Page:The Partisan (revised).djvu/34

 "Ha! not take a commission from the hands of his majesty! This looks suspicious! And pray, sir, tell us why you would not accept his majesty's commission?"

Unmoved by the solemnity of the proceeding, the youth with the utmost quietness replied&mdash;

"For the very best reason in the world&mdash;I should scarcely know what to do with it."

"Oh, that's it!" said the sergeant. "And so you are really not an officer?"

"No. I've been telling you and this drinking fellow, the landlord, all the time, that I am no officer, and yet neither of you seems satisfied. Nothing will do, but you will put me in his majesty's commission, and make me a general and what not, whether I will or no.  But where's the man?&mdash;Here, landlord!"

"Father's out, can I serve, sir?" said a soft voice, followed by the pretty maid of the inn, the fair Bella Humphries, whose person was now visible behind the bar.

"Yes, my dear, you can;" and as the stranger youth spoke, and the maid courtesied, he tapped her gently upon the cheek, and begged that he might be shown his apartment, stating, at the same time, the probability that he would be an inmate for several days of the tavern. The sergeant scowled fiercely at the liberty thus taken, and the youth could not help seeing that the eye of the girl sank under the glance that the former gave her. He said nothing, however, and taking in his hand the little fur valise that he carried, the only furniture, besides saddle and bridle, worn by his horse, he followed the steps of Bella, who soon conducted him to his chamber, and left him to those ablutions which a long ride along a sandy road had rendered particularly necessary.

The sergeant meanwhile was not so well satisfied with what had taken place. He was vexed that he had not terrified the youth&mdash;vexed at his composure&mdash;vexed that he had tapped Bella Humphries upon her cheek, and doubly vexed that she had submitted with such excellent grace to the aforesaid tapping. The truth is, Sergeant Hastings claimed some exclusive privileges with the maiden. He was her regular gallant&mdash;bestowed upon her the greater part of his idle time, and had flattered himself that he stood alone in her