THE GIRL WITH THE HEART Captain Stevenson left us soon after dinner, he being one of the officers' committee on preparations for the ball, so that I spent a little time alone at his quarters, Orme and Major Williams having gone over to the Officers' Club at the conclusion of their call.

I was aroused from the brown study into which I had fallen by the sound of a loud voice at the rear of Number 16, and presently heard also Kitty's summons for me to come.

I found her undertaking to remove from the hands of Annie, her ponderous black cook, a musket which the latter was attempting to rest over the window sill of the kitchen.
"Thar he goes now, the brack rascal!" cried Annie, down whose sable countenance large tears were coursing.

"Lemme get one good shot at him.
I can shore hit him that clost." "Be silent! Annie," commanded Kitty, "and give me this gun.

If I hear of your shooting at Benjie any more I'll certainly discharge you.
"You see," explained Kitty to me, "Annie used to be married to Benjie Martin, who works for Colonel Meriwether, at the house just beyond the trees there." "I'se married to him _yit_," said Annie, between sobs.