HALF-MAST HIGH.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1525, 2 April 1886, Page 4

HALF-MAST HIGH.

Chaptbb I.

11 Max, have you anything very partictfar to do to-day P ' " No, Algy Why ?" " Oh, nothing. Only I thought you might be going to get the Colleen Baton out. There's a jollj breeze; and it's piping hot stuffed up here in barracks."

" Capital idea! We'll run down to Kingston by-and-bye and have a siil in the bay." And Captain Kuollys went back to his book as though the matter were settled. Algy Vernon, however, dawdled about the ro >m, toying with everything in a half-absent m mncr. A good-looking young fellow he wits, with fair curly hair and dark violet eyes—tall and broad, too —not simply goodlooking. but a young Hercules in size and strength. He had just come in from morning p irxle, and was in uniform, the bean ideal of a young British soldier —erect, fearless. " I say, Max," he said at last, turning hi* boyish face to hi* friend.

" Well, old fellow P" replied the rich deep voice that had a certain winning fascination of its own ; and Max Knollys turned his dark eyes to Algy, who reddened beneath his gase an i then went on with a laugh—- " 1 wiis thinking it will be awfully slow if jou and I go out in tbe yacht alone." " Well., ask any of the fellows you like," returned Max " I dare say Harding or Jack would like to come."

" I don't want them; but I am sure Mrs Langton and t er neice would be awfully glad to come. I could go down by an earlier train and ask them, you know." " Ask them if you like, Algy, it's all the same to me." " All right, I vote then we mike a regular lay of it, and take a basket of grub. Won't tbe jolly P" " 1 dare say you will find it jolly enough," returned Max bending his face over his book. " And so will jou too; only rouce yourself, Max. I don't think you care for anything now." " Don't I rather wearily. " Then I'll go down at twelve, and we can start at one; won't that do ?" . " Won't what do ?" " Why, Max, I don't believe you know what We are going to do." With a half smile Max looked up again. "Do what you like, Algy, only don t you see I'm rt ading P' Algy looked tor a while in silence at the broad shoulders and shapely brown head bent over the book. " Max," he siid, breaking the ice at last, " have you taken a dislike to the Langtons P" Caplaiu Knolljs's brown face flushed. " Why do you ask that ?" " Foe many na-o s. You were so anxious at first th it 1 should meet them, especially jour friend Milly, aud then you cooled off j and now Ido believe tliat you do not even care to have them in your yacht." " If it pleases you, Algy, you know that I am eatL-fied." Algy stooped down and commenoed playing with the tassel of his svtord. " Max, 1 may as well tell you at once that I waut you to like Milly, beouuse I hope one day she will be my wifo." Captain Kaollyj' face was shaded by bis hand " I saw that long ago, Algy."

" And your ar« jealous, Max, that any one should step iu between you and me. i see it now. We must always be frieuds though." Their hands met in a firm, close grip ) but Algy Vernon was struck by the expressionoae almost of pain—on his friend's lace j and the strong brown baud lying on the open magazine on the table was clenched, as though to subdue eouie inward Buffering. Only a lew moment#, though j and then he looked straight into Algy s eyes with his own brown, fearless ones, ana smileu his own genial smile. " Heaven bless you, Algy ! It would be a strange thing thai could part you and me," he said, and then he fixed his eyes on the page as though nothing had happened. Algy looked over bis shoulder. " Life in the Diamond Field* / Does that iuterest you, Max?" " Very. I think I shall go out then some day—it seems a jolly sort ot life." " Don't you thiuk she is pretty P" asked Algy. wandering back to the old sutyect. " Yes," was the laconic respouae. "Only • Yes' ? Max, em't you tay any more tuan that. " I think Milly Langton is the prettiest and sweetest girl I hare ever known," said Captain KnoiJys, raising hia head. " What a pity you didn't fail in lore with her yourself, Mux, and cut me out! You bad plenty, of opportunity before she met me." "Ih it means that, meeting you, I had no chance," said Mux, laughing half bitterly. " Exactly. Ao* you see about the grub aud the things, and 111 be off." And, hum* miug softly to himself, Algy Vernon left the room. Max Kuollys compressed his lips under big heavy browu moustache, and took a long look rouud his room, which was like all other otlk-ers' quarters. His eyes rested on a watercolour drawing—a pretty rural picture, with a stiie m the foreground aud the sea in Uio (ar distauce. He gased at it for some time, aud then, with a sigti, he went back to hi* in* terrupied study of Ltfe in the Diamond Fieldt liut the weary frown on his forebead was long in smoothing itself away. Max Kuollys did not look a hippy man. *••••• Over the waters of the bay the Colleen Baten, Captain Kuollys' beautiful cutter, glided smoothly alo g, her snowy oaova* fil.'ed by a smart breeze, which, for a wonder, was all that could be desired. Milly was standing on deck in a pret>y yachting dress of b.ue serge, and she was talking and laugh* ing with Algy Vernon. Captain Knollys sat and watched them. Milly was pretty. Algy was right. She had a sweet, soft face, fair and winning, with large fawn like eyes, and dark brown hair covered by a coquettish little sailor hat. Her face was flushing as Algy spoke, her eyes looking steidily out to sea, her heart beating very fast. " Is'nt it lovely—the yacht, I mean P" she •aid, turning to him. (IV k