Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-08-30
rhe genera looked out 81 tie Win.

The general looked out Of the win
{ dow hard and coughed. My dear Miss
Hamilton, he is right; there Is no 9th
er course open to a man of-of'
"Of honor" he had been about to say,
but he caught himself up a trifle awk-
wardly. 4Of course" he ended, lame
1y enough. 81 think I will take you
tony wife now, If you will allow me.
You have been very courageous and
kind, and / thank you"
When he came back from taking her
to the drawing room he faced Win
stanley with grave and troubled
face.
"Winstanley, this has been as terri
Bile business to me as to yourself
don't think I need to tell you that.
You see my position. 1t must come
out about these papers-there will be
stir about it, however much l may
try to hush it up. If it comes to an
inquiry there must be a court-martial
II cannot prevent it. There can be
only one result to that, and you know
it. No one will accept the belief that
you are not guilty, and you will be
cashiered and disgraced for ever while
you live, even if there are no civil pro-
ceedings following"
Winstanley set his teeth and his
face was white.
you gather my meaning? Look me
H., =, 60 \ 49,
you stood at the bar Of judgment, the
truth"
"As hope for mercy, then, sir,
am innocent in thought and deed. IT
1t WIS indeed who was in your Office
last night, it was by no knowledge Or
consciousness of my own. That could
betray a trust or sell my honor, even
you should not ask my denial Of"
"Well, well. well! Perhaps J. am do
ing what have no business to do; but
your father was my friend. See here,
lad, send in your papers now--at once
before there can be any rumor OF
this get about Be out of the service
before any service inquiry can be set
on foot. Go to another country-it
will be wisest; let it all be blown over
and forgotten before you come back.
1t is the most 1 can do for you. If
did my duty, perhaps would not give
you the chance"
Il prefer to stand the court-martial,
sir, If you don't mind"
Boy, you are fool You know as
we'll as do that you haven't a leg to
stand on. l tell you the plan propose
to you is the only possible one. Send
in your papers, or, by heaven, I'll let
you take your dismissal and break
that girls heart"
That girl! He saw her stand before
him once more, her steadfast face OF
love and loyalty turned up to his. His
own face changed and softened. There
was something to live for yet. For her
sake he would fight fate and this hor.
rible mystery and win in the end.
He clenched his sword-hand hard,
as If it felt the hilt within it..
81 accept your condition, sir" he
said, with choke. If the older soldier
noticed that break. he understood
what caused it. The sudden loss OF
the profession and the life that had
been precious to them both; the Civ
ing up of all right to spend life and
blood for the country that was ones
very mother-the going sout into the
very desert, as the scapegoat was
driven of old. General Kenyon's old
blue eyes felt sudden moisture as he
looked at the bowed head of the man
before him, whom he had loved as his
son.
Captain Noel a'Court WinstanfO
retires from the service. Lieutenant
Annesley Heathcote to- be captain, vice
Captain Noel a'Court Winstanley, re-.
tired" The paragraph in the Gazette
was read by all Portsmouth and
Southsea with astonished eyes. Cap.
tain Winstanley leaving the service!
1t was incredible. Had he come into
money? was his old uncle dead?
What could be the meaning of 1t?
4 There We're whispers hidden and Sc.
cret-there were some that came
strangely near the truth General
Kenyon had been right when he said
these things never could be quite
hushed up; but there was no confirma
ton of them, for sure.::,, If they hao
been true, there would have been a
scandal that must have been known.
(To Be Continued.)