On the Firing Line

ce Mellen protested. "D

thel responded tranquilly. "Besides, I want

n lau

emper. One was only a scratch; the

ed, while she distributed l

li

ought to know what happens when a man turns testy. Frankly, I think it is a healthy

ks, Miss Mellen?" Frazer inquir

later on," she answered, laughing up into his steady e

he replied. "I've been in no end of scr

ack the cloth and thumped on

ption, I met a man who boasted that he always broke everything within range, from hearts to china. Ten minutes later

suspect he also broke the third commandment. The keeping of

ing to tell what Mr. Carew did wh

ell tales,

s it feel to be under

r. He has had more

d her eyes towar

cousin and won't hear

N

wouldn't confe

t the mocker

be desperately afraid; but

wh

shower. Most of them didn't hit anything; there was no cloud from which the shower could come. One resented it

oo

ng-drawn and forceful.

is it,

ght almost without ceasing. When they aren't fighting, they do sentry and stable

d Captain Frazer

d seven-yea

d out her

osquitoes and seven-day Baptists. No sugar, plea

er?" Weldon asked, as

cousin has her eye upon us, so we must be distinctly frivolous. I

se explain

t him with sudd

ur hundred years there has been a

nt the

was only five, that first trip-used to call me so, and every one took it up. We went back to England, after a f

ed his tea t

e it, do you

don't think

to the hem of her elaborate white gow

But the Miss Dent of

ted him a li

mean I am

nly co

in gracio

superiority which galled him. Then, before he could reply, she changed

mood not to

what

What do you

ed by the fervor of the a

made him, and then

s had been crushed out of life by Weldon's serious dignity. She was never quite able to understand his mood upon such occasions. The man was no prig. At times, he was as merry as a boy. At other times, he showed an inflexible seriousness which left her with the vague feeling of being somehow or other in the wrong. The result was a mood of pique, rather than of antagon

the long perspective of garden walk and distant lawn. Save for the orange grove at the left and the ash-colored leaves of the silver wattle above them, Weldon could almost have fancied himself in England. The lawn with its conventional tennis court was essentially English; Eng

most distinctive feature," Ali

with a flippant recollection of Krug

aid Syb. She told me, when she came, that her old master named her Sybarite. I

partly from real interest in her personality; partly to counterbalance the rapt attention which Ethel was bestowing upon the Captain. She had been the selfsame Ethel, a bundle of contradictions that attracted him at one moment and antagonized him at the next. He liked her absolutely; his very liking

hes and her manners and her accent all had come, albeit with slow indirectness, from London. Not only would she and her gowns pass muster in a crowd; but furthermore she would end by being the focal point of a good share of that crowd. Nevertheless, Weldon found it impossible to discover her most distinctive point. Even while he sought it, he wondered to himself w

sturb her?" he asked, reverti

part, though. She told me she had been disturbed, the night before, by the snoring of the parrot

on queried, as he set down his empt

hy

e least intending it, I

ked up

o you

ay before we went out to be fired at, and he said his nam

with bristly hair?

ge that one wonders how

ting her folded arms on

. Kruger Roberts is Syb's

n lau

rse all in a mess, I found Kruger Roberts calmly sitting on my extra blankets, cleaning my shoes with Paddy's best dishcloth. Paddy was in a wild state of mutiny, and told me that that chattering baboon had vowed he was Trooper Weldon

th the air of one who u

and good-natured. Once let them love or hate, though, and all their strength goes into the working out of the feeling. Kruger Roberts obviously

e assente

ruger Roberts," s

shall I do

m do fo

been used to such luxury

ook he

t or not, your chum. Moreover, he will do it all with the face of a clown and the m

with a complete change of tone, "My cous

you," he

s of her answ

friends, and not waste ti

ut here," he answered lightly. "In camp,

en the same person slides through all the grade

et her eye

hip? I thought tha

ver," she sugges

so, this morning. Now I am not so sure." Then he laughed. "I've bungled that horribly,

oming again,"

out my welcome; but one hasn't s

ger Roberts?" s

gives

ptain F

s eyes

I would be willing

anadian at her side to the older, more steadfas

ly. "Captain Frazer spoke of you, a week ago. I have known h

r the sake of Captain Frazer's regard, I would give up most things," he replied, too low

r the apparent inconsequence of her n

asked, in a voice as l

en he looked up

sure I don't know,"