expense of Miss M.; but I was really desirous of trying so to manage matters that Phil would be placed in a better position with his lady than before. I knew that the worst thing I could do would be to repel her advances, and concluded that it was incumbent upon me to at least meet her half way. As she still continued to address me with some degree of formality as Lieutenant, or Mr. Buford, I—giving her an ogle that was intended to be very sympathetic, and to indicate how profoundly my feelings had been wrought upon—suggested that she should call me Harry. This was said in a very tender tone, and evidently made a great impression. During the balance of the ride we exchanged confidences in a very lover-like manner, and by the time we reached home again, Miss M. was in a very happy state of mind, being convinced that she had made a conquest of the man she had so long sighed for. It was all very absurd, of course, and very melancholy from a certain point of view ; but I could not help being amused, although I wished myself well out of the scrape, and resolved to inform Phil how matters stood immediately.
A Surprise for my Friend.
Having returned our teams to the livery stable, I invited him to my room, and having settled ourselves for a smoke, I disclosed the whole situation to him. He was very much surprised, and a good deal cut up by what I told him, and said Miss M. had often spoken to him of another officer for whom she had an affection, but that he had never imagined that it was I.
I told him that I was quite as much surprised as himself, and that I certainly should not have called upon the lady had I known what was going to happen.
Phil paced up and down the room a good deal agitated; and at length he burst out with, "Well, now, lieutenant, ain't women d—d deceitful things anyhow? but I shan't mind being gone back on in this way very long. I will leave for the field in a few days, and 1 will try and forget her, and, in the mean time, I will not call without your consent."
"O, pshaw," said I; "I am not in love with the girl, Has tings, and I don't expect to be. I have no intention of marrying, and I don't propose to interfere with you in the least. So go ahead, and win the lady if you can, and I don't doubt but that you can, if you only try hard enough."
