Mildred: An Autumn Romance.

MILDRED : AN AUTUMN ROMANCE .

BY BRO . EMRA HOLMES , Author of "Tales , Poems , and Masonic Papers ; " " The Path of Life : An Allegory "Amabel Vaughan ; " " Notes on the United Order of the Temple and Hospital , " etc ., etc .

CHAPTER III . A QUEER BUSINESS . I" ? ARLT the next morning his valet entered his room , took the dress clothes Avhich he J had Avorn the previous evening , brushed and put them aAvay , ancl at the same time informed him that the General AA'ished to see him immediatelin the

breakfasty room . Dressing hurriedly , he AA'ent downstairs and found his father pacing up and doAA'n the room . " Good morning , sir , " Marmaduke said , on holding out his hand to his father- as he spoke , " I am sorry if I offended you last night . " " I Avould rather not reopen the question , " the General says , frigidly ; " I did not send for you to discuss your follies or inclinationsbut to hand you this intimation

, from the Secretary at War . Ton asked to be sent on Foreign Service , I think . " " I did , father . The fact is , I ' m tired of home life . " " Well , 1 am not presumed to know your motives , but here are your marching orders . You exchange into the 85 th , ancl hold yourself in readiness to leaA'e AA'ith your regiment on the llth for the West Lidies . " "Is that all ?"

" Yes , that ' s all I Avanted . I suppose you Avill Avant some money for your uotfit . HOAV soon Avill you be ready to start ? " " As soon as you like . " "Well , a soldier should be prepared to go at once . You had better take the next train . I Avill gh'e you a cheque for , £ 200 , ancl Avhen you Avant more Avrite and you shall haA'e it . You haA'e been a A'ery extravagant fellow , and I trust you Avill UOAV endeavour to turn over a neAV leaf . "

"Thank you , father ; but I suppose the evening train Avill do . I haA ' e many things to attend to . " ( Marmaduke Avanted to see Mildred to AA'ish her good-bye . ) " Humph , I don't know , " the father hesitated ; it seemed rather harsh sending his son aAvay like this , AA'hen it AA'as possible he might never see him again . "Oh , Marmaduke " —it Avas the first time he had called him by his Christian name for a year— " I Avhl see you again before you go . There ' s a letter for you , " and Avith that the General , AA'ho

Avas an early riser , and had finished his breakfast , retired to his study . The young man carelessly took up the letter on his breakfast plate , and turned it over curiously , as men do Avhen they do not at first recognize the handwritinn- , ancl like to Avonder from whom it is without opening it . "Marked immediate . Who is it from ? Another row , I suppose , " he said , languidly , as he cut it open AA'ith his penknife . " Hullo , AA'hat's up UOAA ' , " and he read

aloud—The Camp , Colchester , Jxiht ith , 18 GDEAB MATHEW , — The old lawyer that yon Avot of has been up here and swears vengeance on you . The young lady says all sorts of things about you , and there ' s an awful row . The Colonel says you must put it all right , or leave the regiment . Come at once . MERVYK KSOI . LYS .