A Soldier of the Legion

A Soldier of the Legion, by

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Title: A Soldier of the Legion
Author: C. N. Williamson A. M. Williamson
Release Date: March 14, 2007 [EBook #20815]
Language: English
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A Soldier of the Legion
BOOKS BY THE SAME AUTHORS
CAR OF DESTINY

THE CHAPERON
GOLDEN SILENCE
GUESTS OF HERCULES
HEATHER MOON
IT HAPPENED IN EGYPT
LADY BETTY ACROSS THE WATER
LORD LOVELAND DISCOVERS AMERICA
MOTOR MAID
MY FRIEND THE CHAUFFEUR
PORT OF ADVENTURE
PRINCESS VIRGINIA
ROSEMARY IN SEARCH OF A FATHER
SET IN SILVER

A Soldier of the Legion
BY C.N. & A.M. Williamson
GARDEN CITY NEW YORK DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & CO. 1914

Copyright, 1914, by
C.N. & A.M. WILLIAMSON
All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign languages,

including the Scandinavian

TO THE LEGION

CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. The Telegram 3
II. The Blow 15
III. The Last Act of "Girls' Love" 34
IV. The Upper Berth 45
V. The Night of Storms 58
VI. The News 71
VII. Sir Knight 80
VIII. On the Station Platform 95
IX. The Colonel of the Legion 106
X. The Voice of the Legion 117
XI. Four Eyes 132
XII. No. 1033 143
XIII. The Agha's Rose 148
XIV. Two on the Roof 163

XV. The Secret Link 173
XVI. The Beetle 189
XVII. The Mission 203
XVIII. Gone 223
XIX. What Happened at Dawn 228
XX. The Beauty Doctor 242
XXI. The Eleventh Hour 254
XXII. The Heart of Max 263
XXIII. "Where the Strange Roads Go Down" 278
XXIV. The Mad Music 285
XXV. Corporal St. George, Deserter 294
XXVI. Sanda's Wedding Night 302
XXVII. The Only Friend 317
XXVIII. Sanda Speaks 332
XXIX. Out of the Dream, a Plan 346
XXX. The Play of Cross Purposes 351
XXXI. The Gift 368

A Soldier of the Legion
CHAPTER I

THE TELEGRAM
It was the great ball of the season at Fort Ellsworth. For a special
reason it had begun unusually late; but, though the eighth dance was on,
the great event of the evening had not happened yet. Until that should
happen, the rest, charming though it might be, was a mere curtain-raiser
to keep men amused before the first act of the play.
The band of the --th was playing the "Merry Widow" waltz, still a
favourite at the fort, and only one of the officers was not dancing. All
the others--young, middle-aged, and even elderly--were gliding more or
less gracefully, more or less happily, over the waxed floor of the big,
white-walled, flag-draped hall where Fort Ellsworth had its concerts,
theatricals, small hops, and big balls. Encircled by their uniformed
arms were the wives and sisters of brother officers, ladies whom they
saw every day, or girls from the adjacent town of Omallaha, whom they
could see nearly every day if they took the trouble. Some of the girls
were pretty and pleasant. They all danced well, and wore their newest
frocks from Chicago, New York, and even, in certain brilliant cases,
from Paris. But--there was a heart-breaking "but". Each army woman,
each visiting girl from Omallaha knew that at any minute her star might
be eclipsed, put out, as the stars at dawn are extinguished by the rising
sun. Each one knew, too, that the sun must be at the brink of the
horizon, because it was half-past eleven, and it took more than twenty
minutes to motor to Ellsworth from Omallaha. Besides, Max Doran,
who used to love the "Merry Widow" waltz, was not dancing. He stood
near the door pretending to talk to an old man who had chaperoned a
daughter from town to the ball; but in reality he was lying in wait,
ready to pounce.
It was a wonder that he hadn't gone to meet her; but perhaps she had
refused his escort. A more effective entrance might be made by a
dazzling vision alone (the "stage aunt" did not count) than with a man,
even the show young man of the garrison.
The show young man talked jerkily about the weather, with his eyes on
the door. They were laughing eyes of a brilliant blue, and accounted for
a good deal where girls were concerned; but not all. There were other

things--other advantages he had, which made it seem quite remarkable
that a rather dull Western fort