TTT18 OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY. NOVEMBER . 1801. IJ )
TI LIST OPAL OF
Or The Secret of the Chants.
.
lly Wllllatn Murray Oriiydon.
( CopyrlKht 1851 ! < > tne Atitnor )
TAP OF DUUMS.
llol get away , you bullock-man , you've
'card the bugle blown ) ,
There's n. regiment n-coinln" down the
Grand Trunk road.
la ringing tones Mylcs Chcsney shouted
out the stirring couplet from his favorite
"Barrack Itoom Uallads , " Then he made an
Imaginary slash at little I'allu , who dodged
nimbly fcnlde.
"lie uo bullock-man , Chcsney sahib , " ho
Grunted.
"Don't you wish you were ? " cried Mylcs ,
laughing. "That's better than a syca any
day. tlut como on , or we'll miss the show. "
Sldo by side the two oddly contrasting
companions ran across the lawn ot the
British residency. They passed through the
gates , indifferent to the hclmetod soldier
standing guard , and halted on the edge of
the street.
That distant bugle blast had not deceived
Mylea Chesney'B keen ears. The regiment
was coming not down the Orand Trunk
load , but along one of the principal thorough-1
lares of Mysore , the capital city of the native
Btato of that name , In southwestern India.
Nearer and nearer marched the gallant
fellows , keeping step to the roll of the drums
nnd the fanfare of bugles. First the band ,
then the mounted colonel nnd his officers ,
then columns ot bronzed faces mid dusty
uniforms and flashing nfles.
Mylcs drew himself up to the full stature
of Ills 1C years , and his face glowed.
"They're marching from the Madras rail
way station to the barracks , Paltu , " he ex
claimed. "It's the Twenty-first light In
fantry , the Bedfordshire regiment that was
ordered here from Burma , "
The soldiers bore plain evidence of recent
campaigning -with the cruel dacolts. Here
and thsre were scarred faces , faces stamped
with the mark of Illness and exhausting
wounds. The muster roll , too , could have
told a sad story.
From out the passing ranks more than one
pair of eyes glanced with Interest at the two
boys before the residency gates the hand-
Bomo English lad with his ruddy checks and
curly brown hair ; the thin , dusky-faced little
Hindoo In whlto waist-clout nnd jacket.
Half the regiment had marched by when
tliroo horsemen cantered out of the resldoncey
grounds , and brought up within a few feet of
the moving columns. They wore Colonel
Tovcrsham , the British resident ; Captain
Chesney , his private secretary and the father
of Myles , nnd an orderly . They were waitIng -
Ing until the street vat fclear to start on
their evening ride.
Tito soldiers , recognizing them , tendered
ealutoa and dicers.
Colonel Tevcrsham lifted his hand to his
forehead In friendly acknowledgement. He
was an aristocratic-looking old soldier , with
keen eyes and tho. carriage of a rigid marti
net. His checks were florid , and black hairs
wore as plentiful as gray In his close-cropped
mustache and chin beard. But there were
wrinkles on his brow and under his eyes
the indelible stamp of the tragedy In his
life.
life.Tho
The story was well known , but none ever
referred to It. His wife nnd 6-ycar-old boy
had perished In their burning bungalow dur
ing the outbreak at Meorut in 1857. It was
now the month of January , 1893. Thirty-
six long years since the great mutiny ! Yet
the coloncd had not forgotten , He had
merely learned to lilclo the suffering that
Mill gnawed keenly nt his heart.
The service-worn troops filed on toward
the cantonments. Outside the ranks of the
Fifth company , and proudly holding step
with It , marched a lad of 17 , with black
hair and sun-bronzed checks. In spite ot
his Bcml-mtlltury dress he was evidently
not attached to the regiment. He seemed to
bo on friendly terms with the private at his
side , a tall , well-built fellow of 25 or thereabout -
about * , with sandy hair and mustache , a
freckled face , and big gray eyes that twini
liled with Jolly good luurtor.
When opposite the residency gates Hie
young stranger and Myles Chesney exchanged
glances of mutual attraction. Bach saw In
the other a possible future acquaintance.
Suddenly Colonel Teversham spied the lad ,
Ills face paled and ho uttered an unguarded
exclamation. For a moment his hands
trembled. Then hla self-control came back ,
and only the hungry look In his eyes ns
they turned to follow the ranks of the Fifth
company betrayed his secret agitation.
Mylea Intercepted part of the glance , and
he Instinctively divined Its meaning. The
sad story had often been told him by his
father.
"That chap must remind the colonel of '
hla own son , " he thought. "I've seen him
look the same way at other boys more than
onco. "
The dusty columns marched on , bringing
closer the rear guard of baggage carts and
ambulance wagons.
Suddenly there was a commotion In front
hoario cries , the clatter ; of hoofs , and n
shrill sound like the blast of n trumpet.
The hubbub came from n cross thoroughfare
that led to the rajah's palace and ski r ted
ono side of the residency grounds.
In a trice Myles and Paltu were racing
toward the corner of the two streets , sur
rounded by a motley throng of natives
who seemed to have sprung out of the very
earth.
The lads reached the spot just In time to
behold the thrilling sight. . Down the cross
street came , n huge runaway elephant , most
gorgeously caparisoned. The mahout , percheJ
on the beast's neck , was vainly shouting and
prodding- with his steel-tipped goad.
To the sides of the magnificent howdah ,
which glittered with gold and tinsel , clung
hla royal highness Cham Bahadur , the rajah
of Mysore. He looked far from regal now ,
for terror was stamped on his youthful , coffee
colored face , and his jewel-studded turban
was sadly awry.
At the heels ot the elephant clattered a
mounted troop of the rajah's native retainers ,
enlisted from various quarters of Asia. Here
were Afghans. Persians , Sikhs , Ilohlllas , a
perfect arsenal of jeweled weapons bristling
in their multi-colored kummcrbunds.
The rajah's evening rldo bade fair to have
a sorry ending , and so It proved. The center
of the regiment chanced to be passing the
cross street just then , and at sight ot the
lumbering quadruped , trumpeting with rage ,
the soldiers , who had unflinchingly faced the
perils ot Burmese jungles , broke in confusion
and lied right and left.
Either from fright at the jingle and flash
of the men's equipments , or out of sheer
perversity , the elephant swerved suddenly to
one sldo and tell on his knees.
The shock broke one ot the straps of the i
howdah , which Instantly lurched forward' ' ,
with a Jerk. Out flew Its royal occupant ,
turning a complete somersault that lauded
him on hla back In the street.
A great cry of horror burst front the spec
tators. The rajah lay right In the path ot the
wild horsemen , whose llury bleeds were but
ten feet distant. Escape seemed Impossible.
A moment more and ho would bo trampled
to a bleeding mass.
But that brief instant proved a hero's right
to the name. The > private whom Myles had
ee a marching beside the lad made a dash to
the spot. None doubted that he was going
to Ills death.
He stooped like a flash and as quickly be
was erect again with the illtn form of the
rajah clasped under till left arm. Up shot
his right hand just In time to snatch the
trldle of the steed that was about to strike
him down a powerful black animal straddled
by a bearded Afghan.
< The brave fellow hung en llko a Hercules ,
now gaining n brief foothold , now dangling
In air. How he escaped the flying hoofs
was miraculous ,
He was dragged full a dozen feet and then
ha actually brought the plunging steed to a
standstill Just an the rest of the troop , who
had managed to swerve a little to right and
left , patted clear ot him.
The air rang with acclamations and there
WM * rush forward from all sides. By thli
time the elephant hid risen to his feet and
stooj sullinly swinging hla trunk. Ho was
under the full control of hl mahout , who
had ticaped sharing the rajah's peril by
> tlcklng lo the overturned howdab.
The horsemen were reining up their
steads om > by on am ) wheeling around.
The resident sjid hla d.ti
escort spurred Im
patiently through the crowd , In the thick
of which Yittf Myles and Pultu The broken
ranks o ( the now stationary regiment looked
Mi. wavering between duty and desire , Their ;
officers ware ndlng back from the front.
BtjronJ a few brukct and * s dly dlaor-
Iderej dress the rajah was uninjured. He
I Imperiously waved aside hla retainers , and
I thus cleared a small space , to the center
I of which lie drew hl brave rescuer.
What passed between them was Inaudible ,
j but- the soldier's faca showed embarrassment
and confusion , while the rajah's sparkling
I eyes expressed warm gratitude.
The resident found hlnuelf beside a
mounted officer who was an old acquaint
ance. They shook hands and exchanged a
few hasty wordi of greeting.
"I'm proud of that fellow , Colonel Tever
sham , " said the officer , "It was a most heroic
deed. He did gome plucky things with the
dacolts , too. "
"But he's a sort of a black Bhoep always
breaking the regulations , you know. It's
kept him In the ranks. "
"Sorry to hear It , " responded the resident ,
briefly. 4'He ought lo have the Victoria
cross. But tell me , Captain Dundas , who
Is that lad I saw marching beside you hero ?
i j. I llko his face. "
"A sort of protege of mine , " answered the
captain. "There's the making of a line sol
dier ] In him , The poor boy Is an orphan. He
came out from England a year ngo to Join
his father , uho was Captain Wynyard'of' '
ours. "
"I've heard of him , " Interrupted Colonel
Tevcrsham. "Hens killed by dacolts up
In Burma. "
"Yea , only a week bcforo the boy.arrived.
It was very sad , "
'
"What's'hls "
name ?
"Jack , " replied Captain Dundas , "same as
his father. " ' I
The resident gsvo a llttlo start. "Excuse |
me , " he said , hastily. "I must congratulate
his highness. "
He touched up his horse and trotted for
ward through the yielding throng.
About this time Mylcs and Paltu chanced
to rub elbows with the object of the resi
dent's inquiries , and they promptly scraped
acquaintance on the spot.
"Wasn't that n brave thing to do ? " said
Myles , In a tone of great enthusiasm.
"Well , I should say It was , " replied the | I
young stranger. "It's llko Pink Trlscott.
Ho's an aw fully good fellow. He ought to
bo a lieutenant. "
"Or a captain. " , , said Myles , going one
better. "I'll bet the rajah vMIl load him
with presents. "
"Pink won't take them , " was the slightly
scornful reply. "He hates to bo made much
of. Say , what's your name ? Mine Is Jack
Wynyard. " ,
"And mine la Mylcs Chcsney. That Is |
my father there. Ho Is the resident's secre
tary. "
A wistful look came Into the lad's eyes.
"My father Is dead. " ho replied softly , "lie
was a soldier , and the dacolts killed him. I
haven't anybody now but Pink Trlscott and
Captain Dundas Hullo ! There goes the
bugle. I'll see you again. "
Ho hurried off to his post beside Trlscott ,
who had already returned to the ranks , and
i an Instant later the dusty columns were. In
| motion.
The resident's party cantered toward the
suburbs of the city , and the ICajah Cham
Bahadur rode back to the palace on a steed
borrowed from one of his retainers. The
spectators scattered In different directions ,
all unconscious that the seeds of what "might
I blossom I Into a great tragedy had just been
| sown.
The native Indian state of Mysore , the
I reader i must know , was only nominally gov
I erned by Its Hindoo prince. The resident's
duties were hardly In accord with his smooth-
soundlne name. Ho was there to watch the
rajah's court , to report everything to the
viceroy at Calcutta , and to order out the
| British ] troops at the least sign of revolt.
It was one of his duties , also , to collect the
annual tribute of 250,000 rupees.
In no other native states , perhaps , was
less I danger of friction and trouble appre
hended. 1 The rajah , now over 39 years of
age i , had been reared under English tutors.
Ills j present prime minister , n Hindoo named
Pershad ] Jung , was a well-known sympathizer
of , British Institutions and customs , and an
Intimate ] friend of the resident. Moreover ,
Mysore had held loyal during the bloody
times of the great mutiny. So Colonel Tever-
sham Is llttlo to be blamed if he regarded his
i post , ' as somewhat of a sinecure.
There was an air of bachelor's hall about
the residency. In spite of Us luxurious fit
tings and large corps of servants. Colonel
Teversham had never married a second
time , and Captain Chesney's wife had been
dead twelve years , Myles remembered his
mother but dimly , and equally vague were
his recollections of bis English home. His
studies under a tutor had cndert a few weeks
ago , and ho was shortly to enter the mili
tary school at N'nlnee Tnl , up In the Hima
layas.
Paltu lived at the residency in the capac
ity of syce or stable lad. Ills mother was
ono of the house servants , and his father ,
Mates Mai , belonged to the rajah's native
body guard. The little Hindoo was devotedly
attached to Myles.
During the week following the arrival the
Twenty-first light infantry at Mysore
several thing ! ) occurred that must
needs be chronicled. In the fltst
place Myles and Jack Wynyard sought
each other out nnd speedily became close
chums. They played cricket and took horse
back rides In the cool of the evening and
Indulged In other Anglo-Indian sports.
About the middle of the week Captain
Chosney was threatened with nn attack of
fever nnd the doctor ordered a change of air.
So , with some officers from the cantonment ,
he went to the Nellgherry Hills on n t\\o
weeks' shooting expedition , leaving Myles
behind aa n sort ot a substitute.
Three days later Colonel Toversham was
summoned by telegram to Madras to confer
with the viceroy , who happened to be there
on an olllclal tour. The colonel had to go ,
nnd as there wns no getting at Captain
Chesnoy he did what had been done before
under similar circumstances , he left the
affairs ot his office In charge of Pcrshad
Jung , the rajah's prime minister.
A few hours after Colonel Treversham's
departure , and shortly before midnight , Pink
Yrlscott disappeared from one of the side
approaches to the cantonments , where he
had been stationed on guard duty.
Rigid Investigation shed no light on the
mystery. The neighboring sentries , posted
flfty yards away , had heard nothing and seen
no one. The Indications pointed to pre
meditated flight , and Pink Trlscott was
straightway branded a deserter. City and
suburbs were searched in vain , placards were
posted in public places , and a description
of the fugitive was telegraphed to Madras
and other seaports , for his objective point
was believed to be England ,
An hour after sunset on the day following
Pink Trlscott's desertion Myles and Paltu
were strolling about In the garden among the
shrubs and fireflies.
The residency and guards occupied a whole
block , and were enclosed by a ten foot wall
of masonry. Tha principal entrance was
constantly guarded , and at Intervals during
the night a sentry paced around the square.
The house fronted the main street , and on
the right side was the avenue that led to the
palace. On the left ran a less pretentious
street , In close proximity to the native ba
zars. Here the wall was pletecd by a pair
of heavy gates , which were always locked
and were used mainly by the servants and
stable employes. Just Inside these gates
were the stables two long , low buildings ,
with a pasiage between.
In the rear the grounds abutted on a nar
row thoroughfare , across which was the
English church , standing among trees and
shrubbery , and enclosed by a low stone
parapet.
A tiny gate of carved brass , built In the
high wall , opened toward the churchyard. H
was possibly intended for the secret use of
the resident. At all events Ihe key was
kept hidden In the house , and that hiding
place Myles happened to know.
On the aforementioned evening the two
lads , being In the rear of the grounds , heard
a low whittle and then a subdued pro
nunciation of Myhs' name.
They hurried to the small gate , and by the
dim light they saw Jack AVynyard peering
through the bars from the outer side.
"I thought it was you talking , " he ex
claimed cladly , "The guard at the main
gate wouldn't let me In. He Mid U was too
late. I knew the resident \ > as. away , but I
wanted to see your father. "
"Ho's away , too , " Interrupted Miles ,
"Oone to the Neileherry hills. "
"U/ Jove , that's baa , " said Jack. In a
tons of keea disappointment. "And Cn.ptaln
Tundas Is with the party , too. I don't know
what to do now. "
" \Vnlt a moment , " exclaimed Miles , coming
to n sudden and Imprudent retolve "II
won't da for you to stay hero. The sentry
may drop along , you know. "
Ho vanished In the direction of the house ,
and was back In lets than five minutes with
n key In his hand. Ho unlocked the goto nnd
opened It far enough to admit Jack. Then
ho closed It softly.
"Now wo can talk , " he said. "Persha'l
Jung In In charge of affairs while father and
Colonel Tevcrsham ore away , nnd If you
want to see him "
"No , not him , " quickly epoke Jack ; "any
body but him. See here. MyUs. It's Just
this. I'm awfully worried about Pink Trls
cott. You know what happened last night ,
of course ? "
"Yes , " replied Myles , "I could hardly be-
llevo It , "
"And you would bcllevo It still less If you
knew Pink na well as 1 do. Why , lie's the
very soul of honor. Ho never deserted ,
Myles , never. I'll tell you one thing , though.
Ho hasn't been like himself since the rajah
sent for him four or flvo days aso. lie
seemed worried over something , and lie
wouldn't ' say a word about his visit. There's
boon foul play , Mylcs , and that's as sure as
you and I stand here. "
"Foul play ! " exclaimed Myles , Incredu
lously. "You < lon't mean to say "
"I mean that the rajah has got a
finger In Pink's disappearance , " exploded
Jack , lowering his voice to a whisper. There ,
It's out now. That's what I wanted to see
Colonel Te\ersliam about. When I spoke
to some of the officers they only laughed nt
me. You see Pink and I were awfully good
friends , nnd I can't bear to think that-
thai "
A sound that was suspiciously like a sob
ended the sentence , and Jack turned his heaJ
away.
Mvles gave a long , low whistle , and
tapped , hs ! friend on the shoulder.
"Say , old fellow , " -he began. Then he
stopped , for a bell near by had suddenly
started to clang In Vleep , dismal tones.
Another joined in , nnd then another , until
.
all the bells In the city seemed to have
gone mad. Bang ! -went the alarm gun at
the fortress , ami Its echoes woke up a pan
demonium of shouts and yells and scurryIng -
Ing feet , and clatter of horses and wheels.
"Fire , sahibs , " yelled Pnltu , pointing tea
a red glare that was visible through the
gate In the direction of the English church.
"It's the palace , " cried Mylcs , Jerking
open the gite. "Come on. "
Pink Trlscott was forgotten" , and a mo
ment later the gate was locked , the key
was In Mylea' pocket , and the three lads
were outside the grounds , racing at break
neck speed toward the rajah's palace ,
IMAG1N AT10K.
Ilr Anthony Hope ,
( Copjrlshtcd 1834 liy the Author. )
I met her on the shores of the lake.
There were real tears in her eyes.
"Oh , Mr. Vanslttart. " she cried. "What
shall I do ? My husband's out In a boat ,
ever so far away , nnd the wind's rising , and
the boatman says It's awfully dangerous
when there's a storm , and "
I tilled my hat forward and scratched my
head.
"I don't see what you can do , " said I , com
passionately. I had sat next her throe nights
at table d'hote and liked her extremely.
"Look at those trees ! Oh , how it blows !
And see ! Great waves ! "
"Tho wind Is certainly getting up , " I ad
mitted , sitting on a garden seat.
"Oh , Mr. Vanslttart , suppose he should be
drownedl"
"Suppose he ? " I paused.
was a new one to me. I turned It over In
my mind. "Well , suppose he should ? " I
said at last In an Inquiring tone.
"And we've only been married a year ! "
"Yes , yes , " said I , thoughtfully. , "Your
love Is still fresh ? "
"As fresh as the day when "
"Your romance has not worn off , the day
of disillusion has not come. Your husband's
memory would be the sweetest of consola
tions to you. "
"But. Mr. Vanslt "
"There would be no alloy In your recol .
lections. You are young , your.llfe would not.
be spoilt , but It would be , as it were , 1ml-1'
lowed by sweet and not too poignant regrets.
In the course of time the violence of grief j
would wear off. "
She sat down on the bench beside me ,
and dug the end of her parasol Into the
path.
"You would feel , " I pursued , "that sacred
as these memories were precious as they
were you would not be Justified In giving
your whole life to them. And at last. It may
be that another would come who "
"Oh. I can hardly Imagine that , Mr. Van
slttart. "
"Try , " said I , encouragingly. "One who ,
though not perhaps the equal In all respects
of him you had lost , could yet shelter you
from the world "
'I ' should want some one , shouldn't I ? "
"And give you an honest , enduring , un
wavering affection. "
"It wouldn't be the same thing , " said
she.
"Depend upon It. " I returned earnestly ,
It would be In some ways better. For he
your second husband might well tw one
who could appreciate the serious when you
were "
"Instead of always making Jokes ? Ye-es ,
Mr. Vanslttart. "
"Serious , and yet able to enter Into your
lighter moods always good-tempered "
"He would be a wonderful husband , then ! "
"Generous , nay , lavish. In giving you what
ever "
"Fancy ! "
"You wished for ; unsparing In his efforts
to please you "
"What , after marriage ? "
"Devoted absolutely to you. Why , It's a
lovely picture. "
"Yes , It does sound nice , " she conceded ,
digging with the parasol.
"Could not such a .one , " I continued , leanIng -
Ing towards her , "by his affectionate- and
constant efforts , in the course of time heal
the wound caused by your cruel calamity ? "
"I don't know. Yes 1 suppose so well ,
perhaps In time , Mr. Vanslttart , he might. "
"He would , " said I , positively. " 1 can
Imagine myself "
"I beg your pardon , Mr. Vanslttart ? "
"I say , I can imagine myself making It the
work the whole preoccupation the worthy
task of my life thus to restore happiness to
one from whom It seemed to have departed
forever. "
"It would bo a splendid thing for a. man to
do. wouldn't HT"
There was a pause. Then she said :
"But , Mr. Vanslttart , would you who are
so young and so and BO and BO I mean ,
who are so young be content with a heart
that had spent Its first love on another , in
which the freshness of youthful "
"I sometimes think , " I interrupted In low
but urgent tones , "that affection of that kind
is nobler , higher , better than the rash im
pulsiveness of an Ignorant girl. It would bo
a sympathetic communion of minds , of souls ,
Mrs. Lawrence. "
"Yes. I see. Yes , It Tvould , Mr. Van
slttart. "
"My sympathy for you , " I pursued , "would
soften nud Inspire my nature. I should be
elevated to your level. And perhaps , at
last , when long years had obliterated "
"Well , had blurred , Mr. Vansltlart. "
"Yos , bad blurred the pain of memory , we
might como to sec to understand how what
once seemed so distressing was really. In
spite of Its sadness , the necessary condition
for the perfect development of two human
lives. "
For a few moments we sat In thought.
Then Mrs. Lawrence observed : "flood so
often comes out of suffering , doesn't It ? "
"It Indeed seems to be the way of the
world. "
"A woman placed as you describe , Jlr.
Vanslttart , would feel , I'm sure , so deep , so
strong a gratitude for the man who hail ly
dedicated his life to her , that , as time re
on , she would give to him an affection , different -
ent in kind , perhaps , but not Inferior In In
tensity , to that which ihe had felt for tine
man who first won her heart. "
"That would be the only reward I should
hope for , " said I.
"So that. In the end , I should feel It
would be borne In upon me that this man was
niy real , my true , my only "
At this point Mrs. Lawrence stopped
abruptly , for a shadow fell between us , and ,
on looking up , we saw a stout , elderly man ,
wearing a blue Jersey , standing just In front
of oi.
"Beg pardon , mum. " tali ] be , "but arc you
the lady what asked Jim Dobbx about tbe
gentleman what's out In the boat ! "
"About the ubat ? Oh , yes , I suppose
oh , yes. I um "
"Well , you've uo cause to ba put out about
'Im , mum. Ho's Just rounding the point ,
nn < l he'll bo ashore In two minutes' time "
"But Uobbs said It was very danKerous , "
I protested.
"Dobbi don't know ov rythlng. lr , beggln'
your pardon. Anyways the gentleman's safe
enough.Glad of It for your sake , mum. "
"Thank you Ihnnk youf so muchr" ald
Mrs. Lawrence.
The elderly man ttool looking nl me in
such a manner that I took sixpence out of
my pocket nnd gave It to him. To be frank ,
I have zo'doin urudged a sixpence more.
Then the elderly man passed on.
Them was a lone silence. Mrs. Lawrence
had made quite n llttlo pit In the gravel
walk. Once she looked nt me , nnd , finding
me regarding her ( rather gloomily , 1 bo-
lleve ) , hastily turned nway again with a
blush. At last the 'Sli6hce became intoler
able almost Improper , m fact
"What Merc wo talking about when that
mnn Interrupted us ? " nsfced Mrs , Lawrence ,
with a desperate asrimj > tlon of case.
It Is a rule of mlnfc to blve a plain answer
to a plain question. '
"We were talking , ' " salil I , "of what
would have happened If Dobbs had known
everything. . ' And , havlrig thus said , I sud-
denlv began to laugh. '
Women are strangt creatures. Mrs. Liw-
rcnco leapt up from Jtier' sent and stood over
me. Her e > es flashed with Indignation , and
she positively brandfshcd her parasol at me.
"You horrid , horrid boy1" she cried.
"My dear Mrs. Lawrence " I protested ,
"You've made me talk as If I "
"It wns a mere hypothesis , " I pleaded.
"AH if I oh' ' Anyhow. If my husband
was drowned n thtrusand times over. I'd
never speak to you. "
"So you say now1 , " ' said I , composedly
"But you know you were quite taken with
the prospect a little while ago. "
"Mr. Vanslttart , you're wicked ! How can
I KO and tell my poor dear Robert ? "
"I don't insist on your telling him , " said
I , In a conciliatory tone.
"Perhaps you think I don't care for him ? "
she cried , defiantly.
"Tho hypothesis was that you did , " said I.
"That's what made It so Interesting. "
"I shall sit somewhere else at dinner to
night. " Mra. Lawrence announced , haughtily.
"If you KO on like this , " I observed , warn-
Ingly. "I shall end by being "
"You can be Just what you like. "
"Ry being glad , " I concluded.
"Glad ! Glad of what ? "
tfllnd , " said I , "that I see your husband
walking toward us In perfect health. "
As I spoke he. came within speaking dis
tance.
"Hullo , Georgle ! " he cried to his wife.
"Here I am had a bit of a blow , though. "
Mrs. Lawrence ran a few steps toward him ,
I took the liberty of following.
"Vanslttart been looking 'after you ? " asked
Laurence , with a smile.
"Oh , my darling Hobble , " cried Jlrs. Law
rence , "I've been Imagining all sorts of things
about you. "
"Foolish child ! " said he , fondly. "Did you
think I was going to bo drowned ? "
"Wo didn't exactly think it , " I broke In.
"We assumed It by way of "
"Please , Robbie , will you take me Into the
house ? " said Mrs. Lawrence , hastily.
Mrs. Lawrence , did sit elsewhere at dinner ,
but Lawrence said to me , asvo played
billiards afterwards :
"Tell you -what , old chap. If a fellow wants
his wife to be extra pleasant to him he can't
do better than risk his life on this beastly
lake , " ami he smiled moat contentedly.
It was merely penitence , of course. But I
let htm alone.
THE ROOKY MOUNTAIN" BAM
| Uo la Kurd to Hope nnd a Orrnt Drill or
Trouble to llrlnjr Hnivn.
On Ihe first of test week Frank Chatfleld
succeeded In roping a Ilocky Mountain ram
on the foothills of the Sunlight mountains ,
about fifty miles from this city , says the
Hed Lodge ( Mont. ) Picket. To catch and
hold a full-grown animal of this species
Is a feat that has heretofore probably never
been accomplished. Mr. Chatfleld Is n strong
and hardy mountaineer , having passed most
. of his llfo In the wild recesses of the Rocky
' mountains , and lias been combining trapping ,
prospecting and stockralslng for a number of
years past in Ihe Sunlight valley , through
vvlilc'h winds a rugged stream that empties
Into the Clark's Fork , river in the Box
i . canyons making Its jfinnl appearance over a
' grand fall -seventx'flvc feet tin height.
During this paitlcular hunt Mr. Chatfleld
saw a fine specimen of jtho Ovls Montana on
a ledge ot rock far up Jlie hill , and with a
common . lariat determined to make an effort
to catch the animal. , Crawling up a dry
gulch ho kept out of aiglit of the ram and
reached n reef of roclj about thirty feet above
It. Looking over the > c ge ot this he saw the
monarch of the mountains , and the animal
alw > saw Mr. ChalfieU. It Immediately
jumped over the ledge and with a couple of
bounds 1I 1 landed on another ledge about thlrty-
1i flvo I f&et below. The' flog was tent after the
sheep i and brought It'to a standstill about 200
feet I away. Chatfleld' ' followed nnd agnln
| got ' a few feet above the ram and threw his
rope. It landed around one of the ram's
horns , and a hard "tussle for the mastery
took place. First the sheep would
have the best of the struggle
and then the man. Delng on a narrow ledge
of rock It was a verj dangerous position and
Mr. Chatflold was liable to fall over with
disastrous results. Finally the man suc
ceeded In getting down to n comparatively
safe descent and with the assistance of the
dog got the sheep started down the mountain.
Ay neither party could go exactly as they
wished , they Boon got tangled In the rope
and both sheep nnd man started In a bundle ,
rolling down to the bottom of the hill , where
they landed decidedly the worse for their
rough scramble over the rocksi His sliecp-
shlp was roped around both hind feet nnd
afterwards the rope was arranged around
both horns , In which condition he was taken
to the Chatfleld ranph , where ho Is now
securely confined. The specimen Is a mag
nificent ono and will very likely lie sent to
some large zoological garden. Its horns
measure seventeen Inches In circumference
and have a two-foot spread. Some time
previous to catching this sheep Mr. Chatfleld
caught three ewes In the same manner , but
as they were not so largo and unmanageable
they did not cause so much trouble.
A Ipglsl tnr In u Dilemma.
"Once In the Kentucky legislature. " says
As her Carruth In Kate Field's Waslilng-
ton "there was a man elected because of
his high personal character , who was fully
determined to live up to the standard
claimed for him during the campaign. A
friend of his wanted him to favor a bill that
was being pushed through , and the new
member , having become convinced that It
was a Just measure , readily consented to do
so. The day before the bill was to come up ,
however , he received a present of a barrel
ot very fine whisky with his friend's card
attached , and Instantly his conscience be
came aroused and he wondered whether ho
could support a measure that was In need
of ouch Influences to secure adoption. In
hla dilemma he consulted the speaker , who
was nn old war horse In the legislature.
. " 'Ho sent you a barrel of whisky to In
fluence your vote , did lie ? ' asked the old
man.
" 'Yes. * was the answer.
" 'Well , what are you going to do about
It ? ' was the next question.
" 'I don't see what I can do except send
back the whisky with n note that I cannot
be Influenced In that way , '
"The speaker thought a moment.
" 'No , that would never do , ' he said.
'But I'll tell you the way you can show hlnj
how you Eland. Just drink up his whisky
and vote against his bill. ' " „ ,
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