KING DON:
A STORY OF MILITARY LIFE IN INDIA.
....BY VlftVOR ALLAN
CHAPTER I.
Don Gordon camo out of the mess
room of tho regiment at Rawal Plndi
nnd, vaultlnR tho horse hs nnttvo serv
ant Held in readiness for him, took his
and nobler woman than tho thought
less, somewhat heartless maiden of the
past.
Tno Interest sho had manifested In
his Don's convalescence nnd his ca-
wnv through tho balmy Indian spring recr nttoeothpr. lnnt Imnptua to the
cvonlng toward tho pretty bungalow of thought that sho would not rofuao him whilst she blushed deeper than over,
Ins served Lllllo broko ths somewhat
awkward illnco which had fallen upoa
her visitor and herself by saying sotto
voce:
"I think one thing that makc3 one
appreciate Indian llfo Is to h.vo one's
comforts nttended to as Ume natives
do It. Really, wo cannot rely upon
such faithful service from our own
countrymen."
It was tho keynote for Don'a wait
ing eloquence.
"That's rather rough on present
company, Is It not?" ho objected. "You
know, or you ought to know, Mlsa Dcr
went, I am ready to servo you any
whoro In tho wldo world."
Sho blushed crimson.
"Oh, but you misconstrue my mean
ing altogether, Capt. Gordon, I was
only talking of hired service, not "
Sho stopped in oomo confusion and
hurriedly added: "Not friendship,"
Capt. Dcrwcnt of tho Gordon wgu- ner ,nnrt n BCCon, tirae
landers. Mnrrlago with Lllllo would mean to
Don's pale check was flushed, and no h,m amuenco C(lUal to tho rent rolIa ot
carried his slim young figure, in us Gad,0( an(,wol n(,mlre,i Luu0 as
Kharkl uniform, with mora ot Its oia mmh ag 0m fcU Jt lncumbe;it u,)0n
majestic swngger than had c haractor- h, . . , ,
izod It for many weeks, for ho had been
twlco in hospital slnco ho had volun
teered from homo for nctlvo servlco on
the frontier with the first battalion or
tho -Sherwood Foresters.
Ho had only now JuBt recovered from
m A .nl.n itfnltllll t PITH fill
AfridT rlflTreooTrd whilst leading a Brcel ,lnd f Bplu bamuoo
Pcoro of his bravo Derbyshire company excluded ho heat of ho sun by day.
nn n fnrntff ni.iilmi. Ycs. tho memsahlb was at home,"
sion of tho overruling Idol of his life,
nnd that was solf.
But it was almost with tho air of an
ardent lover Don drew rein beforo tho
spacious whlto houso surrounded by a
cool veranda, between whoso slender
But tho oxhllarntlon of hopo moro
than of renewed health was account
nblo for his springing stop nnd tho
light In his largo brown eyes.
Tho British mall had brought him a
letter from his cousin noddy, which
afforded him much satisfaction, for It
contained tho announcement of Rod
dy's engagement to Don's sister, Dlnna,
thereby setting at rest forever n lurk
ing fear In Don's heart that Roddy's
thoughts wore centered on Capt. Dcr
went's fair daughlor, Lllllo.
Tho "Whlto Lily," sho was not In
ho was Informed by tho durwan door
keeper who hurried to his summons.
A gong was banged to announce a
visitor, and thereupon another native,
red-turbancd nnd whltc-caftanod, ap
peared on tho threshold nnd salaamed
Don Gordon through tho whlto vesti
bule toward a dollghtful apartment,
which proved to bo untenanted. It was
a veritable lady's boudoir, furnished
with European tasto and Oriental
splendor combined.
On tho walls wcro dotted valunblo
prints In English frames, which Don
aptly called in tho cantonment.whlther remembered to have adorned Capt,
sho had accompanied her father from
Aldershot somo months gono by.
Don rodo at n brisk canter through
tho lines toward tho green compound,
whero tenk nnd pcupul trees roso dark
ly against tho clear bluo sky, and tho
red fireflies flashed In and out among
tho slonder shafts of tho graceful bam
boos.
But In tho mind's oyo of tho soldier
It was nnothcr scene which suddenly
roso bforo him.
Ho 8eomcd to see a beloved nnd lovo
ly Iandscapo in fair Aberdeenshire. He
heard tho murmur of a rlvor and the
eongof thrushes from tho privet hedge
rows. Ho looked upon tho lordly Scot
tish homo of Gadlo Ha', to which ho
bad grown up from Infancy to bellevo
himself tho heir, and his grip on his
maro's rein tightened, and tho still un
conqucrcd bitterness of florco disap
pointment swept his heart anew.
His mother's deathbed confession
Dorwent's privnto quarters at home.
They had n touch of pathos as seen In
conjunction with tho great gilded
punkah which hung overhoad.
About tho room woro scattorcd tho
books and thousand and ono knlck-
knucks which betrayed that even In
far northeastern India nn English lady
must havo her drawing-room. It Is
her own especial kingdom, where sho
can gather together and enshrlno In
constant' remembrance all tho pretty
trifles which mako up tho larger com
forts of tho mother country.
Don Gordon, standing in the center
of tho room for an Instant Irresolute,
took In all tho details at a glance. Then
ho walked to tho largo window opening
Into a garden. It was still light enough
for tho lamps to bo unlit, and tho scont
ot tho orange blossoms nnd tho tube
roses stole softly In on tho air.
Ho was usually solf-govcrncd to a
fault; but tho sight ot this English
Don put up his right hand with n
little gesturo of languid beseeching nn
ho poised his tiny cup of coffeo In his
left palm and leaned back restfully in
his softly cushioned rhnlr, for that
bright blush, which made his hostess
look so bewitching, had added much
to his composure and confidence.
Yes, sho was really very pretty, and
ho was not suro but that ho loved her
very deeply indeed. .
"Don't throw tho devotion of your
slavo back In Ills faco by calling It
friendship," ho said. "Lllllo!" Ho laid
down his cup now, and leaned townrd
her to get a glimpse of tho fair face
behind tho fan Bho had opened and was
fluttering nervously.
"Lllllo, won't you bellevo mo? You
hold my happiness In your hands; my
llfo Is yours to do what you will with;
but I want my wages as much as any
ono of your natives I want tho gift of
this hand and tho heart that owns it!"
Ho had risen now, nnd, standing over
her, had Imprisoned tho white Angers
that held the fan with n masterful air
that bespoko all tho ardor of n deter
mined lover. Did LUUo's thoughts lly
back to another night in tho far past,
when thus another Gordon had stood
over her and claimed tho lovo ho be
lieved to bo his?
But this was not tho same Lllllc who
had allowed Roddy Gordon to think
her heart won to his keeping who
looked up now In tho eyc3 ot Roddy's
kinsman.
Love had taught her Its mystic les
son, nnd she know now that It was to
Don Gordon alone her, heart must bo
surrendered for all time.
yk VVV4VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVt.l
KING DON:
i:
i I
A STORY OF MILITARY lift M INNA.
BY MAVOR ALLAN
CHAPTER II.
And Don must havo rend that un
spoken confession, for suddenly he
sank down on tho divan bcsldo her,
nnd his nrm went round her and drew
her golden head to his shoulder.
"Yon will promise to bo my wife,
Lllllc?" ho whispered.
Dcsplto Its tenderness, tho question
lacked tho passion for which her own
great love clamored, and she answered
ilia iuuiiiui a uiltlfiuuu (.uuibfloiun I - ----- , . , ... . , .... . , . , ,
had proved his foster-brother, Roddy, room had stirred anew deep thoughts " aZ'J!?.
to bo tho heir; but It was not against ot inni uistnnt Scottish nomo no told
Roddy that Don felt any personal himself ho could never bear to look
grlevanco Roddy, ono of tho gay Gor- uPn again.
don Highlanders with whom ho had A Bilk curtain which draped tho door
fought eldo'by sldo through the recont suddenly rustled, and, turning quickly,
campaign of tho Tlrah Hold forco, and Don found tho girl ho had como to seo
advancing to meet aim.
Lllllo Derwout woro a simple gown of
washing silk, which camo closo about
hor slendor thront; but It was of spot
less whlto, nnd tho flno mold of her
sloping shoulders nnd roundod nrms
showed dazzllngly through Its delicato
texture, nnd hor abundant golden hair
who had heroically saved Don's llfo In
tho .deadly thick of battle.
No; tt was against tho cruolty ot
circumstances which had robbed him
nt ono fell blow ot rnnk and wealth
and that natural case so dear to his In
most coul.
For "King Don," as hla brother offi
cers Jokingly termed him, was born to formed a coronet with which no Jewels
rulo with a high-handed self-righteous- could havo vied,
ness, and to his proud Bplrlt dlslnhor- As ho looked nt her Don felt hlB
Itanco had wolUnlgh been moro blttor "cart stirred with admiration, for sho
thnn death. Hla unolo, tho present was a vision of loveliness of which nny
Laird of Gadlo, might Btlll allow him "nn migni no proua, mucn moro a
amnio means out of tho Gadlo rnvo- wouid-uo lover.
nues; but to Don It wcro small com
pensation for his forfeited rights ot
heirship.
Ho might yet Biiccecd In winning tho
pcorless, heiress, Lllllo Derwent, far
his brldo; but as Don know In his so
crot heart, It was only whon Lllllo Dcr-
And Lllllo, who shall say wh'at woro
her BWlft thoughts of the tall, slim
soldier, looking doubly hnndsomo nt
that moment In his Kharkl uniform,
ono hand holding his helmet, tho other
resting lightly on tho hilt ot his aword.
lho next Instant tho helmet wns laid
Don, do you really, truly love mo?"
Don bent his Hps to hers with an ar
dor that carried conviction with it, for
the moment wns full of intoxicating
Bwcctncss, and till now ho had cher
ished his freedom too dearly to know
anything ot the rapture ot "lovo's
young dream."
"My darling," ho spoke, reproachful
ly, "don't shamo me with tho rcmom
branco of that day when I asked you
to bo tho future mistress of Gadlo
Ha'!"
Tho Ignominy ot that hour, whon
Don know ho Justly deserved her ropu
dlntlon, was too Indelibly branded
upon his memory to be over altogether
effaced. LIUlo's eyes 'filled with quick
tears for having cnused her lover that
momentary pang.
"Oh, Indeed, I never meant to do
that, Don!" Bho cried, generously,
"only "
"Only?" ho rcpoatcd, with a Jealous
noto of inquiry. "Don't toll me, Lil
He. for pity s sake, that you caro a
scrap for that happy follow, Roddy ?'
(To bo Continued.)
CHAPTER II.MContlnuod.)
Bho looked up In his faco with a lit
tle smllo that would havo appeased a
very martinet In love.
"I nm very suro that Roddy does not
caro a scrap nowadays for mo," she
said domurcly, nddlng, with sweet con
trition, "and I nm not surprised, after
the way I troatcd him. But I was only
a thoughtless girl in those days, and 1
know ho has forgiven me."
"How long ngo Is It since 'those
days'?" quorlcd Don, toying with a
golden strand of hor hair. Her words
had restored his reassurance nnd calm.
"I try to think it is a long, long
time, Don," sho nnswerod gravely, "for
then I never thought of right or wrong,
or how beautiful It makes llfo It we
try to servo God rather than self. Oh,"
she broko off, with a thrill of emotion
in her voice, "sometimes I pray I may
live 'to be an old woman, Just to try to
make up for all those wasted years."
"And so I, too, pray that you may,
though It were only to solaco tho de
clining years of n lost sinner liko my
self, sweet saint," ho rejoined, lightly.
"And now, my darling, slnco I know
your heart Is mine, beyond retraction,
I can risk to toll you my nows from
homo today. That faithless Roddy Is
about to bo espoused to my sister, Dl."
"Oh, I am so glad so glad!" sho ex
claimed, and thcro was no mistaking
tho gcnulno warmth ot her words.
"You will tell him that when you
write, won't you, Don? And I myself
will wrlto to Dl. Oh, Don, I think Dl
Is ono of tho noblest women in tho
wholo world. But for her examplo I
should nevor havo learned to remom
ber our Uvea are not our own."
Don rose from her sldo with a mo
mcntary flush on his cheek.
"You were not always such a llttlo
Puritan, Lllllc," he rallied her, "or,
don't you .know, 'pon my word, I
should havo been afraid to think tt
posslbla you would ever look at such
a reprobate as me, for you know I am
not a hypocrite, Lllllc I'm not a good
fellow by any means, and, to tell the
truth, I don't want to bo one."
It was n bold thing for him to say
In the face of her guileless professions
ot faith; but lovo made Lllllo blind to
everything but the bliss of knowing
ho had claimed her heart forever.
and that Into his hands had been put
tho wondroua power of making his
chequered llfo blessed.
Sho rose, too, nnd put her hands out
to him with n sweetness that banished
all thought of alien opinion
"Some day, Don, perhaps you will
como to know, as I do now, that this
world is not everything; nnd bo long
as you love me I am content to wait
for I know that God will make It plain
to you in His own good time
Don's arms closed around her with
moro demonstrative tenderness than
ho had yet shown.
My whlto Lily, I nm perfectly cer
tain wo shall prove a model Darby and
Joan, for, s.nco you will havo me, what
no i care for anything else?"
And then ho kissed her again, nnd
murmured "sweet nothings" In her car
that brought tho color flitting happily
to her lovely check. Lastly ho drew
from his little finger o gold band, bear
ing a diamond Ivy leaf, nnd inscribed
Insldo with the single word "Bydand'
steadfast the Gordon badgo and
motto.
And when ho had placed It on tho
to nccept them; but it It is tho custom
of tho country to glvo costly things
llko that as wo glvo flowers and trifles
nt homo " Sho Btopped.
I was only Joking," Don Interrupted
her calmly. "But this reminds mo,
love. I shall havo to get your father's
consent, I suppose, before I can nsk you
to name tho happy day? For you
know of old I'm not a patient fellow,
Ltllle. I like things to bo assured and
smooth-sailing. I Btlck to the flno old
maxim: 'If 'twero well 'tworo done,
then 'twere well It were done
quickly'."
Sho looked up In hor tall lover's faco
with a piquant, dubious smile.
trembling girl In a lingering embrace.
"What message shall I take to the
father, little ono?"
"That I lovo you," Bho answered aim
ply, "and that I only llvo for you both
to come back to me."
Ho scaled the confession with a pas
slonato kiss, and tore hlmsolf away, to
spring lightly to tho saddle.
For an Instant ho paused on his
"prancing steed with bared head, hla
brown eyes bent upon her, and a smllo
on his moustached Hps.
"Till wo meot again." Ho spoko
softly then, as, kissing his hand to her,
bo resumed his helmet nnd galloped
away Into tho moonlit night.
"Till wo meet again!"
Sho lifted hor tcar-dlmmcd oyes to
tho star-spangled heavens In n muto
supplication that tho Father of all
would watch botwecn him and hor till
that day camo.
Ah! sho llttlo knew what tho Inter
val hold In store.
bio!'
CHAPTER III.
'Impossible, my dear sir lmpossl-
It was Captain Denvent who spoke
In that decidedly aggresslvo tono ot
decision, and ho whom ho addressed
woo Don Gordon, as they strolled In
company alone n narrow truck hv thn
That sounds almost llko getting sldo of n winding nullah, on their way
over a disagreeable duty," sho objected,
"And I am suro my father won't want
mo to run nway from him Just yet not
till this disturbance on tho frontier
la over, and ho Is ready to take mo
home."
For to tho heart of a Briton, In
whntovcr foreign clime, tho sacred
nnmo of "Home" belongs to tho be
loved British Isles nlone.
For answer Don drew her once more
within his nrms.
I can't wait for that, Llllle." And
If his mastery aroso moro from tho
dogmatic will of the man than tho Im
petuosity of tho lover, thero was no
doubt about his earnestness. "If you
ever go back home, It must bo as my
wife; but, Lllllo, I won't promlso you
I would tnko you. I could not bear
It, for I am a homeless wanderer now."
Tho quiver In his voice moved her
profoundly.
"Wo will mako a fresh home, Don,
you nnd I, wherever you like in tno
whole world," sho said.
Even Don, self-absorbed as was his
nature, was touched by her devotion.
"You aro very generous, my darling,
and I am going to tako you at your
word by asking your father to give
you to mo beforo the summer. I hope
to see him in a very short time, for I
have Just had orders to tako a relief
draft of our Derbys out to Join his
camp to-morrow."
Sho turned pale as her clinging
gown.
"To-morrow? Oh, Don, why didn't
you tell mo beforo you were going to
leave mo to-morrow?"
"Because 111 news Is told all too
soon," no answerea gently. "But
cheer up, child, I don't expect to be
gono more than three or four weeks
at tho most."
But she clung to him, with tho tears
swimming In her beautiful blue eyes,
"Oh, Don, my dearest, I shall be
dreading all sorts of things happening
to you on tho way! I used to feel bo
frightened when my father went out
first; but now I know he is safely in
camp it Is different. Oh, Don!" Bhe
broko off, "If you nover come back to
mo it would break my heart!"
"My darling," ho reassured her, "the
tribes have surrendered, and the war
is practically over. There's really
nothing to bo nervous about."
"You must think of me killing time
counting tho hours which will bring
mevback to tho dear little woman who
Is going to open a paradise, for tho
poor outcast wanderer."
Sho put up her little hnnd to his
Hps.
"Don't call yourself that, Don. As wo
hope to bo forgiven, forglvo and for
get tno wrong your raotner did you
back to mess nt the Tlrah enmp.
It was nearly three weeks slnco tho
lover had bidden Llllle farewell, and
sho It was who was under discussion
now.
Don's cheek was flushed, and his dark
eyos glowed ominously as their glnnco
followed the clouds of pale, smoke from
tho cheroot ho puffed for several min
utes in proud silence.
That ho had never contemplated Cap
tain Derwont'a. blunt refusal of his suit
was very certain, by tho easy assuranco
with which ho had courted and won
Lllllc's own consent.
You sny It Ib Impossible your daugh
ter should over bo my wife?" Don
spoko at last, with painful distinct
ness.
It was characteristic of Don's nature
that he was rarely roused to passion;
but, once roused, It was deep and last
ing; and by the pallor that had ro
rjlaccd tho flush upon his faco It was
too evident ho was moved to passion
now.
"Perfectly Impossible, my dear fol
low, though I hate telling you bo, don't
you know?"
"Since you have told me so much. I
should llko that you will toll me more,"
said Don, in that calm voice that little
betrayed tho fire at his heart. "May
I ask why It is perfectly Impossible?"
"My dear sir," exclaimed the oldr
officer, 8omowhat sharply, "If your own
common sonse does not tell you my
chief reasons, then you must pardon
my being outspoken. You've said your
self you haven't a rupee beyond your
pay and what your uncle, Colonel Gor
don, chooses to allow you yearly. Now,,
honestly, do you consider you nre nt
all a suitable match for my little girl,
who, you must remember, is now an
heiress. Had you been heir of Ga-die-"
".Thanks," said Don curtly. "I do
not need to bo reminded of my re
versed fortunes, and, I .will confess, X
should never havo asked Lllllo to
sharo my poverty. It is only tho fact
of hor being an heiress makes it possi
ble sho could ever becomo my wife."
Pon my word, sir, you're frank!"
exclaimed Captain Derwent, irrltatod
by what ho deemed effrontery on Don's:
part. "My daughter should be hon
ored to know that, had she been a
'tocherlesB lass,' as wo say in tho
north, you would have had nono of
her."
He laughed, as it to pass tho matter
oft as a Joke; but he was genuinely
annoyod.
(To be continued.) i
third finger o! LUlio's fair hand, sho when she brought you up ns Gadie's
wont had unexpectedly becomo nn heir- no floor nnd 110 was taking both BASELESS FABRIC OF A DREAM.
ess his thoughts had over turned to
hor with anything nkln to lovo, nnd
once already ho had well merited hor
rojectlou ot his proposal.
Alas! and nlns! for tt wbb lovo's
ncutcfit Buffering ulono wbb to provo
to Don nt last
Not to underutnnd n treasure's worth
Till tlino has stolen nway tho slightest
good,
Is causo for half tho poverty wo fool,
And makes world tho wilderness it Is.
As Don nenred hla destination ho
rodo forward moro slowly, for ho was
now conscious of n llttlo quickening ot
his pulse.
In tho circle ot homo society, an al
ready disappointed man would Bcarcoly
roturn to his fnlr one, llko n moth to n
cnndlo, after n lapso of months; but
circumstanced as ho and Lllllo woro,
now cnat for tho tlmo being together
In n forolgn land, mutters seemed very
different.
Capt. Derwent was absent with tho
field force; Lllllo was alone In a
strnngo country, nt present sharing hor
bungalow with tho young widow and
baby boy of an ofTtcor recently killed
on tho front, and to whom LIUlo's
heart had gono out In deepest sym
pathy.
Don was subtly conscious that tho
Lllllo Dorwcnt of to-day was a very
different Lllllo from tho coquotto who
bad toyed In tho past with his Cousin
Roddy's boyish lovo, or oven tho Lllllo
who had repudiated his owu offer of
marrlago with such scorn. For ho
realized now that Lllllo had como to
know-tho solace ot rellanco upon that
Dlvlno Anchor, whoso Btorm-tossod
oula aro novcr uhlpwrcckod.
Don know himself to bo but a rud
hor hands and retaining them, with nn
unmistakable emotion.
"I hopo you don't mind mo coming
so awfully late, Mlsa Derwent; but I
wns on duty olt nnd ontlll moss, nnd
(hen some follows detained mo so long
till I had simply to rush away and rldo
horo post haste."
Sho smiled ns sho seated Jiorsolf on
n divan and motioned htm to a chnlr
near hor.
"But, Indeed, it Is not at nil Into, and
I nm very pleased to boo you, Cnpt.
Gordon." Then Bho ndded, with a
spice of hor old coquetry: "And what
urgent necessity that could not wnlt
another day brought you hero post
haste?"
Don folt his breath como quicker, for,
dcsplto thoso visits nnd presents ot
fruit and Invalid dainties with which
sho had honored him In hospital, ho
was not at nil suro how high In her es
teem ho had roached.
"I fenr I made It a point of neces
sity," ho nnswered bluntly; "but I hart
n lottor from homo today, Miss Der
went, and nnd tho fact Is I couldn't
Bleep till I'd had llvo minutes' privnto
conversation with you. You won't re
fuse no It?" ho broko off, with n look
In his dark eyes sho could not mistake.
Sho flushed and looked down beforo
that ardent gnzc.
"Mrs. Franklin Is nlwnys engaged
with Cecil and his nynh Just now," Bho
said softly. "Wo shall uot bo dis
turbed." Don roso and drew his chnlr nearer
hors; but tho toto-a-toto was disturbed
In a very commonplaco way nolthor
had thought ot at that tenso moment.
Darkness had suddenly set In, tor
thero Is no twilight In India, A scrv-
Convlct'a lllnnlou of Freedom nnd
Wealth Huthlo.Hly UUpnllod,
The day of my dlschurgo has como.
How happy 1 am. How proud I feel aa
I stand with my faco to tho wall near
tho collhouso door, awaiting tho sum
mons to go to tho storeroom to change
my clothes. It seems that tho men
will never censo their tramp, tramp, as
they fllo from tho collhouso on tho way
to the Hhop3. But tho last ot them
finally goes out the door and I am hus
tied to tho Btorcroom. I array myself
In my "storo" clothes, then mako my
way, eager nnd trembling with exclto-
mont, to tho front ofllce. There, after
a few preliminaries, I nm hnnded my
dlschargo and my money and Joyfully
go forth to battlo once moro with tho
world. How brightly tho sun shines.
How fresh nnd Invigorating tho nlr.
It nctually smolled better thnn the nlr
behind thoso ugly frowning walls. And
now that 1 am onco ngaln free whoro
will I go nnd what will I do? Ah! a
thought strikes mo. I havo not yot
broakfustcd. Where Is there n good
restaurant? Right down tho utreot. I
enter nnd glvo an order that mnkea tho
wnlter staro In astonishment. Ha, hnl
Ho will staro harder than that when
ho bccs mo got outsldo ot that break
fast. Beefsteak, fried potatoes, eggs,
lam, hot rolls, butter, coffeo, nnd
lf.it whllo tho cook Is hustling around
making ready tho feast I will tnko a
repaid him by throwing her arms about
his neck and giving him tho first shy
kiss of love.
"Oh, Don, may wo bo like tho Ivy.
and nlways cling closo to each other,
may naming ever como uotween us
two!" she cried.
Thoso words of deopest lovo might
mayliap liavo fallen moro fitly from
tho man's lips than the girl's; but Don
road In their sweet solemnity the hid
den meaning of n hoped-for higher
Donu or union, nnd no only smiled con
slderatoly as ho hold her closo nnd re
turned her kiss with liberal Interest.
"I hopo," ho said playfully, "that
moans you nover, nover would uo so
cruel as to Jilt mo as you did old Rod
dy. Thero! forglvo mo, Bweet, I'm
n brute to havo romlnded you of those
days when you were such a dear llttlo
coquette. Aro you quite suro you aro
not afraid of giving yoursolf to such
a Jealous beggar as I nm, Lllllo? For
you know I am Jealous."
"Do you know why I didn't toll you
3f Roddy's engagement till I know that
I had won your dear heart? Becauso
I didn't want to bo taken out of pity."
You need never bo Jealous ot mo
heir. Remember It was all for love
of you sho sinned."
What then, sweet pleader, would
you havo it that lovo condones a sin?"
ho ouerlod, cnpturlng tho hand and
covering It with kisses.
"God forbid!" she answored earnest'
ly; "but surely, becauso of that love,
forgiveness should bo easier?
Ah! how both wero to remember that
conversation In n bitter day to como!
All too soon camo tho final momont
for last caresses and parting woros,
for presently tho rcd-turbaned native
nnnounccd that "Gordon snhlb's horso
wnn at tho cato ns ordered, and his
cloak also, as dew was falling."
Lllllo picked up n silk coverlet from
tho dlvnn, and throwing It over her
Bhoulders. nccomnanled her lover to
tho verandn.
The moon had risen, and In Its clear
light her lovely face, with Its aureolo
of golden hair, shono radiant with Its
lovo, but quivering with the pain which
this moment of farewell brought,
Tho red fireflies woro Hashing, tho
perfume of rose and pink oleander
wafted from the garden on tho hot air.
On tho fnr-stretchlng terrace of tho
any moro, Don," sho sold, with sweet bungalow n great adjutant bird, with
oarnestness,
'What of His Highness Prlnco Clem
ent Sing, who your father told mo oont
you latoly n present of a certain cash'
mere shawl, and a champac necklace?
ho queried, laughing.
But tho question turned LIUlo's
blushing fnco for tho Instant pale. It
All KlnriB.
Snobson (to Inhabitant ot out-of-way
soasldo rosort) "What sort of
drink. Is thero n saloon near? Yea. ,.j.ii.. .i.,.io,i nlinin I n..ia mo.nnrv down tn tim variant neonlo do you get down hero In tho
t..4 ... im nm n'i t I .. .... . . . r .. 1 . . c..,,mnr?" Inhabitant "Oh. n
Derwent s ravor ot mis wouia-uo sun- trine,
Its head nestling under Its wing, wns
silhouetted ngaliiBt tho silvery expanse
of sky.
From tho prlckly-pear hedgo of tho
compound roso anon tho melancholy
howl ot a jackal.
All unconsciously, scene and hour
wcro to bo fixed irrevocably upon Don
The Spread ot Contagious UIkihm.
The responsibility of thoso persons
who supply tho public with food nnd
drink Is not sufficiently realized by tho
community at largo. Not long slnco
a number of cases of diphtheria broko
out In a neighborhood. Tho dlsoaso
was of a very severe type, nnd, In sev
eral Instances, proved fatal after two
or three days lilncss. It seemed Im
possible, at first, to traco tho conta
gion to Its sourco, but nftcr a thor
ough canvass of tho vicinity It was
discovered that a dealer in milk had
In his family a couple of cases of diph
theria. Ho professed Ignorance of tho
causo of tho children's olcknoss, nnd
evon whon assured ot Its nature,
clnlmcd that ho had no Idea that It
could be conveyed In milk. Tho fact
that parents do not know how qhll-
drcn could havo contracted tins dis
ease often acts as a check upon nny
efforts to combat It, Insisting that aa
tho llttlo onef, havo not been oxposed
to this malady It certainly must bo
something else that alls them. Whon
Illness of this sort breaks out In a
family tho only proper courso Is to
havo It Investigated at onco. Dolayo
aro quite suro to bo disastrous If not
fatal, and In tho present condition of
medical knowledgo on this subject,
thero Is reasonable hopo of rollof f
attention Is given when tho first
smyptoms of lllne&a manifest thon.-selvos.
Just two uoors ueiow. -t wicer I go
and feeling rich enough (fpr haven't I
twenty-flvo big Amerlcut. dollars In my
pockot?) I nBk everybody up to drink.
All accept. The drinks nre plncod on
tho bar. Tho barkeeper Is making
derlesa barque?, drifting on a shoreless ant was noiselessly lighting the lamps, change for n ten, wo ralso the glasse
aa; hut thonch faith nwoko an ro- and tho hugo punkah had begun to to our Hps, and Clang! Clung!!
nnnatv mchn in hla own heart, he Ed- Bv:lng to nnd fro overhead to teronor Clang! ! ! goes tho gong, nnd I rlBe and
itr4 Llllle none the. leea for tho tho added, heat. dress, and, as usual, go to my dally
4Wty - --- i f , 1
had mato'liti a truer It was when tea and coffee wore be-1 grind. Minnesota Prlsou Mirror,
or for her hand, Prlnco Clement Sing,
though a atlvo of tho Punjnub, had
European lood In his veins, nnd had
lived froin bov'iood In England, and
graduated at one of tho English uni
versities.
"I would have returned the presents,
but father explained to mo it would
ctve serlouft offense," she said depre
catlngly. "It was unpleasant to have
Ho took his clonk from tho native's
hand, nnd, throwing It on, stood trifling
with Us clasp to prolong the exquisite
fascination of the spell which had sud
denly fallen upon blm and held him In
its grasp.
"Was it the mystic secret of love
which was coming to him there on the
silvery wings ot the tropic night
He itooped at last and gathered the
summer?" Inhabitant "Oh, all oorts,
zur. There bo flno people an' common
people, nn' somo Just halt and naif,
like yourself, zur." Punch.
I.oTe'a riayfulneia.
"And there's nothing more botween
ua?" ho asked. "No, Harry, dear,"
she replied, nestling against hla shoul
der; "I can't get any closer to you."
Pnlladelohla North American.