or the
other must win or lose You will play
for me tonight"
"As often and as long as you please"
-graciously. She was very fond Of this
upright old soldier, whom she had
known since babyhood.
1t was now that the colonel casually
turned his attention to the groom. He
observed him. First, his gray eye
brows arched abruptly in surprise, then
sank in puzzlement.
What is it," inquired Betty, noting
these signs.
Nothing: nothing Of Importance"
answered the colonel, growing violent
ly red.
1t would not be exaggerating to say
that if the colonel turned red, his one
time orderly grew purple. only this
purple quickly faded into a chally
pallor.
well. perhaps l am keeping you. :"
remarked the colonel. soberly. Il shall
hold you to your promise about the
music"
I'VE are to have plenty of music,
There will be famous singer anG
A fine pianist"
You will play that what-d' -ye- call-it
from Schumann like so well | shall
want you to play that. | want some
thing in the way of memory to take
back west with me. Good-by, then.
tin tonight"
"Good-by, All right. James; home"
said the girl
James relievedly touched his horses.
The colonel remained standing at the
curb till the victoria disappeared. Of
what he was thinking | don't know;
but he finally muttered James," in an
inquiring way. and made for the club
shaking his head, as if suddenly con-
lem.
Further on I shall tell you how he
solved 1t.