Year: 1879

fairly thawed, the good old general, In
the kindness and pride of his heart dis
played little box which had been given
to him by some grandee of Spain. /
think it must have been too small for
snuff.box, and was probably one of those
tiny trifes in which fashionable folks
used to carry comfits and lozenges. AT
any rate this box was set with diamonds
and colored gems of rare value, and as
1t passed from hand to hand, flashing
brightly in the lamplight, while the
old warrior told dread stories of cam
paigns and of the daring and honor of
his men.


But suddenly, at the end of story SO
thrilling that all heads had been craned
toward him, while the military servants
had thronged the door in rapt attention,
the simple question was asked


Where is the generals jeweled
box y"


Nobody knew; everybody said he
had silently passed 1t on to his fellow.
The general began to rummage his own
pockets, lest 1t had found its way back
to him and he had half-unconsciously
put it away. No, it was not there, and
the brave old fighting face looked a little
blank, as he murmured an excuse about
"how the loss would vex Lady Eliza
BETH"


But it cannot be lost, general" said
the officer in command of the fort. SIN
this room it was but few minutes ago,
and in this room 1t must be still. Let
the servants at the door come in
though, to the best of my belief, not one
of them has approached the table since
the box was brought out. Let the door
be made fast, and let our search be
thorough"


The candles were brandished to and
fro, under the tables, under the chairs,
round the table drapery. But from no
point flashed out the brilliant beauty Of
the little box.


"Still it must be here" insisted the
commandant, land surely no gentle
man will think his honor infringed IL
| each in turn is asked to empty out his
pockets upon the table. L myself will
be the first do so. And the servants
shall be the last"


Nobody could be expected to demur at
so simple and sensible proposal backed
as it was by the honest old officer in
stantly rattling out some crown pieces,
and tobacco pouch, half pence, and an
old pipe. One after another, the gentle
men on either side of the table followed
his example, while sharp but not un-
friendly eyes took eager note of strange
pieces of personal property and of dainty
three-cornered notes, which might serve
in the future as material for badinage
and quizzing.


But one drew back when the COM
mandant made his proposal. The young
man who had walked i'm from the
eastern end of the town dropped sud-
denly into his seat whence he had risen
in the first eagerness of the search. He
| passed his hand once or twice through
his hair, leaving it wild and struggling.
And then he watched blankly, as the
| lIutllCSS oCttlOh OlEW hCdtCA anu hCotCA
to himself. Within five minutes one or
two officers were whispering to each
other that most any simpleton might
have seen he did not expect it to be
found.


His turn was the very last. " Ensign
Ransom" said the commandant, steadi-
ly. Ensign Ransom was certainly the
first who required to be called upon by
name.


The youth arose, and, though the rest
of his face was deadly whiteness, there
was spot of burning red on his cheek.


'I do not think any gentleman should
be asked to do this" he said. 81 will
give my word of honor that the box is
not upon my person. did not keep IL
in my hands even for moment;
merely took it and passed 1t on.p


Too hlgh-minded even to look al
such gewgaws, sneered spiteful old
major under his breath.


"What men high in the service and
old enough to be his father have already
done, Ensign Ransom may safely dc
also" said the commandant, with Sc
verify which was not unkindly, fol
young Ransom looked such boy among
the crowd of men mostly stout and mid
dle-aged and the very suspicion aud
denly lowering over him made the OLD
officer think of his own lads, growing uT
and not quite sure to do well for them
selves after all.