The Argosy — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

30 A Story of the Day. stronger than usual. He told her what he had done, or rather was about to do on the following day, and they talked for some time, planning their future life in dear old England, when Blanche should be restored to health and strength. “T cannot help feeling grieved, though, Ronald,” she said, “to think my health should oblige you to alter all your plans. I seem to fall so far below my own ideal of what a soldier’s wife should be.” ‘* And may I ask, little woman, what that ideal is?” he enquired, | with an amused smile. ‘Then perhaps I can tell you if you fall so very far short of it.” ‘She should be always a help to her husband, never a hindrance,” replied Blanche. ‘‘Shé should never allow private feeling to inter- fere with his duty ; for as it is her husband’s duty to put the honour of his sovereign and country before all earthly considerations, even before those of the closest earthly ties, so she, being one with him, should do likewise.” “ Anything more?” ““Yes. If he has to encounter privation, hardship, or danger, in the pursuit of his calling, her voice should be the first to urge him onwards; and under no circumstance should she seek by weak mur- murs to ‘withhold him from the smallest particle of his duty as a soldier. JI think that a wife should always identify herself with the spirit of her husband’s profession, whatever it be; therefore to a soldier's wife, the watchwords of her life should be ‘ Honour, duty, and obedience !’ ” “Well done, Blanche!” said Ronald, looking admiringly at her, as the colour came into her cheeks, and her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. ‘‘ And, my child,” he added, ‘‘I don’t think you fall far short of your ideal.” ‘Oh, Ronald, I fear I do! A soldiers wife should be brave at heart ; while I—I feel I should be a very coward, if—if She could not finish her speech, or speak her meaning aloud. Neither was there any need for it. Ronald knew well what, in spite of her brave words, was the dread of her life, as it must be that of every soldier’s wife. He turned the conversation into a less exciting topic, and presently made her go to her room. Then he strolled out before the house to enjoy a cigar, and think over what had to be done on the morrow. That it was a bitter disappointment to himself to settle down at home into an inactive life was nothing; his wife was, and always would be, his first consideration. At the appointed hour on the morrow afternoon he was again at Colonel Deane’s; the two officers to whom he had applied, Major Carruthers and Captain Ainslie, following close upon him. When the Colonel appeared his face wore a look of concern. “ Douglas, my dear fellow,” he said, ‘I am so sorry to have misled you. We reckoned yesterday, you know, that the mail went out to- COMIC OOlKS.CO