The Lamar register., 1909-03-31
CHAPTER discontinued.

WIN Ine determination TO be known
as man of spirit Il was, as said, but
1D, l concluded l would go to Lon
don. too. On the day that Giles Yer
non got his "a hours leave, also got
the same. Mr.. Buxton looked little
queer when l asked him for it, and
said something about not allowing the
midshipmen to leave Portsmouth: but
answered readily enough that l
wished very much to go on a little
expedition with Giles Vernon. which
would last overnight. AS the other
midshipmen had been allowed similar
liberty, / got my request; and next
morning, as the Phoebus coach for
London rolled out of the stables into
the inner yard, | approached. Giles
Vernon was also on hand. His sur
prise was great when he saw me.
You take risk. my lad" he said.
No more than you do" 1 replied.
stoutly. And l, too. love a roguish
eye and blushing cheek, and mean to
go to the playhouse with you to see
Mistress Trenchard" AT which Giles
roared out one of his rich laughs, and
cried:
Come along. then, my infant Don
juan
We got inside the coach, because
1t was far from unlikely that We
might meet some of our own officers
on the road. or even Sir Peter Hawk
shaw himself. who travelled much be-
tween Portsmouth and the admiralty.
And had we been caught, there is lit
tie doubt that We should have been
forced to right about face, in spite
of the leave each one of us had in his
pocket. So we made ourselves ex-
tremely small in corner of the coach,
and only ventured 10 peep out once,
when we caught sight of Sir Peter
Hawkshaw's travelling chaise going
London-wards. and Sir Peter himself
lying back in it. reading newspaper.
After that, you may be sure we were
very circumspect.
noticed, however, the same thing
in the coach that | had observed the
first hour l set eyes on Giles Vernon
that every woman he met was his
friend. There were some tradesmen's
wives, a French hairdresser. and the
usual assortment of women to be
found in a public coach: and in half
an hour Giles Vernon had said a pleas
ant word to every one of them, and
basked in their smiles.
The day was in April. and was
bright throughout; and the relays of
horses were so excellent that we
reached London at four in the after
noon. having left Portsmouth at nine
in the morning. We went straight to
chophouse, for we were ravenously
hungry.
And now. Dicky boy" said Giles to
me, keep bright lookout for any
of our men: and if you see one. cut
your cable and run for it, and If we are
separated meet me at the White
Horse Cellar at IL O'Clock tonight to
take the midnight coach"
BY the time we had got our dinner.
It was time to go to the play. We
marched off. and made our way
through the mob of footmen. and got
seats for the pit; and when we went
in, and / saw the playhouse lighted up
and the boxes filled with beautiful
creatures. l was near beside myself.
Giles laughed at me, but that did not
mind.
CAPPED about me until suddenly
Giles gripped my arm, and whispered
to me:
Don't look to the left There is a
box with Peter Hawkshaw in 1t, and
Polly, and two girls-one of them the
greatest beauty ever saw, though but
a slip of a girl. II Peter or Polly sees
us, Lord help u.s."
did not look around Immediately.
but the desire to have glimpse of
boil mo do a
steal a glance that way. She was very
beautifully dressed and, though but
little more than 16. such vision OF
loneliness as fairly to rival reigning
beauties of several seasons standing.
/ own that l saw little Daphne sitting
by Lady Arabella, but | noted her
scarcely at all.
Nor could Giles keep his eyes on
Lady Arabella; and l noticed that
even when the divine Sylvia, as he
called her, was on the stage, he was
not strictly attentive to her, but rath-
or sought that fateful box where so
much beauty was enthroned.
The divine Sylvia was a delightful
actress, must admit, and In spite or
being 40 II she was day, and though
raddled with paint, she had something
winning in her air and face, and
could understand her tremendous pop
ularity with the young bloods.
Neither Sir Peter nor Polly, as
Giles called her. showed any signs
whatever of having recognized us In
the large crowd in the pit. and we
began to congratulate ourselves hear
tily. There was a seat next to us held
by gentleman's servant, and present
Iy he gave way to a remarkably hand
some young man of six or seven and
twenty.
A few words passed between master
and man, and then we knew that the
handsome gentleman was Capt. Philip
Overton of the Second Life Guards.
Giles exchanged significant looks
with me.
Capt. overton seated himself quiet
". and, after a careless glance at the
house, seemed to retire into his own
thoughts, quite unmindful Of the stage