TheColonelhadaWaterburywatchalso，andforguard，thelip-
strapofacurb-chainLip-strapsmakethebestwatchguards。
TheyarestrongandshortBetweenalip-strapandanordinaryleatherguardthereisnogreatdifference；betweenoneWaterburywatchandanotherthereisnoneatallEveryoneinthestationknewtheColonel’slip-strapHewasnotahorseyman，buthelikedpeopletobelievehehadbeenononce；andhewovefantasticstoriesofthehunting-bridletowhichthisparticularlip-straphadbelongedOtherwisehewaspainfullyreligious。
PlatteandtheColonelweredressingattheClub——bothlatefortheirengagements，andbothinahurryThatwasKismetThetwowatcheswereonashelfbelowthelooking-glass——guardshangingdownThatwascarelessnessPlattechangedfirst，snatchedawatch，lookedintheglass，settledhistie，andranFortysecondslater，theColoneldidexactlythesamething；eachmantakingtheother’swatch。
YoumayhavenoticedthatmanyreligiouspeoplearedeeplysuspiciousTheyseem——forpurelyreligiouspurposes，ofcourse——
toknowmoreaboutiniquitythantheUnregeneratePerhapstheywerespeciallybadbeforetheybecameconverted！Atanyrate，intheimputationofthingsevil，andinputtingtheworstconstructiononthingsinnocent，acertaintypeofgoodpeoplemaybetrustedtosurpassallothersTheColonelandhisWifewereofthattypeButtheColonel’sWifewastheworstShemanufacturedtheStationscandal，and——TALKEDTOHERAYAH！NothingmoreneedbesaidTheColonel’sWifebrokeuptheLaplace’shomeTheColonel’sWifestoppedtheFerris-HaughtreyengagementTheColonel’sWifeinducedyoungBuxtontokeephiswifedowninthePlainsthroughthefirstyearofthemarriageWherebylittleMrs。
Buxtondied，andthebabywithherThesethingswillberememberedagainsttheColonel’sWifesolongasthereisaregimentinthecountry。
ButtocomebacktotheColonelandPlatteTheywenttheirseveralwaysfromthedressing-roomTheColoneldinedwithtwoChaplains，whilePlattewenttoabachelor-party，andwhisttofollow。
Markhowthingshappen！IfPlatte’ssaishadputthenewsaddle-
padonthemare，thebuttsoftheterritswouldnothaveworkedthroughthewornleather，andtheoldpadintothemare’swithers，whenshewascominghomeattwoo’clockinthemorningShewouldnothavereared，bolted，fallenintoaditch，upsetthecart，andsentPlatteflyingoveranaloe-hedgeontoMrsLarkyn’swell-keptlawn；andthistalewouldneverhavebeenwrittenButthemaredidallthesethings，andwhilePlattewasrollingoverandoverontheturf，likeashotrabbit，thewatchandguardflewfromhiswaistcoat——asanInfantryMajor’sswordhopsoutofthescabbardwhentheyarefiringafeudejoie——androlledandrolledinthemoonlight，tillitstoppedunderawindow。
Plattestuffedhishandkerchiefunderthepad，putthecartstraight，andwenthome。
MarkagainhowKismetworks！ThiswouldnothappenonceinahundredyearsTowardstheendofhisdinnerwiththetwoChaplains，theColonelletouthiswaistcoatandleanedoverthetabletolookatsomeMissionReportsThebarofthewatch-guardworkedthroughthebuttonhole，andthewatch——Platte’swatch——slidquietlyontothecarpetWherethebearerfounditnextmorningandkeptit。
ThentheColonelwenthometothewifeofhisbosom；butthedriverofthecarriagewasdrunkandlosthiswaySotheColonelreturnedatanunseemlyhourandhisexcuseswerenotaccepted。
IftheColonel’sWifehadbeenanordinary“vesselofwrathappointedfordestruction。”shewouldhaveknownthatwhenamanstaysawayonpurpose，hisexcuseisalwayssoundandoriginalTheverybaldnessoftheColonel’sexplanationproveditstruth。
SeeoncemoretheworkingsofKismet！TheColonel’swatchwhichcamewithPlattehurriedlyontoMrsLarkyn’slawn，chosetostopjustunderMrsLarkyn’swindow，whereshesawitearlyinthemorning，recognizedit，andpickeditupShehadheardthecrashofPlatte’scartattwoo’clockthatmorning，andhisvoicecallingthemarenamesSheknewPlatteandlikedhimThatdaysheshowedhimthewatchandheardhisstoryHeputhisheadononeside，winkedandsaid：——“Howdisgusting！Shockingoldman！withhisreligioustraining，too！IshouldsendthewatchtotheColonel’sWifeandaskforexp...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：