nd something tells her that what she dreads has come
to pass. Presently he returns to her with the information that there are
no letters; then raises his cap, and, in the old Southern and cadet
fashion, extends his hand.

"You are not going, Mr. Lee?" again she falters.

"I have to, Miss Stanley."

Slowly she puts forth her hand and lays it in his.

"I--I wish you did not have to go. _Tell_ me," she says, impulsively,
imploringly, "are you going to inspect?"

He bows his head.

"It is already ordered, Miss Miriam," he says; "I must go at once.
Good-night."

Dazed and distressed she turns at once, and is confronted by a pallid
little maid with wild, blue eyes.

"Oh, Miss Stanley!" is the wail that greets her. "I could not help
hearing, and--if it should be Willy!"

"Come with me, Nannie," she whispers, as her arm enfolds her. "Come to
my room."

Meantime, there has been a breeze at the barracks. A batch of yearlings,
by way of celebrating their release from plebedom, have hit on a
time-honored scheme. Just about the same moment that disclosed to the
eyes of Lieutenant Lee the class ring gleaming on the finger of that
nattily-dressed young civilian, his comrade, the dozing officer in
charge, was started to his feet by a thunder-clap, a vivid flash that
lighted up the whole area of barracks, and an explosion that rattled the
plaster in the guard-house chimneys. One thing the commandant wouldn't
stand was disorder after "taps," and, in accordance with strict
instructions, Lieutenant Lawrence sent a drummer-boy at once to find the
colonel and tell him what had taken place, while he himself stirred up
the cadet officer of the day and began an investigation. Half the corps
by this time were up and chuckling with glee at their darkened windows;
and as these subdued but still audible demonstrations of sympathy and
satisfaction did not cease on his arrival, the colonel promptly sent for
his entire force of assistants to conduct the inspection already
ordered. Already one or two "bull's-eyes" were flitting out from the
officers' angle.

But the piece of boyish mischief that brings such keen delight to the
youngsters in the battalion strikes terror to the heart of Philip
Stanley. He knows all too well that an immediate inspection will be the
result, and then, what is to become of McKay? With keen anxiety, he
goes to the hall window overlooking the area, and watches the course of
events. A peep into McKay's room shows