LOVE AND DOTY.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 321, 30 July 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

LOVE AND DOTY.

(BY VICTOR HEWETT). It was a military ball, thp farewell ball to the officers of the shire Buffs, previous to their starting for Soudan. The room was, of course, splendidly decorated ; the wine, like the band was beyond reproach ; the scarlet uniforms contrasted bravely with the less showy silks and muslins. All Aldershob was there, for the shire Buffs were deservedly popular with men and women alike. Still, in this brightly lighted ballroom there crept, somehow, a-vague mysterious feeling of depression, for it was the farewell ball of the officers and " farewell" is ever a nasty word to say. Not that the men seemed at all put ou'i by the prospect before them. Not at all. The order to prepare for service in Egypt had been greeted with uproarious cheers and- many jokes. Young subalterns indulged forthwith in visions of companies, and medals, and Victoria Crossps. Grim old sergeants grew suddenly pleasant and affable; the recruits cleaned and recleaned their rifles till the long barrels glittered like serpents, and every bayonet in the regiment was ground as sharp as a razor. Many tales ot past and many promises of future, prowess went the rounds of the messrooms and canteens. No; the shire Buffs were clearly enchanted at the prospect. But under the gaiety of the scene there ran an undefined but unmistakable current of something very akin to anxiety. Here the eyes of a sister followed the form of an only brother round the room—other girls' brothers had but little charm for her to-night! This was the " farewell ' ball of her brother. Farewell! Perhaps—who could say— l And a tiny lace handkerchief was hastily daubed over the top of the nose, a little to either side, and the fair face tried pluckily to smile once more. There, in the corner, sat an old white-haired lady. Her dancing days had long since passed—except for the ' Sir Roger,' which she could still go through with tho best of.them ; but she was here to-night because her son had brought her and' it was his 'farewell' ball. And tonight of all nights, she could not help remembering that the Soudan was a fearful place, where the bravest of men could do nothing against heat, ana drought, and disease, and where the strongest fainted and fell dead under the pitiless sun, to say nothing of those fierce black creatures whose fanaticism made them welcome death, and whose one idea of doing 'God's service' was to put an infidel to death. And, unknown almost to herself, a silent prayer escaped her that Heaven would especially guard and protect her boy—tho others did not matter so much, Even the old Colonel seemed absurdly grave and solemn every now and' then—but only every now and theu, for was he not M. C, and did it not behove him to keep things lively ? ' Billy ' —his real name was William St George Gilbert-Fortes-cue, Leiutenant in her Majesty's shire Buffs—was, at any rate, supremely satisfied with himself and with the world. No wonder. He was engaged to be married—since last Tuesday. To him Miss Violet Cheriton was perfection enveloped in beauty, Men in general however, looked upon Miss Cheriton as a 'desperate flirt' who was—she certainly was—bewilderingly tiful. bo when Billy, blushing very red, told his brother subalterns of his success, they congratulated him warmly, and afterwards shook their worldly-wke heads and assured one uother that ' it couldu't last."

Billy had finished his sixth waltz with Vi. (It was shocking bad form of course, but these things do happen at farewell balls, and, besides, Billy had skilfully disguised the fact on both programmes with the aid of mysterious dots and dashes.) He led her through the conservatory, right through into the grounds, where the moonbeams fell upon tiie tall poplars and struggled to pierca dense little bowers and thickets where they had no business and wore not wanted. Billy led her a long way—they could just hear the next waltz commencing. (This was also Billy's, as a circle with a dot in it clearly showed). ' Sit down,' said Billy, with authority, as became the lord and master of a new possession. The New Possession sat down, as she was told to do. Two chairs had unaccountably got there before, just out ot the glare of the Chinese lanterns. Billy wrapped her cloak round the white shoulders, a duty that occupied him for nearly five minutes. 'What a jolly time we've had, dear, haven't we 1 even if it is to be our last evening together—for a month or two,' he'added quickly. ' Yes. I—have enjoyed it immensely,' and the smaller hand sought the protection of the larger. ' Only I—' ' Oh, don't bo down over it, Vi. I told you not to, you know, in my letter. It's silly. I shall simply go away for a time, and come back a full-blown captain. Everyone does. And then—' What a rogue Billy could look when he liked ? 'Ah, but, dear boy, men know what women feel ! With you it will be different, you will always have something to do—camp life, the excitement, and all that. I must sit at home waiting—reading the papers—and thinking.' ' I won't flirt, honour bright,' interrupted Billy, very earnestly. And if ever a man has said these words sincfirely, Billy did at that time. ' N—no. I'm not aftaid of that. I might forgive even that—if you told me all about it. All, mind. Ah, but Will, dear, men do sometimes forget, don't they V ' Never!' said Billy, emphatically. 'And the months would pass wearily by, and I shall dream—and dream—and I know those dreams will be nightmares. A twelve months' nightmare—think of it ! with nothing but idiotic garden parties and tea-lights and things, where I shall have to appear gay to all the nincompoops who come bothering me with their silly compliments—' Billy wriggled uneasily. 'Huh! I don't quite see why you have to appear gay, you know.' ' Well, I cin't go moping, can I ? Oh, don't—you are crushing my flowers ?' ' Sorry,' said the unrepentant William. She continued in a different voice : ' And then—suppose—suppose anything happened out there?' ' Why, what can happen you little goose V 'Oh, n—nothing. But if ib-did ! Oh, I tell you, Will, I believe I should .die.' ' The soft voice was very pleading now. ' Remember, Will, your first duty is to take care of yourself and to come back. For my sake. Your duty V' ' Rather. Of course 1 will, darling. Oh, don't— : don't cry, Vi. It makes me feel such a—brute. Come. After all, it's only a short separation fellow in the regiment is separating from someone or another—every blessed one.' Tho handkerchief dropped from the eyes it had been vainly pretending to cover. There was a pause Billy might have called it an interval for refreshment. But the blue eyes would not behave themselves as if they belonged to a soldier's bride. They refused to dry, 'Will.' 'Yes?' 'At any rate, Will, you—you'll write every day, won't you ?' ' Oh, come now ! How can 1 1 The Soudan postal arrangements, are not yet controlled by St Martin-le-Grand, you know. You mustn't expect miracles, though we shall improve that before we've finished. But look here ! There's nothing to prevent you from dropping me a line every day, just to tell me how you are getting on, even if I do get them in batches of twenty-five or so.' For Billy was badly in love—and lovers, as everyone knows, are full of brilliant ideas. The strains of the waltz came humming through the trees. They knew it well. The wailing music brought home to each the the words of the old song— If in your heart a corner lies That has no place for mo, You do not love me as 1 deem Our lovo must ever be. Is there a single joy or pain That I may nover know V Take back your lovo—it is in vain ! Did me good-bye, and go ? And somehow —■ somehow —it sounded strange to Vi. ' Come' let's dance it,' suggested Billy. They rose. Billy looked down upon the uplifted face. It was pale as the face of a dead maiden. ' Why—?' And he took it between his hands, and an obtrusive Chinese lantern very thoughtfully went out.

• Will, tell me—tell mo once more—before we go in,' and her voice was nothing but a whisper. ' Tell me—once more—' The rest of the sentence was stifled—by one, or the other, or both. But Billy heard it. ' Vi, darling ! Vi, darling ' I will remember to-night as long as I live. Never, neve.'' will I forget this tearful little face, dear one j It will stay before my eyes, never fear little lady, until I come back to you again, and will keep me from all harm, wherever I am. My ewn, own Vi !' So they entered the ballroom, and all tract's of tears had vanished from her face; but the fair neck was bent as though it refused to bear the weight of so much beauty. And they danced tho last waltz together —but the flowers had gone from her breast. Nothing looks so bad in a ballroom as crushed flowers. + * • * * * Four months later the litte British force in the Soudan was forming square for the enemy was about to charge. On every side turbaned forms were gesticulating and howling out the war cries. ' Alhh il Allah !' ' Mahdi, Mahdi !' The gibbering Maxims in the corners of the square kept pounding away merrily, spitting out death like the snakes they were whenever the blacks showed signs of coming too near; and ot every volley dusky forms leapt into the air, and, with a last yell, fell headlong and poured their life blood into :he thirsty sand, while their souls fled swiftly away to ' Paradise.' In the middle of the square'rode the old Colonel, watching every sign and every movement, giving his orders clearly and quickly—orders which were obeyed as quickly as they were given. And so the handful of her Majesty's troops moved slowly across the desert—forward to the group of palms in the distant where, alone they could hope for rest after the burning day, and for fresh water not rendered stale and tepid by the sun's rays. Two days ago Billy had received a letter from England, which contained some shrivelled flowers. What the letter said is nob my business, or yours; but the poor brown things were mostly undoubtedly violets, It was Sunday in England. Out here it didn't matter—in fact, the men had forgotton what day of the week it was. All except Billy and he carefully ticked off each day on a calender he always carried with him in close proximity to the rather soiled photograph of a woman—a woman with a beautitul face, but men said it was the face of a flirt, And as no man is master of his own thoughts, and the mind will wander of its own sweet will into the remotest corners of the earth, even when deadly clanger is at hand so Billy found himself peacefully thinking not so much of the battle that was going on as of Misa Cheriton. He did not feel the glaring sun that shot down upon them—only to be mercilessly reflected up from the shining sand. He did not remember he held his sword drawn in his hand, that his revolver lay fully chnrged in his bolt. The square, the Dervishes, the upright old colonel, all seemed to hirr like dream people. It was only a dream this African business. He himself was in a quiet country church in England keeeling by her side. The congregation were all kneeling, and her head was bent very low. He peeped surreptitiously into her face —surely, surely that was not a tear that tried to escape the custody of the long lashes? He heard the clear voice of the clergyman—dear old Bennet it was,—in tho Litany : ' From lighting and tempest, from plague, pestilence and famine, from battle and murder, and from sudden death, Good Lord deliver us.' And earnestly, broakinglyi she responded. ' Good Lord, deliver us.' Mechanically, Billy felt in his pocket. The calender was there—and the photograph. * * * # * ' Halt! Face about 1 Prepare to repel charge !' At once the little square made ready. Billy was back in the Soudan. Now, on every side, as far as the eye could reach, came en the Arabs, dancing, shrieking, howling. This was their one great endeavour to wipe out the accursed infidels. To every man that fell the Mahdi—groat is his name—had promised eternal Paradise, Allah himself had assured them of victory. What then, mattered death when the reward would be great and eternal ? On they came. The Maxims spoke out, and a lane appeared through the rushing horde. On they "came in any order, in no order—on they came to devour the little force that was daring to stand up for the White Queen against the divine will of the Mahdi, Tens dropped. Hundreds fell. The rush continued, and now the bright maddened eyes were clearly visible to the little British band. ' Fire!' On all Iho four sides the rifles rang out. Then on once more charged the fanatics, trampling down their dying, trampling on their dead, straight on to victory or to Paradise ! Another volley at forty puces, and

the black forms seemed to have vanished from off the face of the earth in a cloud of smoke. Then what was left of them appeared right up to the bayonet points, cursing yelling ; fresh forms rusho! up behind them. Now, weary, sunstricken soldiers, look to it—'look well to it —in the name of Queen and country ! Bayonet, sword, spear —scarlet, white, black—all seemed blended together in one fea'rful hurly-burly. The square stood firm ; the fanatics poured themselves upon the hedge of bayonets. In no time Billy's revolver had emptied ; once it brought to earth a huge Arab whose sword was whirling over a wounded private's head. The square stood firm—Soudanese negroes and whites, side by side, in the name of her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen. Suddenly one of the. Maxims hecame jammed. Before it was again in order the savages had swarmed round the weakened corner, speared the gunners, and cut their way into the square. The officers hurried to the spot ; the rear rank of the men faced about; for a short time it was touch-and-go. A spear whizzed past Billy's head; a brother officer behind him fell, pierced through the neck. Billy's sword came down in a slanting direction upon the head of a bearded, muscular Arab, who was quite inside the square. A thrill oE exula'ion and nausea as the man dropped the gash fixing his features in the appearance of a ghastly grin. Gradually, slowly, the little square rallied. The Arabs were cut down and beaten back ; the bayonet points formed once more around the crippled gun. But in the rush and confusion an*! smoke a small party of British troops had been forced outside the square. Among them was Billy. ' Back—back into the square, for your lives !' he ordered. Tiie passage was clear, except for wounded Arabs and with a rush the men turned. The bayonets opened. Billy, last of all, was on tho point of entering safely, At that moment he heard, above all the din, the cry of a voice he knew. He turned. Some forty paces away a comrade, a mess-mate, was surrounded by a dozen of the enemy. Billy saw him fight; cutting and thrusting on every side, then fall. ' Buffs to the rescue I' he shrieked, and again galloped back. Two troopers managed to accompany him. Slash, cut, thrust once more, and Billy reached his friend's side. ' Hold up, Ross, old boy ! Why, what's the matter? You're ell right now. What's up Y Ross tried to answer, but a fearful gash across his eyes, and the unnatural twist of one leg, told his story pretty plainly. ' Never mind—poor old Jimmy !' and Billy tried to get under his dying friend, in order to carry him back into the square. The square was still hard pressed, but the worst was over now. A body of Arab horsemen, decimated by the rifle fire, were on the point of retreating when they caught sight of two hated white men well outside the safe shelter of tho square, one wounded, the other trying to lift him—an easy prey. With ' Mahdi ! Mahdi!' they galloped towards them. Ross saw their approach over Billy's shoulder. ' Look out, old man,' he murmured. ' Get hack—leave me. I'm done—no good. Get back —there's —just—time.' Poor Billy looked up. The horsemen were sixty yards away or more —he might escape them if no unlucky spear got home on him. Then in a moment, !:e was back in England, Vi at his side. They were at a ball together--the lights, the decorations were there—the band was playing, faintly hut .distinctly, 'Bid Mc Gocd-byc.' ' Til come back, darling, never fear,' he whispered. < Go —there's just time, Fortcscue, Run—for your life. God bless you —leave me—quick !' These words brought Billy back to the battle. He looked down on his dying friend, who was clearly at his last breath. Me looked on the wild horsemen coming on at a gallop, He thought of a lonely loviiig girl waiting for him at home, —of Ids plighted troth— olins bride. And the world seemed a lovely place, and he felt so young and strong—and Violet —his own, own Vi—- ' Save yourself—there's—just—time —good-bye" It is no discredit to Billy to say that there was a second's pause before he threw away his useless revolver, and gripped his sword more tightly, and said through his clenched teeth—'No, old chap? I'm damned if I do!' * -;;- * * * A rescue was soon effected from the square, but net before Billy was lying with his face upward to the African sun. a spear through his lungs, and each beat of his brave heart increasing the crimson, stain upon the sand. They brought him into the square and did what they could, But he only spoke once more : nnd the poor dying whisper was heard only by one or two who bent fiver him. ' Tell her—l -lid mean—to come —but poor—old Jimmy-—-was down. Tell her—' The last words were whispered to someone who was also near him, who was standing over him and holding the hot, curly nead upon her knees ? though only Billy saw her.

' I—l'm—coding, dearest. I'm —coming—to you—Vi. Don't cry, darling—l'm—com—in^—home.' * -;:- * * * Miss Cheriton, the 'desperate flirt,' the belle of the county, is still unmarried. Into her golden hair have crept threads of silver; the fair face has lost a little of its smooth radiance. She selJom jjoes anywhere. People wonder : how on earth she spends her tim3.' They forget to ask the poor around her, the sick, the despairing, those whose husbands are far away ; widows, whose husbands are—dead. She seems contented now—even happy ; her eyes are as bright and as blue as over, except, perhaps—who knows ? when she opens a treasure box and tnkes from it a soiled photograph of herself and an old calandar, both dyed in places, a dull red brown.