Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-26

handsome physique with glance like patent
sweeper-adapted to whrl and gather him in at
one fell swoop.
Unfortunately, our noble red man is not dis
orlminating," the colonel laughed.
Perhaps | shall 60 to Arizona" continued
MISS MISS stewart, resuming her light tone. IL was
telnng EN- this evening that l had only been
waiting for an excuse to explore the wilds Of
the west; so you needn't be surprised if you sec
me in the spring"
On, you creature Of delicious surprisesl" cried
tne colonel. With this rap Of hope TO live
upon ! shall hang on to my scalp till the roses
bloom"
AS tenaciously as you hang on to your free.
uomt mnltt asked Miss Stewart, with an arch glance.
fou wrong me, murmured the colonel, and
there was melancholy droop to his eve as he
contemplated the toe Of his boot. "Do 1 look
IKE soulless pachyderm" he demanded, with
| an injured air. IF am not already the victim
OF an absorbing passion, the germ is here" And
the colonel laid his hand on his heart
Miss Stewart made mocking grimace "You
look 70 me like most unmitigated hirt," she re-
marked
Hang til" calculated the colonel with warmth.
| you were never more mistaken in your life. |
snail have to defend myself in the language Of
.nat lmpetuous troubadour who hoped that when
ialtnless his helmet might gall his brow, his
orlule prove too long, and his stirrups too short
You army officers remind me of those rash
and ingenious troubadours," Miss Stewart OBJ
served, with a wicked smile.
"Of course we do. We are the most simple
hearted fellows in the world" the colonel de-
cared
At that moment hunuy-looking lieutenant
made reconnaissance of the ferns. The col
oneL spying him, proceeded to identify himself
more closely with the cerrean cloud on his left.
DO you believe me?" he asked with re-en-
forcement of soul in his eye; and he held the
gaze OF the enchantress while he stroSed caress-
lngly tattered strip of tulle which clung to
his coat sleeve. Let me keep this" he pleaded,
"as token that you have little faith-just
shred you know"
Mrs. Lauderdale waited to hear no more but
flew for the major like an arrow from the bow.
We must go home this minutel" she declared,
| seizing his arm and towing him along in the
direction of the fatal window-seat. But alas,
it was empty; while outside in the moonlight
two long shadows fitted by in lover-like prox-
nifty
"It's all up with the COLONEL" groaned the hap
less conspirator. ,
Half an hour later she was standing in her
own hail. with the front door slightly ajar, while
outside Miss Stewart and the colonel were saying
their last adieux. Mrs Lauderdale was supposed
to be at that particular moment delivering cur
tain lecture on the enormties of whisky and
poker but such a course she would have con-
sidered to be in direct opposition to the cause
of Mrs. Keith and the twins. And right well
did she feel repaid for her zeal in that good
ladys behalf, for at that moment the magnetic
voice Of Miss Stewart broke the stiffness in this
wise
81 think" she began, then hesitated, and it
was with evident perturbation that she fell to
swapping the clasp of her bracelet. "After what
has happened tonight, Colonel Keith, think l
ought to tell you that l am--am engaged
Engaged? Bless mel don't mention i'll" cried
the colonel, with buoyant cheerfulness. IT have
wife myself, and twins-as fine pair of young
rascas as ever you saw. WE'LL I must be off!
It's against my principles to be up at reveile. Au
revoir. Don't forget the trip to Arizona" And
with wave of his hand the colonel was gone!
Glorious fellow" murmured Mrs Lauderdale.
as she gided into the library and fortified her
self behind a Japanese frescreen. IT knew I
could trust him!"
The --th Infantry went to Arizona in the fall,
but of the many wayfarers who pulled the Lauder
dales latch-string the beautiful Miss Stewart was
not one. The colonel, however, was destined to
meet her again, when, during the following spring,
he was ordered East to attend a court-martial.
The encounter was face to face on Broadway.
at high noon, point which the colonel empha-
sizes when chuckling to himself over the fact
that Miss Stewart failed to recognize him.