--..-45 T kf" -.S,) AX-,' Vv . ,.wrv' "Vj ft. '' -"- i ! I, . . - -.- 31V3rC Hntf. II. wt Dunraven Ranch. A Story of American Frontier Life. . ta.. n kvT ruATr rre irnari tt c a tV. . - AUTHOR OF "THH COLONEL'S "THE DESERTER," ETC Copyrighted, 1 888, by J. B. LIppincet Special Arrangement threng: CHAPTER XI. IDINO eastward just befere neon, somewhat comforted In con science because of hit Belf denial of the morn- XT' JisWiZJHi'.n m mmt Vi& ing, reu rerry scanned t:ie distant prairie f$t In search of the hunt. It wan nearly lun- Spsfe, tnrtn limn nnit lin nfiuw.lnr1 in flint lit ifpsrty making its way te the little Ftream Sf whither the baskets, boxes nnd Iminneu a, had been dispatched by wagon Mime ??t hours befere; but when he sighted l he !' quartermaster driving homeward In his W hntrtrv lin Ipnrnpfl fmni thut liulkv vil- W&3 mm. 1,n tl.l.rt nflMtw ttiM.U linil lu,..t L,T-r" "" .... .... ...... .m.,... pf run, and that the whole party had dually gaj aeciucu te give ungs anu norses n cool EST drink down in thu Mouce vnlley hcfeie. $ starting northward across the prnlrin. "They must be getting down into the jfe valley two or three miles east of the inch just about new, anil will go due north from theie, unless they stir up i mere game along the Menee. If I were you, said tiie quartermaster, "i ti riiie fT ever te the lunch btand, Yeu won't g-t i mere inuen ueiore me crewu. Perry thanked him fortheinfortimtiou, but, be far from uceepting hi tub Ice. this young eflieer turned his horse's head ;, in the direction or Dunraven. nnd was speedily ruing Dinner with un alacrity &tthat he himself could hardly explain. Ll f 1. 1- l.... f ...II. ...tl. t.n .l I ..r... ill IIIR UJItl IUIK llll UIU VMHHIl I til 11 I SJf parade en the previous evening Perry had told him what lie could of yie char acteristics of Messrs. Maltlnnd and Ewen.1 Ei' The odd letter which had been sent by v them hail given the commanding efllcer cause for much thought, and he was de- ' sireus, evidently, of gntlfffring from I" Perry s observations tin complete an Idea as was possible of their lire ami Hiiriouud Hiirieuud - in trs. And still IVrrv hail found iL'im- pSS. possible te volunteer anv description of S;f-MlsMaItland; he could net boarteRieak K of her until until he knew niore of the jvj? doctor s purpose in his visits te the ranch. && Be bad been detained by his commander s-jjust long enough te raake it necessary 3vf for him te go direct te the Spraguca Ai"wuneut leaving uus uciuiui unu euuur iii Fiai aa lb vvua, uuv jiira. iuiuiiiij iuuk nu ife note of that circumstance; what slie saw ir was that he had avoided even passing t.f ti. t...t ir riit --l. ... t'Sl within hail of her piazza lieth befere nnd KuFafter parade. Epftvp AUW lllUUgll COIlbi;iUUS Ul HU lUlUIIUUU p? of avoidance, Perry rede fertli te the jgMneeting of this day with seme little mis- Uba must strive te make his pcace with RjK" una tugnieu iauy; anu yet, in view ei fcf?i?atM t,k liwt caa,, nrl linnil I ti flin of "(Ef tu uu nvu. tA.u ULtttu m uiu bev SS forty-eight hours, hew utterly dwarfed that affair his laughing flirtation &4 with Mrs, Belknap become! Had any ene told lam his attentions te her nnd EfeL her marked preference for Ms society lU? were matters thatpeople were beginning te talk of seme with sly enjoyment, ethers with genuine regret he would have been grateful for the Information, Instead of resentful, as, with most men, would be the case uiuety-nine times out of a hundred. But he knew nothing of this, nnd had tee little experience te sus pect the comments in circulation. Slie was most interestiiiK un te the day be- . iore yesterday; he loved te ridoer dance with her; he enjoyed n chat with her mere than he could tell. A most sym- njt.lintln n M 1 1 ntlnn.lniL lit tnnn. ...nn iHn iWl t?Al1ntn nd liet irtnfi ,na Lmk nwl hi. sweet and full of subtlv carcssinc tones. She had made him talk te her by the ieur of his home, his hopes and ambi tions, his profession and his prospects, and had held him in a silken bondage. that be had no desire te escape. And yet, as he rede out en the breezy plain this brilliant day, he found all thought of her distasteful, and his eyes, far from searching for the flutter of her trim habit In the distant riding party, would go a-reaming ever the intervening shades and shallows down in the Menee valley and seek the bare, brown walls of Dunraven far across the stream. It was odd indeed that he should have sought this, the longest way round, ea his lido in quest of Ids companions from the fort. Once again he looked at the Isolated clump of buildings from his pest of ob servation en the bluff; ence again he saw across the stream and through the trees the barbed barrier that had caused both him and his men such laceration of flesh and temper; ence again he baw the :4.', snuiiew raiiey winuing away te me v Eeuwcast, uecKcu wun i3 scruuuy Irlnge werir of cottonweed nnd willow; ttllt lllll 4 I tYf n f lllAA llHn nt iln riA 5$ " " hmJi uuv iiiuraunaj, lia Uli- custemed soiitude was ureuen ty groups li liucia uiiuuailiil uiuK bjCiiB UI dogs, all moving northward ence mere ri?Mu ind nlrenilv lirenftttnrr tlm clnnna Xla fc'fesr' - - ,T, '. ," "" "" '- bueuiu navu luruuu uwav uuhiu aru anu ridden across country te join them, but )lewn here In the valley, only a bhert distance away, absorbed in watching tjie hunting party, sat Mr. Ewen en a pawing nnd excited bay. Whatever coelnet3 his rider might feel at this dis covery. It was net shared by Nelan; he ! "J-I-Xl .. t.S. -.l I.-I1...1 I-.- -! ;.,t- jHitikcu uu ins L-aiM uiiu nuneu ins iui- jtji ww quauruiKU wun cordial and unaf- wcwu pleasure, a ncigu mat tuei.ngltsii bred horfee was se utterly uninsular as te whirl about and answer with corre sponding warmth. Ewen caught nt his heavy Derby and jerked it oil his bullet head with an air of tningled embarrass ment and civility, replacing it with similarly spasmodic haste. Perry coolly, ,but with a certain easy grace, raibed his forage cap In respense te the salutation, and then, 6eelng the manager still look ing ut him as though he wanted te say something and did net knew hew te be gin, gave Nelan his head nnd rede down te bhert hailing distance. "Ve meet en neutral ground out here, H k jV'Mr. Ewen. 1 suppose your exclusive 'f employer ever yonder can hardly nre- r5! Wblt your answering civil Inquiries after 4UMneauiir And, though he meant te Iw distant, Pcrnr found himself smiling rt the oddity of the situation. V "I0 J011 k,,ew' x ws Just thinking $, about you,' answered Ewen, "and won wen "swing whether you were with that jarty jIewm yonder? The ejd gentleman is " .A.W, W. WF. .K DAUGHTER" "FROM THE RANKS," Company, Philadelphia, nnd Published by the American, Press Association. IkHlt, tnancs. no naa two pretty u.a nights, but is cemlug nreund slowly." I "And Miss Mnitland hew is she?" "llathcr secdy. She has had a geed deal of care and vexatien of late, I fancy, nnd this is no place for a young girl, anyhow." "Well, you have seme appreciation of the true character of Dunraven as n resi dence, nfter nil!'' nnswerry Perry. "New, If you can give me any joed reason why she should live In this utterly out-of-the-way place, you will lift n weight from my mind," "Oh, they don't llve here, you knew," epoke Ewen, hurriedly. "She comes here only when her father ijeei. It is licr own doing. Slie gees with him everywhere, and will net leave him. She's all he has, don't you knew?" "I don't knew anything about It, Yeu Dunraven people seem nversn te any expression of interest or courtesy from your fcllewmen, but I'm frce te say I should likote knew what en earth there Is In American cavalrymen te make them such, objects of aversion te your master; nnd 1 would be glad te knew hew it Is such ft girl ns that Is dragged into such n hele ns yonder." Ewen bat In sllcnce a moment, btudy Ing the young fellow's face. "Yeu desorvea better welcome there," he presently answered, "and 1 don't knew that I can de better than te tell outhe truth what I knew of it. And let me tell you that if thu old man knew of my speaking of it te any one, I'd leso the mebt lucrative but least attructive place 1 ever had, De you bce'r" "Then peihap-iyeu had batter net tell me. 1 de net care te pry Inte secrets." "Oh, this Is no secret. It w.w that that droe him here; everybody knew It in England. Yeu were mighty shabbily treated nt the ranch, and you requited it by preventing what would linte been a bloody row, and by lending i a helping hand. Even the old man leceguizcs that: and I think heM lm irlwl te tv n te you, nud bee you, If you were net Just what you nre a cavalry eflieer." "Why, what en earth can we have done? If any of our cloth have wronged Mr. Maitlaud In nny way, it U our right te knew it nnd tnke it tip." "It wasn't your cloth, old fellow." said Ewen, thawing visibly, "but it wai the cavalry nil the same that biokehls heart and his ptlde, and made his life the wreck It Is, and dreve him from his home, shunning the sight of his fellow men, all these jeam exiling her, tee, in the prlme of her young life. Mr. Perry, there nre only three or four of us at Dunraven who knew the slery, but we have only sympathy nnd pity no blame for him, though he is the hardest master I ever served." "Hew did it happen?" asked Perry. "All through his eon. There lind been mero of them, but there wrw only the one Archle when the Lancers were ordered te Seuth Africa. IIe was a youngster, only 17, they tell we, and he had just been gazetted te his cernctcy, The old man was all wrapped up in him, for of the thrce boys the eldest had died only the month befere the regiment was ordered en foreign service nnd the sec ond had been killed in India. Beth tUese two who were geno had made (themselves famous among their com rades by their fearleasneas nnd high character, nnd the old man, of ceurse, could net nsk Archie te quit the sorvice just when orders for dangerous duty came. The boy went te the Cape with his corps, nud get into the thick of the Zulu war just at the time of the massa- :re of the Twenty-fourth nt Isandlwhana nnd the light nt Itorke's Drift. 1 was nt home then, and nil England was quivering with grief ever such needless bacrifice as was made of that regiment, nnd nil ready te fall down and worship such fellows ns Chard and Bremhcad, who made the superb light almost nt the same time. "They Bay old Mnitland wanted te go himself, ns volunteer or something, with Lord Chelmsfeul, hut it couldn't be done. His father had fought at Alma uud Inkerman, and his giandfathcr had led the Guards nt Waterloo. T1k whole trlbe were soldiers, you knew;, and new Archie was with the Lancers in Zululand, and the Lancers were going te wipe out the disasters of the first lights of the campaign, and Aichie was te upheld the grand old fighting naine nnd ceme home covered with glory. He was the heir new, nnd Miss Gladys was but a little girl. I have heard it all from Mrs. Cowan; she was their housekeeper in these days, and a sort of companion, tee, te Mrs. Maitland, who was very delicate. The old man was very tiery and proud nnd full of Herce denunciation of every thing that had geno wrong In the cam paign; nnd he eifended seme people by the way he condemned 6ome elllcer who was a friend of theirs, nnd there were ethers who thought he talked tee much; but he fairly boiled ever when the news came of hew the prince imperial had been nbandened by his escort, and thatn British efllcer and a dozen men had run two miles at top speed from n beggarly little squad of niggers befere they dared leek round te bce what had become of their prince, whom they had left te fight the gang nlone. That was old Maitland's text for a mouth. If any seu of hU had ever been of that party he would disown, disgrace, deny him, forbid him lib sight, cut him elf forevcr. And right in the midst of it all a judgment, seme jeople said there came the awful news that Cornet Maitland of the Lancers was te be court martialed for misbehavior in face of the enemy, "Of ceurse the old mau only raged at first; said it couldn't be true; 'twas nil Fome foul invention or ridiculous blun der; but he ran up te Londen nud baw comebedy at the Hone Guards that's our war efllce, you knew and came back looking n century elder and simply crushed te earth. Mrs. Cowan says they showed him the official roert of a gen eral efllcer who was called upon te ex plain why he had net sent certain troops te the relief of an advanced and threat ened jKjst, nud he replied that he had sent the order by Cornet Maitland, of the Lancers; had given him an escort of a dozen men and strict injunctions te push through by night, at all hazards, though the way was beset with Zulus, and that he neither went through nor returned, but waB found hiding at a kraal two days after, only twenty miles away, The escort returned, nnd nfter much cross cress examination had told the story, separate ly and collectively, that the young eillcer liad become utterly unnerved towards midnight by the reports from scouting parties and ethers; had declared te them that It was timply madness te attempt te push through; they would be maisa-l cred te a man; and, 'though they an an an nounced that they were statich and ready, he refuted, and ordered them te biveuaa whero'they wera for tha night, and In the morning he hail disappeared. They declared they supposed he had geno back te camp, and after waiting n day they returned, reporting him lest. "When feuntl at the kraal he was de lirious with fevcr, or pretended te be, said the general, and he was brought In under arrest and the trial was te pro ceed. 1 don't knew hew it turned out. He was net court martialed, but permit ted te return te England. It wni said he told n very different story; that he had begged the brigade major who detailed 'the escort te let him have half n dozen of his own Lancers Instead of the pack of irregulars they gave him; he did net trust them, nnd feared they would aban don him as they had the prince; but the staff efllcer said the order couldn't le changed these men knew the country nnd all thutnortef thing, you knew; and there u'JHemi fellow in the Lancers who stuck te it that hu lx-lleved Mnitland had tried his best te get through nlone. But 'twas all useless; somebody had te be held responsible, and the failure was all heaped en him. I ".Meantime, there had lepn fury nt home; old Maitland had written casting Idm off, repudiating currlm; him for oil 1 knew and the next thing there came n messenger fiem the captain of Ids ship nt Southampton. They brought Ills wnlch, his ring, lib sword nnd pert-manti-aun, and n letter which was writ ten en receipt of that his father sent him a long letter, that the old man never read te any living soul, but breeds ever te this day. The young fellow bade them all geed-by; hu would net llve te disgrace them further, if that was what was thought of him at home, and leaped overboard from the steamer the night nfter she weighed anchor no ene nbeard could tell just when, but he was writing in lib state room na she cleared the har bor, nnd the steward saw him undress ing nt 0 o'clock. In the morning every thing about lib belongings was found in perfect order lib letter te the captain of the (ihtp, the ertmauteaus, watch, ring, clothing, etc., just as he described in that letter and hu was no mero seen. It was the conviction of nil that he must have leaped overboard in the darkness when fur nut nt sea. "Then Mre. Maitland bowed her head and never lifted it again. Then, all nlone, nnd fiercely rejecting nnything llku sympathy, old Mnitland took te truvel came here te America, wandered around the world, shunning men as he would these prnlrie wolves; and when he had te go te England he would cee no ene but the attorneys and solicitors with whom he had business. Here nt Dun raven he is mero content than anywhere, because he is farther from the world. Here Gladys Is queen: 'twas she who named It, two years age, for her mother was n connection of the carl's. But Maitland even here hates te have lib name mentioned; and that Is why I say he refers nil business te me and keeps himself out of everything. De you sce what a weight he carries?" Mr. Ewen had grown red with the In tensity nnd rapidity of lib talk, lie re moved his hat and mopped lib face nud brew with n lug silk handkerchief, and then glanced ngaln nt Perry, who had listened with absorbed interest and who was new bilently thinking it ever, look ing curiously at Ewen the while. "Have I bored you half te death?" nsked the Englishman, bomewhat rue fully. "I nevcr told that btery before, but It has been smoldering for years." "Bored? Ne! I never was mero inter ested in my life, I was thinking what n different sort of fellow you were frem1 the man I met out yonder the ether dny. Did they never de anything te clear the matter up? In our country It never would have been allowed te rest there." "It was tae far geno; and when the boy killed himself the thing was used by all the government papers you'd call them 'administration organs' as a confession of judgment. When the Lancers came home there was bonte talk, but it was seen hushed. Maitlaud had Mint up the old place by that time nnd geno no ene knew where, but I lend it in ene of the Londen papeis Tiuth, 1 think a story that two of the irregulars had quarreled with their fellewa and nfter the war was ever told n talu th-.t made ti sensation in Cape Colony, They baid that the young elllcer was a ma ligned man; that up te midnight lie lutd pushed en, but every scout nnd patrol they met warned them that thousands of Zulus were ahead, nnd that it was madness te try, The icn began whis pering among themselves, nnd begged the bergcant te nttempt te dissuade the Lancer efllcer; and he did, and they all began te talk, but he rcfiibcd te listen. "At last they halted at a little stream and flatly refused te go a step further. He ordered, "begged nnd implored. He premised heavy reward te any ene of their number who would ceme and show him the way. Then they heard the nhiht cries or signals of seme war parties across the fields, and the sergeant and most of the men put spurs te their horses; the ethers followed, nnd they rede back five miles until they were within our patrolled lines; then they bivouacked, supposing, of course, the Lancer had followed them. But lie hadn't: he never joined them all next day, nnd likely as net lie had done his best te get through that btrange country by night nlone, and had tried te carry lib dispatches te tiie detachment. They knew they must tell a straight btery or be beverely punished. They were twelve against ene when it came te evidence, as the sergeant einted out, nnd se they agreed en the ene that sent him te Coventry. "Some of tiie Lancer officers get held of this and swere they beheved it true; but ineautime the government had had the devil's own time In tiding lib lord ship the general ever the numerous blunders he had made In the campaign, and the Lancers were summarily or dered off uUen here. There was no ene left te taUe up oer Archie's cause at home, and the thing died out." "By the Ixrd Harry, .Mr. Ewen, It wouldn't dle out herel We Yankees would resurrect such n thing if it were old ns a mummy," "Sometimes "l think old Maitland would be glad of the chance te de It, even broken as he Is; sometimes, Mrs. Cowan says, lie walks the fleer nil night and holds Archie's last letter in his hands. She thinks he charges himself with having driven the boy te suicide," "Dees Miss Mnitland never revisit the old home?" nsked Perry, nfter n mo ment's thought. "She gees with her father every where. He is never here mero than twice n year, and seldom for mero than bix weeks at a time. Were It net for her, he would settle down here, I believe. IIe went te Cape Colony nnd tried te find the men who gave out that btery, but ene of them was dead and the ether had utterly disappeared. There were still six burvivers of that escort, the sergeant J among them, and he was u man of seme iwsitlen and property They btuck te 1 the original story, and K.iid the two men I h he had btarted thu bc.'ia.itien w ere mere I blackmailing vagrants. Maitlaud ad- ! vertised evcrywheruforthembMng man, I but te no purwse. I think he and Miss Gladybhave finally abandoned all hope of eviT righting Aruliie'n name. She was only n child when it nil happened, but she uerthiH-d him. and never for an instant hai believed the story of lib hay I ing funked, She'j out here riding some- where thb morning, by tlje way," "Whel him a<tatKlr exclaimed Perry, with n sudden start and a flash of eager light in Ids blue eye. I '.wen smiled quietly as he answered. "Yes. Bhe needed excrcise nnd wanted te ceme down te the gate nnd meet Dr. Quln. Slie went en up the valley, nnd I wonder she U net back." The bright light faded quickly as It came; the glad blue eyes clouded heavi ly. Ewen looked nt the young soldier, surprlse In his florid face; surprlse that quickly deepened into concern, for Perry turned (suddenly away, as 'though look ing for his comrades of the hunt. "1 think thcy're coming no-v," tald the manager, peering1 up the valley un der the shading xvlllews. "Yes. Won't you step a bit?" "Net new," was the hurried reply, "Thank you for that story; It has given me a let te think about. I'll sce you again." The last words were almost shouted back, for, urged by sudden dig of the spur, Nelan indignantly lashed lib heels, then rushed In wrathful gallop towards the eastern bluffs. It was no willful pang lib rider had inflicted en his pet nnd comrade; It was onlyihe Invol untary transmission of the shock te lib own young heart a cruel, jealous stab, that came with theso thoughtless words, "She wanted te ceme down te the gnte nnd meet Dr. Quln. and went en up the valley." He would net even leek back nud bce her riding by that man's bide. CHAPTEn XII. .;& O USE the expression of Mr. Dana, "Ned Perrv seemed off his feed" for "5 a dny or two. The hunt 'i? had been pronounced a big success, despite the fact of Perry's defection he had net even joined them nt luncheon and it was agreed that it should be repeated the first bright day after muster. That ceremony came off en Monday t 1th due pempnnd formality and much rigidity of inspection en the part of the pest commander. It was watched with interest by the ladies, nnd Mrs. Belknap even proposed that when the barracks and kitchens were being visited they should go along. Dana had been her doveteo ever since the day of the hunt, and announced his willingness te carry her suggestion te the colonel, but Belknap declined. She wanted n few words with Perry, nnd did net knew hew te effect her purpose. When he stepped nnd speke te her nfter parade en Saturday evening and would have made peace, she thought te cemplete her ap parent conquest by n show of womanly displeasure at his conduct, nnd nn ns ns eurnnce that, thanks te Mr. Dana, the day had been delightful nnd his fallure te accompany her had been of nj conse quence nt nil. The utterly tinexpected way in which he took it va3 simply a "stunner" te the little lady. Se far from being piqued nnd jealous and huffy, as she expected, Mr. Perry justified the oft expressed opinion of her sbterhoed te the effect that "men were simply past nil comprehension" by brightening up instantly nnd expressing such relief at her information that for a moment she wa3 tee dazed te speak. By that time lie had pleasantly said geed night nud vanished; nor had he been near her since, except te bow and leek pleased when she walked by with Dana. She never thought of him n3 nn actor befere, but this, said Mrs. Belknap te herself, leeks like censummate acting. Had she known of or even buspected the cxistencoef a woman who had interposed nud cast her Inte the shade thu explana tion would have occurred te her at ence; but that there was a goddess in thobhape of Gladys Maitland within A day's ride of Itessitcr she never dreamed for an in stant. Believing that no ether woman could have unseated her, Mrs. Belknap hhnply could net account for such titter, such unutterable, complacency en the part of her lately favored admirer in Ids virtual dismissal. All Sunday nnd Mon day she looked for signs of sulking or surrender, but looked in vain. Peiry seemed unusually grave and silent, was Parke's report of the situa tion; hut whatever comfort she might ha ve derived from that knowledge was ut terly destroyed by the way he brightened up and looked pleased whenever they chanced te meet. Monday evening he stepped te speak with her en the walk, holding out lib hand and fairly beaming upon her; she icily received these demon strations, but failed te chill them or him, Then she essayed te make him suffer the pangs of the jilted by clinging te Dana's arm and smiling up in Dana's face, and then she suddenly started: "Oh, Mr. Dana! Hew could I have been se thought theught lessand this b your wounded bide!" Dana protested that her blight weight was seething balm, net additional pain, nnd Perry promptly asseverated that if he were Dana he would beg her net te quit his arm, and her eyes looked scorn nt him ns she said, "Hew can you knew nnything about it, Mr. Peiry? Yeu've never been In action or get a scratch, while Mr. Dana" and new the daik eyes speke volumes ns they looked up Inte these of her escort "Mr. Dana is ene of the heroes of the fighting days of the regiment." Even that fulled te crush him. while it had the effect of making Dana feel maw kbh and absurd. Perry frankly responded that he only won dered the women ever could find time te show any civility whatever te fellows like him, when there were ht many who "hail records." She uus completely at n less te fathom him, nud when tattoo came en Monday night, and they were all discussing the project of n run with the hounds fe: the coming morrow a May day celebration en new principles Mrs. Belknap resolved upon h change of tidies. Dana un officer of the guard and ever nt the guard house, but neaily all the ether officers were chatting aeut the veranda and the gate of the colonel' quarters. Thither had Capt. Belknap escorted lib pretty wife, and she wm, ns usual, the center of nn interested group. Perry came btrelling along nfter leportingthe rebiilt of tattoo roll call te the adjutant, and Capt. Stryker call.'d te him and asked some question about the men en btable guard. The orders of the colonel with regard te watching the movements of the men nfter the night roll call were being closely observed, and when the trumpets bounded "taps'n lew moments later, beveral of the troop com manders walked away together, and thb left nbinallir paity It was just at this juncture lh.it Mrs. Belknap's sweet noIce was heard addressing the commanding efllcer; "Oh, cnlencll Ever since Thursday I have been telling Capt. Belknap nlxmi these lovely albums of yours; and he is se anxious te see them Ceuid i.e have a leek at them te-ulghi?" "Why, cettalnly," exclaimed thu colo nel, all heartiness and pleature. "Come !? vfj$f JifKf right (n, Belknap, come In any of you nil of you where It's geed and light." And he hospitably held open the screen deer. Perry had secii the albums a deeen times, but he was for going In with the ethers, when he felt a little hand press ure en his arm, and Mrs. Belknap's great dark eyes were gazing up into his with iifeurnful, incredulous Appeal. "Don't you knew 1 want te bee you?" she tnurmnred se that enlv he could i hnnr. "Wnlll" And, much bewildered, Mr. Perry waited. Slie steed where she could leek through the screen deer in the parlor be yond, watching furtively until the party were grouped under the hanging lamps nnd absorbed In looking ever ene an other's shoulders at the famous albums; then, beckoning te him te fellow, she flitted, like seme ccrle sprite, en tiptoe te the southern cud of the veranda, where clustering vines hid her from view from the walk along the parade. Perry began te feel queer, ns he after wards expressed it, but he stalked along nfter her, declining te med u la te the thunder of hb heavy heels upon the re sounding gallery. 8he put her finger te her lips, nud, after n nervous glance nreund, looked at him warningly, be seechingly. "What en earth's the matter?" was all the perplexed and callow youth could find te say, and In a tone 60 utterly do de void of romance, sentiment, tenderness anything she wanted te hear that in nil her experience and she had had net a little pretty, bewitching little Mrs. Belknap could recall nothing se humil iating. "llew can you be se unkind te me?" nt last she whispered, In the tragic tremolo she well knew te be effective; it had dene execution ever and again. But big, handsome Ned Perry looked only like ene in a maze; then he bent ever her in genuine concern: "Why, Sirs. Belknap! What has hap pened? What has geno wrong? What de you mean by unkindness?" She faced him, indignantly new: "Is It pessible you profess net te knew?" "By all that's holy, Mrs. Belknap, I haven't an idea of what you mean te charge me with. Tell me, and I'll make every amend I knew hew." IIe was bending ever her In genuine distress nud trouble; lie had no thought but te assure her of hb Innocence of any conscious wrong. She was leaning upon the balcony rail, and he rested ene strong hand upon the pest at the shaded corner, above her head, as he bowed hb own te catch her reply. Fer a moment shs turned her face nway, her besom heaving, her little hands clasping ncrveiibly, the picture of wronged nnd sorrowing womanhood. His blunt, ragged honesty was somo semo some thingshu had neter yet had te deal with. Thb indeed was "game worth the candle," but boniethlngef a higher order than the threadbare flirtations she had found se palatable heretofore. She had expected him te be revealed by this time as the ud mi re r who had only been play ing a part in his apparent acceptance of the bituatien of tiie last two days; she expected te be accused of coquetting with D.ina, of neglect, coldness. Insult towards himself; and this she would have welcomed; it would have shown him still a victim in her toils, a meuse she might toy and play with indefinitely befere bestowing the final coup de grace. But Instead of it, or anything like it, here btoed the tall, handsome young fel low, utterly ignoring the possibility of her having wronged him, and only beg ging te be told hew he had affronted her, that he might make immediate amends. It wns simply e.aspeiating Slie turned suddenly upon him, hiding her face in her bands, almost cebbing: "And I thought we were such such fricndsl" Even that suggestive tentative did net lay him prostrate Fancy thu utter in adequacy of his respense: "Why, be did 11" Thb was tee much. Down came the hands, nnd were laid in frantic nptica! upon his breast. He did net bar the way; bhe could have slipped from the corner without difficulty, but the ether method was mero dramatic. "Let me go, Mr. Perry," hIie pleaded. "I I might have known; I might lme known." The accents were stilli u, Lejrt rending. "Don't go yet, Mrs. Belknap; don't go without telling me what what I've done." And peer Ned imploringly seized the little hands in both liisaud held them tight. "Please tell me," he pleaded. "Ne, no! Yeu would net understand; you de uet see what 1 have te bear. Let me go, I beg, please; I cannot stay." And her great dark eyes, swimming in tears, were raised te hb face, w Idle with faint very faint struggles she btreve te pull her hands away, relenting in her purpose te go the moment she felt that he was relaxing the held in which they were clasjied, but suddenly wrenching them trem lib breast nnd darting from lib hide, leaving Perry In much bewil derment te face about and confront the doctor. A 1'ttle opening had been left In the railing nt the south end of the veranda the samuthieugh which the pest surgeon had passed the night Mrs. Lawrence had shown te Perry the answering signal light; it was the doctor's "8hert cut" be tween the colonel's quarters and lib own blde deer, and beft, unbetraying turf lay there between. Absertied in her melo drama, Mrs. Belknap had failed te note the coming of the intruder; absorbed in his own btupefactien and his fair part ner's apparent depth of wee, Ned Perry heard nothing but her soft winds and Befter siglis, until a deep voice at his bheulder a voice whose accent hetiayed no apology gave utterance te thb un compromising sentiment: "Mrs. Belknap, this is the thirtieth net the first of April." "And what has that te de with your sudden npjicarauce, Dr. Quln?" an swered the lady, with smiling lips but (lashing ejes. She rallied from thehheek of sudden lelley like the veteran she was. and took the brunt of the fight en hr own white, gleaming shoulders, needing no aid from the young fellow who steed there, flushed, annoyed, yet tee perturbed te say a word even had there been a chance te get in one edge wise Blunt as he was, he could net but realize the awkwardness of the bituatien. And te Im se misjudged by such n man us Dr. Quin! "All this was flashing through hb mind as the doctor answered' "Nothing with my appearance, Mrs Belknap; it was yours I remarked iien Yeu seemed te think it All Feels' day." "Far from it, doctor, when I thought you miles nway." "Well, well.'Mrs. Belknap." said Quln shrugging his bread shoulders and laugh ing nt her undaunted pluck, "I've known you fifteen years, and never have found you at n less for n sharp retort." "In nil the years jeu have known me. doctor, as child, ns maid, as woman, you are the only man in the army who ever put me en the defensive. 1 see clearly that you would taunt me becnuse of thb interview with Mr. Perry. Henl seit qui mal y pense. Dr. Quinl Yeu are the last man in this garrison caialry nnd nil who can afford te threw stones." "Whew-w-wl" whistled the doctor "What n little spitfire you always were te be Mirel Mr. Perry," baid he, turning suddenly en the young elliccr, "let me at ence uuolesizo for a rerv nUbuulhr observation. When I spot of fcarfni known Mrs. Belknap fifteen years Instantly thought I bhuI te autte br out very much elder than rim Is; and hence these recriminations. She alwayi objected te me because I used te tease her when she was in her first long dresses the prettiest girl at Fert Leav enworth and she's never gotten ever ft, But her father and 2 were geed friends, nnd I should like te be an honest one te bis daughter. Geed night te you both." "One moment, Dr. Quln," said Perry, springing forward. "Yeu have seen fit te make comment and insinuations that have annoyed Mrs. Belknap at a time when she was under my cscerfs- "Oh, Mr, Perry, net net" exclaimed Mrs. Belknap, laying her hand en his arm. "Net a word of that kind, I Im plore! Hush I here comes my husband." "Ah, Belknap," said the doctor blandly, as the big captain came hur riedly forth with searching glance along the dark gallery, "here you find me, as usual, trying te be devoted te Mrs. B. whenever I can get you out of the way. Why the jcuce can't you stay?' "Oh, It's you, Is It, doctor?" answered the captain In tones of evident relief. "It is far tee chilly for thb young woman te be sitting here without a wrap, Is it net? Come Inside, Delly, Come, doctor. Halloel what's that?" A cavalry trumpeter came springing through the gate and up en the veranda. "Is Capt. Stryker here?" he panted. "Ne. What's the matter?" demanded Terry. "Treuble at the stables, sir. Sergt. Gwynne's assaulted egaln." Perry sprang from the veranda and went tearing across the dark level of the parade as fast as active legs could carry liim, leaving the doctor far behind. As he passed tliocempany quarters he noted thatseveral men were leaping from their bread galleries, some just pulling en a blouse, ethers in their shirt sleeves, but all hastening towards the stables, where dim lights could lie seen flitting about like will-e'-the-wlsps. One of these troopers came bounding te lib side and would have passed him in the race, lie recognized the athletic form even in the darkness and hailed him: "That you, Sergt. Leary? What's gene wrong?" "It's thhn blackguards from below sir. Who else could it lie?" "These people nt the ranch?" "The very ones, sir. Ne ene else would harm Sergt. Owynne. Sure we ought te have wound 'cm up the ene night we had a chance, sir." Breathless, almost, they reached the stables. The horses were all snorting and plunging about in their stalls, showing every indication of excitement and alarm. Frem the stables of the adjoin ing companies ether men hud come with lanterns, nnd a group of er!iaps half a dozen troopers was gatheied about the form of a cavalry sergeant who was seat ed, limp and exhausted, at the western doorway. One wildier was bathing hb face with n bponge; the llr.it sergeant of the troop was bending ever and trying te feel the pulse. "Stand back, you men!" he said, au thoritatively, ns he caught bight of the lieutenant's shoulder straps. "Leave n lantern here. New, Owynne, here's Lieut. Perry Can you tell him who it was?" Owynne feebly streve te rise, but Perry checked him. "Sit dewnl The de::ter is coming; don't nttempt te move." panted the young efllcer. "Tell me what you knew about it, Seigt. Hesmer." "Nothing but this. sir. I was in the office when Trumpeter Petersen ran in nndsald they were killing Sergt. Owynne, 1 eent him for the captain and grabbed my revolver and ran here ns hard ns 1 could. IIe was lying just outside the deer when I get heie, and net another soul iu sight. Sergt. IJess, of F troop, and Sergt. Fngan. of B, came witli their lanterns from tiie stables next deer; but they had net even heard the treuble." "Where was the stable guard?" "Inside, sir, and be's there new. He heard the bcuIIIc, he cays, and ran te give the alarm and te protect the ser geant, but the men scattered when he came, and he saw nene of them." "Tell him te ceme here. Let seme of these men go in and quiet the horses. The captain will be here in n minute, nnd he will want te sce that stableman. Who is It?" Kelly, sir." By this time Dr. Quln came lumber ing heavily up the slepe te the stable deer. His manner wns very quiet and very grave as he bent ever the injured man and carefully studied lib face by the light of the sergeant's lamp. The doctor speke gently: "Yeu knew me, sergeant? Dr. Quln. Can you tell me what struck you? Are you hurt elsewhere than in the head?" Gwynne made no reply for a moment, then faintly answered: "Stunned, mainly, nnd ene or two kicks after I was knocked down." Then came a deeper voice, quiet but authoritative, and the group that had begun te close in again about the doctor and his patient fell back as Capt. Stryker strode into their midst. "Sergt. Hesmer, send all these men of the troop back te their quarters at ence, and permit no mero te come out. Is he much hurt, doctor?" "Somewhat stunned, he says. I've made no examination yet." The captain looked about him. Ex cept one sergeant lielding a lantern, the ether troopers, obedient te his order, were slowly fading back into the dark ness en their way te the barracks. Only the doctor, Mr. Perry, and the sergeant remained by the side of the injured man. Then came the questien: "Who did this, Gwynne?" Ne answer. A deeper shade of pain and treuble seemed te pass ever the sergeant's face. He made an effort te speak, hesitated, and nt last replied: "I cannot say, sir." "Yeu knew, de you net?" Again pained sileuce nnd embarrass ment. At last the sergeant leaned slow ly forward and speke: "Captain, the men were masked, the voices dbgulsed. I could net see the dress In the darkness. I was struck en the head almost the instant I get eutside the deer, and it would be impossible for me te Identify one of them." "De you thiuk It was the same gang you had the treuble with at Dunraven?" "I could net say, sir." "De you suspect any of our own men?" "I would net say that, sir." "Where Is the stable guard?" asked Stryker. "Send him here." And presently Trooper Kelly n wiry little Irishman, with a twinkling eye and nn, expression of mingled devilment and imperturbability In bb face came forth from the stable deer and steed attention. "Where were you when thb assault took place, Kelly?" "At the far end of the stables, sir," replied Kelly, with prompt and confi dent tone. "Then of ceurse you saw and knew uething of it." "Net a wer-rad, sir." "Why did you let a gang from that English ranch ceme here and beat your sergeant befere your very eyes?" Kelly reddened at the verv idea. "I'd ha' died first, slrl Sure they'd nlver dared" And then Kellystepped sliert Hb Celtie pride had been touch- edteihe inulck, and had U notprevJS tee much for area Irbh wit? "IIew did they get the sergeant out of the stable at this hour of the night?" "Sure they called him out, sir." "And the sergeant happened te be down there by the deer at the time?" "Ne, sir; he was In hU room beyant up there by the forage." "That's a long distance from this deer, Kelly; and If he could hear it la 'fate room you could hear it farther away." "I wasn't farther away thin, air; I was down here when they axed for him." ' "Theu why didn't you open the deer and see who was making such a racket, shouting for Sergt. Gwynne after taper "Sure Ihey didn't shout at all at all, sir; they axed for him quiet and re spectable like, an' I wint and told him." "Ah, yes, 1 see. And then, having told him, you went away te the far end of the stable." "Yb, sir, just se, sir; an the moment I heard the scrimmidge, sir, I ran as hard as 1 could." "Of ceurse you considered It was none of your business what people might want with the stable sergeant at night" "Ne, sir. If he wanted me he had a right te tell me te come." "We differ en that point, Kelly. Re lieeo him, Sergt. Hesmer." On the following morning Cel Braln ard was surprised te note in Capt. Stry ker's column of remarks explanatory of the alterations from the status of the previous dnys "Sergt. Owynqe from daily duty as stable sergeant te sick in hospital; Sergt Leary from duty te arrest, und Private Kelly from duty te confinement" CHAPTEB XIIL OrWITHSTANDINO the fact that there was an at at at mosphere of suppressed excitement ever the gor ger gor rben this May ilay morn ing, Mrs. Belknap's hunt came off according te plan, nnd the three heroines of the previous run rede forth with but slight change of escort Capt, Stryker felt constrained te remain In garrison; he liad a quiet Investigation te make, and was observed te be In close conversation with Dr. Quin as the gay party assembled in front of Cel. Bral nard's quarters. Mr. Perry appeared in his captain's stead, and very politely re quested the honor of being escort te Mrs. Lawrence, who accepted, y et looked a tritle embarrassed as she did se. Indeed, net until Bhe liad stolen nn appealing glance at her husband and heard "his cordial "By all means, dear; Perry can guide you far better than I, nnd perhaps you'll win another mask," did she thank fully say "Yes." Dana rede with Mrs. Belknap, as befere, and it was the colo nel hini3elf who suggested te Stryker that Mr. Perry should accompany Mm. Lawrence thb day, nnd that he, the colonel, should ride with Mrs. Sprague. Perry had eagerly lent himself te the propesition: he figured that new he could have nn uninterrupted chat with Mrs. Lawrence and hear what she had te tell about Dunraven. Just befere starting he sought Capt Lawrence, laughingly told him the terms of their agreement, nnd begged that he would relax lib marital injunction and permit her te give him such details as she happened te be In possession of. "Indeed, Capt. Law rence," he said, "I ask from no Idle curi osity. I have been te the ranch, as you new knew, nnd have geed reason for asking," Te lib surprise the captain replied substantially that, while he had regretted Mrs. Lawrence's impulslve rov rev rov clatiens, lie had thought it all ever and decided that the best way out was that Perry should be told the whole story and be nble te bee hew very little there was te it. He had decided, therofero, te tell him himself; "and this evening, Perry, If you will dine with us Informally, we'll talk it ever afterwards. Meantime, I prefer Mrs. Lawrence's name should net be mentioned in connection with nny story there may be afleat: se oblige me by saying nothing te heron the subject." This was ene matter for reflection and something of a surprise; but there was still another and even greater ene. That very morning, just before guard mount, and while he was dressing, Perry shout ed, "Come in," respensive te a knock nt hb sitting room deer, and in came Capt Stryker. The object of lib early call was explained In very few words. "Perry," said he, "I have been ever te see Sergt Gwynne thb morning, and the doctor walked back from the hospital with me and told me of your threatened disagreement of last night. If it had net been for that sudden call te the stables I fancy there might have been n quarrel. New, I think you knew I'm ene of the last men te let nn efllcer of my regiment especially my troop be placed In a f.ilse position, and you can afford te leave thb matter in my hands, can you net?" "Certainly, Capt. Stryker." "Then I want you te eay nejhing te Quln en the subject, and te treat him, as far as pessible, as though nothing had happened. His relations with the lady's father and family were, nnd ere, cuch that she ought te treat him with respect and deference, and te accept his advice even though it be given iu a style that Carlyle, his favorite author, b mainly responsible for." "There was absolutely nothing In in that . Well, captain," stammered peer Ned, "I don't knew hew te say what I want te say." He wanted te say there was nothing In that Interview which could possibly be criticised, but it sud denly occurred te him that en the con trary there was a geed deal. Then he desired te assure the captain that, se far as he was concerned, there wasn't a sus picion of wrong doing; but heavens and earth! that was equivalent te Bay ing the lady was delngall that was open te remark, and nothing would ever In duce him te "give away a woman," as he would have expressed it. Perry stam mered and reddened all the mere, and at last gave it up in despair, Stryker sitting there the while with a quiet griu en lib bronzed face aud mechanically slashing hb beet legs witli a riding switch. "I think I understand the situation, Perry, and there's no great harm done. Only, let the matter drop se far as the doctor b concerned, I mean; I de net presume te ebtrude advice upon you as te anything else." And, tueugu no nad meditated a dif ferent ceurse, aud had fully intended hunting up Dana and sending him with a note te tall upon the doctor for an "explanation," he was glad te have a man of Stryker's standing cry halt All the same he was sero incensed against Dr. Quln mainly because of the jeal ous puln he suffered at the knowledge of lib being se welcomed by Gladys Malt laflji.wiieuJ)Q,a.wJH te.lialt the ranch: W$m 7C iafea.Lj-jk. j, uWiWs - -jljg "- - '&wJMiut.?aiia..&l-i.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers