Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-01-21

slow way, took advantage OF 1t to
create a diversion with the toast
rack, which terminated in a resump-
ton of breakfast. 1t was rather
strange that, with two clever women
of the world at the table, these
young people should thus have to
take ratters into their own hands.
Il have better idea than that"
Winyard fastened to say. 1--WE can
not we'll have the theatricals day
earlier, now that every one has been
invited. Mother. tell me. is there not
a train from Newcastle at five in the
morning?"
EYES," replied Mrs. Mistley,
| promptly. She was one of those rare
women who can at juncture give a
decided opinion as to the time of day.
"Well, then, If the colonel will be
so good as to lend me his horse, we
can manage it beautifully. We have
not an animal in the stable that I
can thoroughly trust. Mine Is too
young"
"Do you mean to say" observed
Lena, that you would ride into New
castle after the theatricals and the
dance, at some unearthly hour in the
morning-twenty. something miles?"
Certainly. 1t would be rather a
joke"
"Winyard's idea Of joke" said
the colonel, with some deliberation.
while he kept his eyes fixed upon his
plate. "has always been peculiar"
Breakfast over, Charlie accompa-
MED the ladies out on to the terrace.
while the colonel followed VINEYARD
/ to the little study. When the door
=; was closed, the old soldier looked
: suddenly round at his companion
with a characteristic brusqueness of
manner.
"Why have you undertaken this
wild expedition to Bokhara?" he
asked.
Because" replied Winyard. with
n certain playful pride, II am about
the only man who has chance of
getting there unknown"
"And do you believe that any good
will come of it,"
mo"
It was in such incidents as this
that the young fellow occasionally be-
/ trayed his military training, and the
old soldier loved to see it. Blind
obedience to orders, yielded by intel
ligent, thinking men, has been the
making of England.
How will you go about it,"
Through Russia, think. want
to have another look at Moscow, and
would perhaps have chance Of pick-
ing up some maps there"
But" said the colonel, "you will
never get into the country now. They
know you too we'll"
For half an hour the two men
talked over the matter calmly and in
detail, seeking to be honorable and
straightforward, as behooves English
men even when in intercourse with
men who know not the meaning of
such words, and determined to carry
out the mission intrusted to one of
them at all risks. and in face of every
difficulty, as behooves brave men and
patriots.
Both men fully knew the dangers
likely to be incurred, though neither
spoke Of them. Both had stepped
over the threshold of that mysterious
land of the Far East, and for them
the half-forgotten names Of its cities
| had no halo of Arabian Night-like
glory. They took small account of
these. except to denude them of the
untold splendor and lavish wealth be-
slowed upon them by travellers IA
bles. and to reduce them ruthlessly
tn squalid townships. The hopeless,
trackless wastes of desert sand and
rounded stones were of much greater
import to the solitary traveller. To
him thees spoke of mon"ls spent in
weary travelling by burning sun and
chilly night; they spoke of madden
ing monotony - hunger, parching
thirst, grewsome solitude and an
| unrecorded death.