The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-17
Copyright, 1908. ny the National Press
Agency.)


Lieutenant Leonard Granger was
risen from the ranks. The fact was
of no advantage to him In the reEi-
ment to which he had been trans.
ferred after promotion, Every holder
of His Maiesty's commission In the
Ninety-seventh Hussars was man
with n pedigree. and knew something
OF his birth; whereas, Granger knew
nothing Sof himself, except that origi-
nally he was founding, and had
been fed and educated at a charitable
institution. Human pride being what
II is the officers mess of the Ninety
seventh did not show him much friend
Illness. only the colonel and couple
OF subalterns, who We're decent fell
lows. having the good nature to treat
him as fellow-man. The others
coid-shouldered him. and Garth Black
ham the adjutant, showed him the
most contempt of all 1t was con-
tcmely that was really hatred.
But ell the coolness In the world
could not alter the visible fact that
Granger was the handsomest man in
the mess. Nor could it remove the
evidence that he was born soldier.
He stood six feet in his socks, he had
the finely nodded figure of a Hercules.
his hair was sunny, and on parade
he looked straight out with a pair
OF blue eyes. To crown ALL he had
more natural brains than any three of
his fellows put together.
Granger was quite conscious of his
Nnenviable position. But he took it
rs he accepted lighting. his saying
being that 'life is battle" He had
to hold his position here as he would
have to hold 1t on the battlefield: that
was all. But he never could have
held It without his brains; his pay was
not large enough. When his colleagues
were playing billiards or polo he was
generally at work, writing. And the
hundred and fifty pounds year to his
income.
Yet he was not quite contented. He
had now been CHARTERED with the
Ninety-seventh at the cavalry depot at
Camhury for as-ltttle more than a
year. and the most serious thing Of
his life had happened to him. He had
fought battles. but now he had been
vnnquished: he had lost his heart to
Gladys Wynscombe-and she was no
less than the daughter of Sir Geoffry
Wynscombe, OF Isranston Hall. With
no fortune. when he might never
reach to higher rank than captain
how could he ever hope to win her?
He had first met her at the officers
depot ball, and he sometimes thought
that that night was the fatal one OF
his life. The thought was with him
often now for the annual event OF
the ball had come round again: and
the thought was made worse because
he had feeling OF conviction that II
he only had some fortune he could
win her.
And she was worth winning. Her
hair was like sunlight, her face was
the softness Of beauty, and her form
was the dream of grace.
Granger wondered whether he would
once more be fated to be left alone
in her company, as had been the case
last year, when, IN one brief quarter
of an hour, she had changed the whole
aspect of life for him. He had me
her many times since; but there ha'
been no time like that quarter of al
hour after dancing with her. TIL
conditions had not been the same
there had been no dreamy music. unt
the bright. animated pleasure ct tht
ball had been lacking.
On the night itself he was not Ions
left in doubt When he found her she
had a vacant waltz on her ball-pro-
gram. and ho found himself woa6ar.
Ing whether she had kept 1t open icr