being announced, with smiles and bows he took leave, followed by Mr.
Trevelyan, who accepted the proffered invitation.




CHAPTER III.

AN EVENING IN OFFICERS' MESS-ROOM.


Many of our readers are familiar with the old building still standing,
facing on Queen Street, known as the officers' barracks. At the time
when this story opened, this was a scene of continual festivity--life in
its gayest aspect. Here were quartered the noisy, the swaggering, the
riotous, the vain, the gallant, the honourable, and all those different
qualities which help to form the make-up of the many individuals
comprising the officers of H. M. 52nd Regiment. At no period, before or
since, has Fredericton ever risen to such notoriety. Several
enterprising gentlemen of this body in connexion with a few of the
leading citizens planned and laid the first regular and circular race
course, near where the present now is situated, under the management of
J. H. Reid, Esq., and the members of York County Agricultural Society.

On the old race course it was no unusual occurrence to witness as many
as a dozen races during the space of two days. Sons of gentlemen, both
in military and private life, were the owners of thorough-bred horses,
each claiming the highest distinctions regarding full-blooded pedigree.
These were Fredericton's glorious days--days of sport; days of chivalry;
days of splendour and high life. On the evening in question, a festive