The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-08-15

last with childish petulanCe. lie IS a great
big lot better than al these peacoCks put
together"
oh, really" said Mr. Cowlcs in mild
surprise. Perhaps, then, l misunderstood
your previous sentiments
No, YOU didn't said Kitty. I've just
come to myself. I've been perfectly horrid
and beastly lately, and Billy has stood it
like an angel. 1t would serve me good and
right if he never spoke to me again. And
I've been horrid to Major Dillon, too, and
to hIrs. Tindale, and suppose they never
forgive me for it. They're both awfully
nice and hope they Il get married and live
happily ever after 4k.i
Mr.. Cowles smiled retrospectivcly. wy
Your sainted mother used to have these
spells OF remorse and regeneration my dear
child he said sentimentaIIy. Our little
reConCiliations were some of the plcasantest
incidents of my life. -
Major Dillon, red faced and uncomfort-
able in high collar and wonderfully small
wasted coat, paused near them. Now il
young Wyeth were coming here IS a mill
tary man. he said harping on hi favorite
string, he would probably be mere pune
tual; but as a civilian, you see, he takes the
Kitty astonshed him by smiling sweetly.
M Wyeth is such busy man, Major"
she explained >>Hc has many responsible
ties we know nothing Of / shall be de-
lighted if he is able TO ger here at all"
Halbertstone was standing near and he
smiled mysteriously. I'm almost certain
he'll come, y'know," he said. Il happen to
know he had no end of lot of rot to attend
to to-day, but | We his word he be here"
Suddenly door opened at the end OF
long passage leading to the parlor, and
man came in. sL,h
Good Cod" cried Major Dillon. . F'-..
The newcomer wore jingling saber and
Uniform fairly overlaid with gold braid and
the festooned cords and aiguillettes of a
staff officer.
A servant stepped within the door and
announced: Colonel Wyethl"
Instantly the silence was broken by ex-
carnations of wonder, pleasure and con-
stcrnation.
Why, by George, the young beggar out
ranks mel" cried the Major with note of
bitterness
7 he only person in the room who
seemed to know all about it was the
Duke, and he was delighted as any hostess
who runs off a telling C0nb at one of her
dinners.
So they went in to the table presently;
and inasmuch as Billy was the only Guards
man present with the rank of Colonel, he
followed General Talbot in the little pro-
cession with a new and radiant Kitty upon
his arm.
After long period of embarrassed silence
Kitty plnChedher champion S arm furtively.
You might tell me how it all happened"
she said softly. Il didn't know sergeant
major could get to be a colonel over night"
Wyeth smiled almost regretfully. Il
SUPPOSE" he said, "that with dads money
and political influence sergeant-major
could get to be almost anything in few
minutes"
you came like regular Lohengnn,"
said Kitty happily. 81 was just too utterly
miserable, Billy. l had just been thinking
poisoning the people they hated. Why
didn't you come in boat drawn by
SWAMI"
Swans are deucedly expensive, and
they're not city byoke, so | chose a taxi
cal" laughed the young colonel. u
But you haven't told me how it hap
pened. What kind Of a Colonel are you,
anyway"
ooh, it really wasn't as sudden as it
seems" said Wyeth. Il have Leen con-
sidering it for some time. Then father
recommended it and told me to go and order
a bunch of uniforms and he'd see that the
commission was ready as soon as Trey were.
SO now I'm on the Brigade Staff with the
rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and nothing to
do but wear these things and ride horse
in parades. But I'm not going to answer
too many questions now. Just remember
what happened to Elsa when she got too
curious about Lobengrin's family and bust
ness affairs. You've got to be mighty care
full and polite to one of my rank, or I'll
just call my faithful taxi and sail away,
and never come back any more"
I've been bad child" said Kitty be-
witchingly, "and I'm going to be good now
for ever and ever, to lou and Major Dillon
and Mrs. Tindale and Minnie Ryder and
everybody"
And are you going to promise 10 marry
me right away" asked the Colonel simply.
kitty's eyes were wandering absorbedly
over his shoulder knots and other emhellish-
melts. Billy" she exclaimed irrelevantly,
"you're the most bea utifullest thing ever
saw"
And then they both laughed and looked
around, and everybody at the table was