Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-06

some The honest Colonel
delighted at her thoughtfulness, and humorous
nterude followed while they discussed menu
which would answer the requirements.
The first disappointment in store for Colonel
Gansborough came to him in the absence of his son
at the dock Everybody it seemed had a well
come. Handkerchiefs waved The air full of
a warm-hearted buzz and hustle, greeting firm
hand shake the quick tremble of voices in glad
emotion There was in many eyes the keen fulfil
ment of expectation. For him. however, there was
one, and he drove off sadly additionally in his
ignorance of the reason why his longedfor meeting
at the gangWay had failed him. 1t to have
been for him the first definite assurance and an
that the weary routine of military life,
the eternal Jungle the perpetual tension and rumors
OF the frontier had ceased for ALL to be replaced
b. life of gentler and more humane interests,
inal.gurated and sealed by the glad greeting of his
boy. He was not there, and the welcome of the
home country grew strangely cold and indifferent.
At the old-fashioned hotel behind Burlington
House where he purposed to stay there no Cyril
to greet him. Only a letter placed in his hand
he went disconsolately to his to dress for
dinner. The handwriting of it, bold and cultured,
was vaguely familiar; but he could not in memory
discover to whom it should be attributed Without
the slightest forebodng he tore Open paed turned
sick at heart, almost staggered amid the ruin of
radiant castles, as he read. 1t from Cyril S
headmaster, precise, cold almost Indifferent on
paper:
My DEAR COLONEL GA1NsBoRoUGH-It is with sincere
regret that have to communicate you discovery
made by of my assistants concerning your Cyril
close the work of the Cyril detected unpar-
donable cheating whilst his form engaged upon a
paper of Divinity the Book of Judges and the First Book
OF Samuel Upon interrogation he confessed his deln-
quency with singular lack of comprehension that he had
committed grave breach of morality emphasized by the
solemn nature of the subject ! always opposed to
publicity matters of this solemn nature yet felt myself
obliged segregate him from his companions during the
few remaining hours of the term. therefore kept him
in secson with simple food and copy New Testa-
ment, until the departure of the other boys.
He will reach Waterloo at as the day which you
will receive this letter and the assistant who
accompanies him to London instructed deliver him
into no other hands but yours In any case fear
regard for the moral welfare and general reputation Of
school must lead to decline take further
under my charge With sincere regret and regards be-
lieve me very faithfully yours
Colonel Gainsborough reeled to chair. The
fatal letter hung Imply in his fingers. For a mo-
ment he could scarcely see, almost losing
consciousness His ideal was shattered Life,
all life, seemed suddenly empty and inexpress-
IDLY desolate His son. the pink of scrupulous
honor, as he had dreamed his growing up
the highest traditions of gentleman-his
common cheating at examinations seemed
degrading that 1t was almost incomprehensble. 4
The pity of it Never in the whole course of
his strenuous, frugal, and honorable life had SO
severe shock fallen upon him.
Pale and erect, the morrow he stood on ~.
the platform at Waterloo Station and awaited
the arrival of his son.
The train drew up. There was the boy, the
bright slim youngster of the photographs
coming toward him with pathetic timidity. At
sight of his a wave of self-reproach swept