rt felt like lead,
had gazed from one to the other. Now his eyes were fixed with bitter
jealousy upon Private Gray, and now upon Rachel Linton, though she saw
him not, but, pale and flushed by turns, she was gazing at Gray.

He was a true gentleman at heart, and in spite of his misery and
disappointment, that which he had just heard gave him some satisfaction.
It had been one of his bitterest griefs--one with a poisoned sting--
that feeling which always haunted him, that Rachel Linton should prefer
a private soldier to him, an officer and a gentleman. For that she did
love Gray he had long felt certain. Gray, or Murray, then, was a
gentleman, who, like many other gentlemen, had enlisted, and served as a
very brave soldier. Yes, he was, Captain Smithers owned to himself, a
very brave soldier, though he had felt that he hated him; while now--
now--

"I'll fight it down," said Captain Smithers to himself.

"Heaven helping me, I'll be a gentleman as well as an officer. He has
won, and I have lost. I ought to like him for her sake, and I will."

It was a brave effort, and it required all his strength--but he did it.
He looked first at Rachel Linton, and then at the sweet sympathising
face of her cousin, and went up close to them.

"Rachel," he said, holding out his hand and speaking in a low voice only
heard by her and Miss Sinclair, "I give up. Let me be a dear friend, if
I can be nothing more."

Miss Linton held out her hand frankly and cordially, and he held it a
moment in his. Then dropping it, he walked straight across to where
Colonel Hanson was standing with Murray in the midst of a group, and
holding out his hand, he said,--

"Mr Murray, I am your debtor for my life. Henceforth let us, too, be
very dear friends."

The two young men clasped hands in a firm strong grip, each reading the
other's thoughts, and they instinctively knew that henceforth all enmity
between them was at end. It was all Frank Murray could do to stand
firm, for he knew how great an effort this must have cost his rival, and
he mentally vowed to repay him all.

"Well," said Major Sandars, laughing, "this is a surprise indeed.
Gentlemen all, Private Gray was so good and true a man in the private's
mess, that I for one am quite sure he will be a welcome addition to
ours."

"Mr Murray will grant that I have always looked upon him with respect,"
said Mr Linton, cordially. "I owe him too deep a debt," he said,
holding out his han