Year: 1879

QTOppeQ SuQueulS luLO LIS ooot, WA0nNo ~
had risen in the first eagerness of the search
He passed his hand once or twice nervousl.
through his hair, leaving it wild and strag
Cling. And then he watched blankly as tn
fruitless search drew nearer and nearer tt
himself Within FIVE minutes later, one o.
two of the officers were whispering to eacl
other that any simpleton might see that hi
did not expect it could be found.
His turn was the very last. "Ensign Ran
son." said the commandant steadily. En-
sign Ransom was certainly the first who hac
required to be called upon by name.


The youth arose. And though the rest o.
his face was of a deadly whiteness, there wa:
a spot cf burning red on each cheek.


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


"Too high minded even to look at such
gew-gaws," sneered spiteful old major, un'
der his breath. :.


"What men high in the service and old
enough to be his father have already DONE
Ensign Ransom may safely do also," said the
commandant, with severity which was not
unkindly, for young Ransom looked such a
boy among the crowd of men, mostly stout
and middle aged and the very suspicion sud
denly lowering over him, made the old officer
think of his own lads, growing up, and not
quite sure to do we'll after all.


81 would never have asked it for the sake
of my box" observed the general, leaning
back in his chair, and inwardly wondering
what Lady Elizabeth would say of his care
lessness.


"But we ask it for the sake of our honor,
general" said the commandant testify.


"And we do not seem to have asked it
needlessly," whispered the spiteful major.


81 will not do this thing!" cried the young
Ensign, passiouately, and he looked wildly
round the group, as if he sought for one face
that would comprehend and compassionate
his misery. The face that looked the kind
est was that of the old General himself, partly
because it was not his hospitality that was
outraged, partly because his genial nature
was terribly shocked at finding anything OF
his the cause of such wretched act of dis
honor. ..'....a


eff the General will come with me to the
ante-room, said the young man, 81 will con-
vince him that l have not touched his box.
But this public exposure will not submit to ;
our consent was not asked, and"


"Certainly notw "Out upon you !" "Gen-
eral you must not think of indulging his in.
solent request" were the only sentences audi
BILE in the general hubbub that arose on every
side.


But the General rose. "Gentlemen," he
said, quietly, II have never yet refused to
listen to an enemy's petition. If you can
satisfy me, sir, perhaps your comrades will
take my word for you"


There was murmur of very reluctant ac-
quiescence as the ensign bowed and waited
respectfully to follow the General to the ante.
chamber. They had not disappeared behind
the heavy curtains before all sorts of surmises
where whispered around the table, guesses and
hints so wild and sinister as to do credit
neither to the heads nor the hearts which
originated them. The General and the en-
sign staid longer time in the anteroom than
would have suficed to search the ensign's
pocket twice and thrice over. Not sound
could be heard. If any conversation was
going forward, it must have been in very
low voice. The two gentlemen were away
for nearly half an hour. All the military
servants had been subjected to the comman-
der's rigid scrutiny, and then dismissed. 1t
might be as we'll that none but the gentle
men of the regiment" should know exactly
what the end was. The delay grew first
awkward and then awful. Even the whispers
and rumors tagged into an excited watching.


At last the General and ensign came out.
The ensign's face was still very pale; what
flush remained upon it had mounted to the
eyes. The old General was blowing his nose.


Ensign Ransom has thoroughly satisfied
me-" he said, in his most genial voice. "lt
has vanished by one of those mysterious &C, &C,
cidents which will happen somehow. 1t will
be found some day. And now, gentlemen,
perhaps, as we have been thus broken up, we
shall not settle down again very comfortably
tonight. 1 hope we shall see you all at the
castle before Lady Elizabeth and l leave tor
London"


General" said the commander, drawing
him little to one side, "may l say that |
sincerely trust your great generosity has not
led you to"


"Sir," cried the old general; "can you i'm
agine that any mistaken idea of kindness
would cause me to make you companion of
thieves? Gentlemen" he went on, seeing that
the company were not unaware OF his little
by-play, 81 pledge you my word that I am
satisfied of Ensig gn Ransom's honor, and who
ever dares to doubt him makes me his &C.
complice."


And the old general seized the young en-
signs arm, and marched him from the ban
quoting room, while every one sat dumb
founded, till the spiteful major remarked that
wonders would never cease.


There was nothing more to be said. 1t was
discovered that Ensign Ransom was not only
invited to the castle with the other officers,
but was also asked there by himself, and &C.
tually was believed to have taken tea with
the general and Lady Elizabeth in their
deepest retirement. For the generals sake
rather than his own, his brother officers con-
tinued on courteous terms with him and he
had always been so shy and held himself SO
aloof. that perhaps he did not discover there
was but little cordiality in the courtesy. And
presently he exchanged to another regiment,
which went on foreign service.


He was away for several years, and in the
fortunes of war he got rapidly promoted, SC
that when he returned home, though he was
still young, he was no longer poor nobody
When he landed in his own country, he touno
letter awaiting him, written by one who hao
sat near at that memorable dinner party, anc
who was now residing in the old castle where
the general and Lady Elizabeth had ther
been guests. This letter pressed him, in thf