Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-22

about Jim's being glad-Gad! It means
something to see those kiddies Of mine.
Wonder II the little beggars will remember
me-" Dunlap unused.
After three gin-and-setzers It was time
for Tomlinson to listen to Dunlap about
his children. He had heard IL all before. He
had come from his own mess with the
news about jim That was all that in
Who'll play polo this EVENING"" he
asked.
Singleton promised he would.
"I'll walk back with you." Tomlinson
said.
They started to leave, but catching sight
of an orderly with q mail bag. Singleton
let Tomlinson go on alone.
See you at G for polo. Tommy: and l
say, send any of our fellows in that you
see. Tell them the post is in" he called
| as he saw Jim's long, loose 1ointed stride
across the road.
crossed to the mess. The April weather
was anticipating India's most wearing
heat. But only vaguely he noted the
ominous lead-colored sky. with its promise
Of dust storms. The green of England
filled his vision. Since the days in the hos
pital his thoughts had required inces-
sanity to Diana. A picture in an illustrated
paper, picked up in his ward. showed him
Miss Diana MarJoribanks as a beautiful
young gfrl-little Diana no longer. There
was the same Madonna face. but more
exqusitely fair than the child he had left
had promised to be. He hardly cared to
admit to himself how much the picture
had stirred him.
When he entered the mess he found the
men in groups. absorbed In their letters.
Singleton and Dunlap both called to him.
There are two for you. Jim
Letters did not often come his way.
When he first left England several child's
letters had come from Diana-these he had
answered He never heard from Henry,
and his aunt wrote seldom.
..Dinningfold." He saw the familiar old
postmark. 1t was from Lady Elizabeth.
then. Boyfshly, he fingered its ample thick
ness. 1t was good of her to write such
The chatter of voices about him fell I'M
needing on his ears the men read their
letters.
Cod" Breese is dead-dropped down
quite suddenly at the club" Singleton re-
marked as he turned a page OF the letter
he was reading.
His words were almost drowned by an
eager. exultinG cry Half the fellows turned
toward Dick Farninsby. He was usually
so quiet. Tonight his young, fair face was
the color of puppy.
I've come into the money he stanl-
mered.
Every one knew that Farninsby's uncle
had been old reprobate and that Dick
had had a close pinch his meager al
lowance. They also knew that pretty
girl was waiting for him at home A buzz
no part in them He was reading his
aunt's letter.
We are sorry that you WON'T
be home in time for the wedding. Diana
and Henry to be married. 1t viii be
a London wedding. Diana has grown into
a beautiful girl and will make n worthy
wife for Henry and a charming mistress
Of Maudsley Towers. ."
As he read. the page became a dancing
mass of hieroglyphics. The men We're be-
ginning to light their cigarettes and pipes
as they called bits of news to one another
from the English papers. He tried hard
to make the strange letters shape them
selves and form words. He reread them.
Diana and Henry are to be married" He
turned the page. ION the Goth of April
it said. Today was the % of May.
Several of the men started for the polo
fields Some one called whats your
news. Wynnegate?" He forgot to answer.
He crushed the letter in his hand anG left
the mess. Mechanically he put the I'M
opened letter from headquarters. with the
news of his brilliant reward. in his pocket
Across the polo fields he could see the
heavy atmosphere gathering in great
clouds A dust storm was nursing Its i'm
minent wrath.
1t all seemed far away from the Fairies
Corner.
ITO - Cnnttpuad IT.