VOL. XXV. Idle Moments. LETITIA VIRGINIA DOUGLAS. AUGUST, 1891. Fill them with thoughts that are worthy of living; Fill them with smiles that shall shine as the sun Into some heart that hath need of your giving; They shall gleam in your crown when your day's work is done Each one a jewel to heighten your glory, Each one a star to shed light on your way; Fill them with words that are worthy of leaving; The web of your Life may be grand and sub- Fill them with influence high, pure and tender Into the lives of the men that you meet. Sold for a Silk Rag. T was New Year's eve at one of the gay military stations of the Central provinces, India. The ball, given by the officers of the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth, was in full swing. The large dining-room of the mess bungalow had been turned out and decorated as a ballroom. Supper was laid in a tent hard by, and now, at 11:45, the guests were assembled round the well-supplied tables. The One Hundred and Twenty-fourth always did things well, but to-night they surpassed themselves, for the general of the division was present. He was a favorite with them all, and they delighted No. 8. to do him honor. He very rarely gave them the benefit of his company in holiday time; but this was a special occasion -necessity had obliged him to make a tour of inspection at this season. "Isn't it rather rash of us choosing this night of all others for keeping late hours?" whispered a pretty girl to her partner, as she drew off her long white gloves preparatory to tasting the savory mock turtle. "It won't matter for once any way," he replied; "you need not get up till you please.' "Indeed! And do you suppose for a moment that I could let our regiment parade on New Year's morning without being present? You must have a poor opinion of my esprit de corps! Of course I shall get up. Six o'clock, isn't it?" "A quarter past." The handsome young fellow by her side looked down into her eyes, and whispered something which brought the color to her cheeks. His manner, too was suggestive of happy appropriation, and a stranger would have guessed at the existence of a stronger bond between the two than friendship. They were not engaged, though they were both desperately in love with each other. Alas! the course of true love did not run smooth in their case. A stern father barred the road to bliss and caused poor Aimee many heartaches and tears. But Captain Hamilton was an audacious lover. Such a trifle as the oppression of a stern parent troubled his mind but little. Truth to say, it rather added to the zest of his courtship. Even at this moment the eye of the unsympathetic colonel was upon the young couple with strong disapproval. The murmur of voices round the supper-table increased. Under the cover of the noise Aimee said: "I wish you wouldn't talk like that; you know it is of no use." "I know nothing of the sort," he replied quickly. "Did you ever meet a soldier who was frightened off the field in love or war? Your father will not be able to subdue me with a stare." "He is looking so annoyed." "My little darling, you need not be so alarmed. Eat a good supper and drink your champagne; then you will be better prepared to listen to all I have to say tonight-and I have a great deal to say," he concluded, impressively. She gave him a quick, apprehensive glance. “Oh, George,” she protested. "You heard the good news this morning that I have got my step? Here, try some of this pate de foie gras aspic; it looks uncommonly good." He helped her as he spoke. He was a most self-possessed man, this Captain Hamilton-quite capable of making a good supper and love at the same time. "Yes, I was told, and I am very glad. I congratulate you. It will compensate a little for your having left the regiment to go into the staff corps. I wonder why father hates the staff corps so?" "Because it robs him of his most promising youngsters. How bitterly opposed he was to my going; and all because he thought that in the far, far distance I might make a good adjutant to the regiment. I have been adjutant of the Fiftieth N. I. for the last two years, and now I have got my step." "Yes; I suppose that in a pecuniary way you have done well;" and she sighed. He lowered his voice and said impressively: 'Aimee, I can afford to keep a wife now." But the girl looked distressed at his words, and the suspicion of a tear dimmed her eye. "Oh, George, my father will never give his consent. will." You know that he never "He shall give his consent; I intend to make him. See if I don't, you poor frightened little darling! Do you think that stern fathers are never conquered? Only you must have patience. Here, have some more champagne, and some of this truffle. There's nothing like a good meal to build up on 's courage. Hello! what are they doing now? Oh, 12 o'clock, is it? Silence for the C. O. and the general." Glasses were filled, short speeches were made, and the gong tolled out the hour. Then each turned to his neighbor and good wishes were exchanged. The babel of voices recommenced with the ushering in of the new year. Very shortly afterward Captain Hamilton was piloting his companion from the tent to a dimly-lighted little anteroom. There, wholly hidden by a large group of crotons, he had his sav. His lovemaking, like his soldiering, was untainted by timidity or faint-heartedness. It was useless for Aimee to doubt or fear; he would listen to nothing. Unable to resist his pleading, she caught something of his hope and enthusiasm, and gave herself up to the enjoyment of the hour. "A last kiss, and then one turn around the room before that waltz finishes," said George, with a happy sigh. But it was not to be. Gentle Mrs. Baring approached her daughter with a troubled face. "Oh, Aimee, I have been looking for you everywhere. Your father says that we must go home. He has managed to take cold, and is already quite choking. It is so trying, because he must be on parade to-morrow morning. The general will be there, and he can not get off it." Colonel Baring, who commanded the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth, was not the man to shirk his duty. His only anxiety now was to get home and apply the usual remedies, in the earnest hope that the troublesome ailment might be staved off. He was annoyed that the necessity had risen for turning his back on his guests. He would have liked to have seen the ball out. He was also annoyed with the attentions Captain Hamilton had shown his daughter at supper, and the coffee was aggravated by the disappearance of the young couple immediately afterward. This, together with his embryo cold, conduced to bad temper, and made the drive home anything but pleasant for wife and daughter. He did not dislike Captain Hamilton personally. On the contrary, the colonel recognized in him an unusually smart soldier; but he loathed the Indian staff corps. Its higher pay and richer plumes lured the young subalterns from the queen's regiments; and in his time he had seen at least a dozen youngsters go from the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth alone. They had no business, in his opinion, to leave the regiment. It was only debt or love which made them do it. Why couldn't the staff corps be properly recruited without having to steal men from British regiments, just as they are beginning to know their work? Poor Aimee had to listen to a tirade on the subject as they drove home to their bungalow. She knew only too well what it all meant; and, unsupported by her lover, she was thrown back into the old despair. How could George overcome such prejudices? It would be impossible. She knew her father better than he did. It would need nothing short of a miracle to accomplish it. Colonel Baring put his feet in hot mustard and water and tried all the wellknown old household remedies, so fraudulent, so futile in most cases. The sieepy servants were roused from their warm blankets and sent flying in different directions, one for hot water, another for the whisky bottle, a third for the traveling rugs, a fourth for sweet spirits of niter. In their anxiety to please the somewhat imperious master they brought remedies enough to have treated the whole company of men with influenza. Mrs. Baring and Aimee administered patiently and gently to their wheezing patient until-fortunately for all parties concerned he fell asleep among his blankets and was at peace-at peace, except for the portentous snore that shook his frame. Very early in the morning, before it was light, the ayah crept to the door of the bed-room with the tea-tray. "I am afraid your master is no better; his breathing is very thick," said Mrs. Baring, in answer to the ayah's inquiring look. However, he must go on parade. I hope his uniform is laid out ready; and tell the butler to see that the horse is saddled in good time." Mrs. Baring returned to the bedside, and found her husband awake. He was already firing off his feu de joie on proclamation morning in a volley of sneezes. "Oh, confound this cold! Get me out some old soft silk handkerchiefs. I feel as if my head would burst," he cried, as soon as he could speak. Dressing this morning was no easy matter. Never had a man a worse or more weeping cold. Every now and again a fit of sneezing held him speechless in its grip. It was with the greatest difficulty that he got himself into his uniform, drank his tea, and buckled on his sword. He was convinced, in spite of all his wife could say to the contrary, that he was late. He bustled out of the house, mounted his charger, and galloped to the parade ground. The English troops were drawn up in line on the opposite side, and on their left the native regiments were in position. All was ready for the eagle eye of the general. Colonel Baring pulled up as he reached the ground. The general had not yet arrived. It was a relief and a respite, for it would give him time to blow that muchafflicted nose of his once more. The morning air was sharp, for the sun was only just touching the horizon, and-con found it all, here was another fit of sneezing coming on! Now, Where was his handkerchief? where had he put it in the bustle of dressing? He felt in the cuff of each sleeve. It was not there. He stuck his fingers in the breast of his tunic; of course, it was not there; he never carried it in such a place. He looked round at his horsekeeper; no, he did not remember having given it to him to hold. Horror of horrors, he had come without it! What was he to do? The knowledge that he had no handkerchief seemed to increase his cold, bad as it already was. The sneezing became more frequent, and, dash it all, his nose began to run! What would the general say? Never did there exist a sharper eye for appearance than his. The slightest speck would be detected, and the scarlet uniform would show every spot. It was most distressing, absurd though it may seem. Each moment the value of handkerchiefs rose in his eyes. There is no telling what sum he would not have given for one at that moment. His eyes were affected now, and the landscape was blurred by his influenza-bred tears. He was riding slowly by the Seventieth Native Infantry (to get to his men he would have to pass all the Sepoys), and he saw Colonel Smith at the head of the regiment with two or three of his officers. He rode up to him. "Can you lend me such a thing as a handkerchief?" he asked, in his most conciliatory tones. "I have come without mine, and I have got the most infernal cold in my head." Colonel Smith looked a little surprised at such a strange request. "I have only one, my dear fellow, and as I have a slight cold also, I really daren't part with it. Have you one, major?” he said, turning to a fellow-officer. "Very sorry; I haven't one to spare." Colonel Baring's dislike to the staff corps was well known, and none of the men asked felt inclined to make a sacrifice on his behalf. And it would have been a sacrifice to have parted with one's only handkerchief on such a cold morn ing. Another, and yet another officer was asked, but with no better success. In the distance the general might be seen approaching. It was time, handkerchief or no handkerchief, that Colonel Baring took up his position, for it was to him that the general would first come. Disheartened by his want of success, and-distressed by his constant sneezing, he was passing the Fiftieth without a word. A familiar voice at his elbow cried: |