and the regimental blacksmiths; they felt as if Broussard had saved the
life of a child of their own.

Colonel Fortescue was a soldier and recovered himself and walked
bravely with Mrs. Fortescue in the moonlight to their quarters,
Broussard and Anita riding ahead as if nothing had happened, when
everything had happened. At the door Broussard left Anita; both had to
dress for the ball.

In the office, his City of Refuge, Colonel Fortescue sat in his chair
and trembled like a leaf. Mrs. Fortescue, with tender words and soft
caresses, comforted him.

"Stay with me, dear wife," he said, "I tell you as truly as if I were
this moment facing a firing squad that I never knew what fear was until
this night, and yet I thought I knew it and could feel my heart
quivering as I cheered my men to the charge. Betty, I love our child
too much, too much!"

"No," said Mrs. Fortescue, kissing his cheek, "you don't love her half
as much as you love me. Suppose I had been there in our child's place."

The Colonel put his arm over his face.

"Don't, Betty--I can't bear it," he cried.

"But you must bear it; you must go to the ball in twenty minutes."

The Colonel, with bewildered eyes, looked at her as if to ask what were
balls, and where?