Trooper Tales — page 95: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Two Women and a Soldier. 85 led the way. Shame flushed her cheeks, and sorrow was in her dark eyes. And Venning pitied her. “T will see that everything is cared for,” he said, “and I trust you believe, Miss Bishop, that no one will hear of this.” She hastened down the stairway. Her hands trembled and her eyes were very bright. This man talked to her as an equal, she thought. He had such white, refined hands—such a noble face! And his voice was so soft , and rich! Surely he was a good man and worthy, in spite of army rules. Why should she be above anybody, with a father like that—upstairs? And Miss Bishop felt an ominous smarting in her eyes, caused by all these thoughts. Suddenly she remembered something and sped into the kitchen. Meanwhile the captain was disrobed by his orderly, who had performed similar attentions to many of his friends in civilian days, and knew the trick. His superior officer was at length adjusted comfortably in his proper place, and there was a queer smile upon the face of Ven- ning. “What an old beast you are!” he muttered. “How easily could I make you suffer for what you have done this night—if I cared to!” He turned the gas down low, and tip-toed to the stair- way. There he paused, listening. The thoughts in his mind could not be described. He descended whistling, whichrwas hardly relevant. “Orderly!” The voice reached him from behind the (CC) Eomichooks