THE LOVES OF M'LINO.
When a man loves one woman, whether she be alive or dead, a deep and fragrant memory or a very pleasant reality, he is apt to earn the appellation of "woman-hater," a hasty judgment which the loose-minded pass upon any man whose loves lack promiscuosity, and who does not diffuse his passions. Sanders was described as a woman-hater by such men who knew him sufficiently little to analyse his character, but Sanders was not a woman-hater in any sense of the word, for he bore no illwill toward woman kind, and certainly was innocent of any secret love.
There was a young man named Ludley who had been assistant to Sanders for three months, at the end of which time Sanders sent for him—he was stationed at Isisi City.
"I think you can go home," said Sanders.
The young man opened his eyes in astonishment.
"Why?" he said.
Sanders made no reply, but stared through the open doorway at the distant village.
"Why?" demanded the young man again.
"I've heard things," said Sanders shortly—he was rather uncomfortable, but did not show it.
"Things—like what?"