The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-10-16
THE RELIEF FORCE.

Acl s Waterloo Bridge the wind was strong
and - and the Colonel must hold his battered
old / o. his head. There was the dark river the
last flse the waste of life, hurrying on its way.
But no; rot hat. Little Marie waited his return,
perhaps cl.-ing in her loneliness and pain The
Colonel raised his dim eyes to the dark gray sky
in a mute appeal. man crossing the road hurried
y struck against him and sent him reeling against
the stone parapet of the bridge. The Colonels hat
fell off The man robust figure and was well
dressed
II beg your pardon" he said, heartily 81 am
afraid it entirely my fault" Then he uttered
an exclamation and, drawing himself up raised his
hand to his hat Colonel Marden" he said re-
spectfully.
The Colonel recovered his hat and peered at the
stranger through the gathering gloom.
gu don't know me, Colonel!
my eyesight fails me little No, don't know
you"
webb, sir; George Webb Captain singleton's
troop"
aye, remember you. Very glad to see you,
Webb. hope you are doing WE'LL said the Colonel
kindly.
Webb looked at his old G. o. with plying eye.
He could read the marks of famine in the old mans
face. He knew why the shabby frock coat was SO
closely buttoned up. eyes, sir" he replied; Il
doing very we'll indeed, thank you," and on the i'm
npulse of the moment he held out his hand.
A faint smile flickered over the Colonel's worn
You know what they say about me. Can you take
my handw
"Take it, Colone2 God bless you, sir, Pm only
too honored," and he gave the Colonels hand grip
that hurt. "No man of the old regiment that ever
met thought it was your fault, sir. An officer is
no match for those city sharks. Your mistake, sir,
IN having any truck with them. Take my arm, sir,
II you don't mind. l see you're tired. My way shall
be yours"
Thank you, Webb live close by, in street
gust off the road Pm little dizzy and faint. Liver
troubling me again; the old complaint. Very glad
met you. / think they were rather hard upon
me. The men knew me better. Webb, the men
knew me better"
W ebb was silent, bordering many things He
was bluff good-hearted man, sadly lacking the
polish Of high society," but he dreadfully afraid
81 hurting the Colonies feelings. It was evident
The poor old man starving, yet how was it pos
slble TO help him?
They turned into the narrow, miserable street
where the Colonel lived.
NO. g. Webb" said the Colonel. "The other
SIDE not far up. My eyesight is bad in the failing
fright, sir; No. g. Here it is.
Thank you. | am at home now. | wish you
good afternoon, Webb, and all good fortune"
Webb fingered at the door "All alone, sir?" he
asked softly.
'No, no. not alone; my little granddaughter lives
with me-"
don't wish to lntrude sir, but | should very
much like to see her. L remember Mrs. Marsden
and a, Miss Sybil, too should like to see Miss Syb-
You would?o
- Yes, sir. | very fond of children. L have
nalt dozen of my own"
he pride Of the patrician soldier was high even
now Colonel Marsden had been born and brought
Up under system of caste almost as rigid as the
tastes OF India. There was gulf between him and
me man who had served as trooper in his regi-
ment: But for that, he wavered
ure to see her"
a.. gu are good fellow, Webb ] am afraid you
, ol understand. | am not receiving visitors just
aDJ and NJ. WY arrangements, you know" He hesitated