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Hp CHAPTER V.
.4 Jtltte fiVJ fcnrH eMinf and ttrrifltd.
bread glare was already sheeting up-
jv warn ami inummaiing me suy. unu
ipnieng a dozen little shanties and leg
sjc neuses, the Hemes of tne laundresses 01
3 the garrison nnd collectively known as
5ivy-Sudsvlll( was a mass of ilanics. There
SfjT was a rusn el emccrs across me paraue,
vanil flin mpn. iinnwrrlnir thn nl.innn of
iffif the trumpet and the shots and shouts of
the sentries, came tearing from their
iemartcrs and nluncinc down the hill.
?Among the first en the spot came the
& young men wnu wem ui mu iwitj uv
sm Cant. Rnvncrs. and Jlr. Urahatn was
ahead of them all. It was plain te the
mnst lnoTTUrlpneeil ove that there was
$!hardly anything left te Bave In or about
K the burning shanty. All euerts must ie
'directed towards preventinK the spread
KSw'ef the flames te (liose (idjeining. Half
sivi clad women and children wcre rushing
5g about, shrieking with fright and excite-
jlneiit, and a few men wcre cngagel in
draKcinc household goods and f urniture
Ttnm these tenements net yet reached by
gthe flames. Fire apparatus theroseemed
r H UV UUIlUp illUUfl etUUIte UJL IIIUJI B1IVWJ-
'xOr appeared with ladders, axes and
jjNbuckets, brought from the different ceiu-
te-.rJ,intf nmHnrft. nrA flin nrrlvlntr niTlrrn
.'quickly formed the bucket lines, and
l&wster dipped from the icy creek began
r- te fly from hand te liana, licrore any-
ftblng Hke this was fairly under way, a
iii'jv a nf nhml.iiMnin urttnl flAitiln inlnn.
jji mitj uau uwu vimivu .u i.iu fiiun.uvu w.
?,a rapidly gathering audience, "it was
worth mera than the price of admission
;w te hear Blake tell it afterwards," said
5 the officers, later.
' 4 4a1I nnmilnr trnmin tmntin wltfi
i !:xcitcuient and terror, was dancing about
; "tin the bread glare of the burning hut,
"-.Hearing her hair, making wild rushes at
I''.tiie flames from time te time as though
feffir -'"--r- -" . ;-"" -
i'l-jeci mat was Dcmg censumcu ueiore ucr
,wyes, anu nu inu uue Keeping up 11 viu
"; ley of maledictions and abuse in lavish
-vHiberuian, apparently directed atacew-
' trine object who sat in limn helplessness
irittpen a little heap of fireweed, swaying
Wt ffVUI DtUU Ml siue 411111 uivauui niUUUIjr
p t-ki which his face was hidden. His cloth cleth
SS'lng was still smoking in places;, his hair
i'and bennl were sliircd te the roets: hn
5.';"-wa evidently Berlnuslv injured, and the
I'aympathiaing soldiers who had gathered
Waareunu mm alter aciuging mm witu
&? anew and water wcre striving te get him
!; te arise and go with them te the hospital.
A little gin, net ten years old, Knelt sob-
EK bing and terriiled by his side. She, tee,
;jjS was Bcerclied and singed, nnd the sol sel
l';diers had thrown rough blankets alxmt
f her; but it was for her father, net her-
44?aclf . she seemed worried te distraction.
!'!j Bome of the women were striving te re-
V? assure and comfort her in their homely
&! fashion, biddimr her cheer mi (hefather
pPwas only stupid from drink, nnd would
Hpe all right as seen as "the liquor was
ffelt at him." But the little nne wnn hn-
iVryend consolation se long as he could net
iSTwflALllet sneak in nnswer te her en-1
,-J3& treaties, ''"
f'w, abxigking uinathemas en her drunken
peusc, reproaches en her frightened
-.S child, nnd invocations te all the blessed
Kt'aaints in heaven te reward the cintleman
&. who had saved her hoarded money a
m
kfMneking packet that she hugged te
isbreast Mrs. Clancy, "tlie saynier h
her
latin-
Sp.drea8 of Company D," as she had long
bgetyled herself, was prancinc up and
J..down through the gathering crowd, her
clamor. The vigorous rITnr.K nf Dm nipn
4'g directed by cool headed officers, seen
tKin imk. fciiu iiaiut'a nun. vure iiircaien
Ing the neighboring shanties, and leveled
-f'te the ground what lemalned of Prlvate
Clancy's home. The fire was cxtinguibhed
..almost as ranidlv as it Imd-hii. lint thn
5" torrent of Mrs. Clancy's eloquence was
?-. still unstemmed. The adjurations of
Sfi aympathetie sisters te "Hewld ycr
wiust," the authontauve admonition of
tv tome old sergeant te "Step your infernal
noise," and the half maudlin yet appeal
ing glances of her suffering lord were all
& insufficient te check her.
JRf It was net until the quiet tones of the
h colonel were heard that bhe began te
cool dewn: "evehad enough of this,
Mrs. Clancy; be still, new, or we'll have
te send you te the hospital in the coal
cart" Mrs. Clancy knew tliat the colonel
was a man of few words, and believed
him te be oneof less sentiment. She was
afraid, of him, and concluded it time te
?i.
!
2s cease threats and abuse and come down
'? te the mere effective rolnef wrnnenl ninl
in accempiuihcd witli the censummate ease
' UUCI.IK UIUUMIHJ.JU 1 lUUb WIIlUll HUU
fef long practice, for the rewa in the
teClancy household were matters of garri
..'") aoe noterielv. The surceen. tee. bad
&$ come, and, after quick examination of
-Clancy ' condition, had directed him te
'be taken at once te the hospital; and
. thither his little daughter insisted en
following him, deapite the efforts of
,'MBie of the women te detain her and
V dress her properly.
' Beiore returning te bis quarters the
' H colonel desired te knew something of the
i ,,y origin et tue lire, uiiere was testimony
?'-? .eurli nnd te sii.iri' Kvnrv wnmnii In
fhf jidviHe had a theory te express and
.(truly, ,wr ty i, heard at once and te the
aenV.tef all ethers. It was net until
I .te fifd summarily ordered them te ke te
l.beir homes and net come near him that
the colonel managed te get a clear state-
uueet ireni some or the men.
Clancr had been awav all the eveninc.
'drinking as usual, and Mrs. Clancy was
marching about Sudsville as much for
iayuipathy and listeners as for him. Lit-
t(9 Kate, who knew her father's haunts,
had Buided him home and was striving
te gt him te his little sleeping corner
betore her mother's return, when in his
dnuaken biulwsms he fell asainjt the
?
i
By Capt Charles King, U. S. A.
Auther of "Dcnravek Ranch," TnitCeuwiuAi
DAeaHTEH," "Marien's FArm," Etc.
Copyright, by J. B. Llpplncett Company, rfalladelphla, and
published by special ammgcnraat with them.
table, overturning tne kcroscne lamp,
and the curtains wero nil nflame in an
instant. It was just after laps or 10
o'clock when Kate's shrieks aroused
the inmates of Sudsvllle and started the
cry of "Fire." The flimsy structure of
pitie beards burned like se much tinder,
nnd the child and her stupefied father
had been dragged forth only in time te
save their lives. The little ene, after
giving the alarm, had rushed again into
the heuse and was tugging at his sense
less form when rcscue came for both
none tee seen.
As for Mrs. Clancy, at the first note of
danger she had rushed screaming te the
spot, but only in time te seu the whole
interior ablaze and te howl frantically
for some man te save her money It was
all In the green box under the bed. Fer
husband and child she had for the
moment no thought. They wcre safely
out of the fire by the time she get there,
nnd she screamed nnd fought llke a fury
ngainst the mn who held her back
when she would have plunged into the
midst of it. It took but a minute for
ene or two men te burst through the
flimsy wall with axes, te rcscue the
burning Imx and knock off the lid It
was a sight te see when the contents
wcre handed te her. She knelt, wept,
prayed, counted ever' bill after bill of
smoking, steaming greenbacks, until
suddenly recalled te her senses by the
eager curiosity and the remarks of some
et her fellow women. That she kept
money, and a geed deal of It, In her
quarters had long liccn Buspcctcd and as
fiercely denied; but no ene had dreamed
of such a sum as was revealed.
In her frenzy she had shrieked that
the savings of bcrlifetime wcre burning
that there was ever three thousand
dollars in the Ikix; but she hid her treas
ure and gasped and stammered and,
swore she was talking "wild like." "They
was nothing but twos and wnns," she
vowed; yet there wcre women there who
declared that they had seen tens and
twenties as she hurried them through
her trembling fingers, and Sudsville gos
siped and talked for two hours after she
was led away, still meaning nnd shiver
ing, te the bedside of peer Clancy, who
wus the mlserable cause of it nil. The
colonel listened te the stories with such
patience as could be accorded te wit-.
nesses who desired te glve preminence
te their personal exploits in subduing
the flames and rescuing llfe and prop
erty. It was net until he and the group
of officers with him had been engaged
souie moments in taking testimony that
something was elicited which caused a
new conation.
It was net by the united efforts of Suds Suds
vileo that Clancy and Kate had been
dragged from the flames, but by the in
dividual dash and delcrm illation of n
single man: there was no discrepancy
here, for the ten or a dozen who were
wildly rushing about the heuse made no
effort te buret into it until a young Beldicr
lea)cd through their midst into the blaz
ing doorway, was seen te threw a blan
ket ever seme object within, nnd the
next miiiute appeared again, dragging a
ledy through the flames. Then thny
had sprung te his aid, and between them
Katcefld "the euldmau" wcre lifted into
tlie open air. A moment later he had
handed Mrs. Clauay her packet of money,
and they hadn't seen him bince. He
was an officer, said they a new one.
They thought it must be tlie new lieuten
ant of Company II; and the colonel look
ed quickly around and said a few words
te liii adjutant, who started up the hill
forthwith. A group of officers and la
dies were standing nt the brew of the
plateau east of the guard heuse, gazing
down upon the bceue lclew, and ether
ladies, with their escorts, had gathered
en n little knell clese by the read that
led te Prairie avenue. It was past these
that the adjutant walked rapidly away,
Hwhiging his hurrignne' lamp in hia
hand.
"Which we,y new, Billings?" called one
A U.ve ca'xalry officers in the group.
"Over te Mr. Hayne's quarters," he
bheuted back, never stepping at all.
A silence fell upon the group at men
tion of tlie name. They were the ladle
from Capt. ltayncr'H and a fuw of their
immediate friends. All eyes followed
tlie twinkling light as it danced nway
eastward towards the gloomy coal sheds.
Then there was sudden nnd intense inter
est. The lamp had ceme tea stand still,
was deposited en tlie ground, and by its
dim ray the adjutant could be seen bend
ing ever n dark object that was half sit
ting, half reclining at thu platform of
the shed. Then came n shout, "Ceinu
here, seme of you." And mebt of the
men ran te the spot.
Fer a moment net ene word was spoken
in the watching group; then Miss Trav
ers' veice was heard:
"What can it be? Why de they bten
there?"
She felt a sudden hand upon her wrist,
atid her sister's lipsnt her ear:
"Come nway, Nellie. I want te go
home. Cernel"
"Hut, Kate, I must see what it means."
"Ne; comet It's it's only seme ether
drunken man probably. Come!" And
she streve te lead her.
Hut the ether lndica wcre curious tee,
and all, insensible, were edging ever te
the cast ns though eager te get in Bight
of the group. The recumbent object
had been raised, and was been te be tlie
daik figure of n man whom the ethers
began slowly te lead away. One of the
group came running back te them; it
was Mr. Fester.
"Come, ladies; I will escort you home,
as the ethers are busy,"
"What is the matter, Mr. Fester?"
was asked by half a dozen voices.
"It was Mr. Hayne badly burned. 1
fear. He was trying te get home after
having saved jioer Clancy.
"Yeu don't say sol Oh, isn't there
semeth'-ig we can de? Can't we go that
way and lie of seme help?" was the eager
petition of mere than ene of the ladies.
"Net new. They will have the doctor
in a minute. He has net inhaled flame;
it isall external; but he was partly blind
ed nnd could net find his way. Ile
called te Hillings when he heard him
coming, I will get you all home and
then go back te him. Cernel" And, of
fering his arm te Mrs. Itayncr, who was
foremost in the direction he wanted te
go the pathway across the parade Mr.
Fester led them en. Of course, there
was eager talk und veluble sympathy,
but Mrs. Rayner speke net a word. The
ethers crowded around him with ques
tions, and hersilence passed unnoted ex
cept by one.
The moment they were Inside the deer
and alone Miss Travers turned te her
sister: "Kate, wliat was this man'n
criulc',
CHAPTER VI.
fuSiS JJrr a.
" mean the inJuritB at the ftrr.n
An unusual state of affairs existed at
the big hospital for several days, Mrs.
Clancy had refused te leave the bedside
of her beloved Mike, and was permitted
te remain. Fer a woman who was noto
rious as a virago nnd bully, who had
beaten little Kate from her babyhood
and nbtiAcd nnd hammered her Michael
until, between her and drink, he was but
the wreck of a stalwart manhood, Mrs.
Clancy had developed a degree of devo
tion that was utterly unci ec ted. In nil
the dozen years of their marital relations
no such trait could be recalled; nnd yet
there had been many an occasion within
the past few years when Clancy's condi
tion demanded gcutle nursing and clese
attention and never would have get it
but for faithful little Kate, The child
idolized the broken down man, and loved
him with n tenderness that his weakness
seemed but te augment n thousandfeld,
while it but berved toinfurlate her moth
er. In former years, when he was Scrgt.
Clancy and a line soldier, many was the
time he had intervened te sa've her from
nn undeserved thrashing; many n time
had he seized her in his strong arms und
confronted the furious woman with stern
reproof. Between him and the child
there had been the tendcrest love, for
she was all that was left te him of four.
In the old days Mrs. Clancy had been
the bclle of the soldiers' balls, a fine
looking woman, with indemitable low
ers us a dancer and conversationalist
nnd nn envied reputation for outshining
all her rivals In dress nnd adornment.
"She would ruin Clancy, that she
would," was the unanimous opinion of
the soldiers' wives, biitheBecraetl te min
ister toiler cxtravagauce with unfailing
geed nature for two or three years. He
had been prudent, careful of his money,
was n war soldier with big arrears of
bounty nnd, tradition had it, ft consum censum censum
maeo skill in poker. He was the money
ed man among the sergeants when the
dashing relict of n brother non-commissioned
officer set her widow's cap for him
and wen. It did net take many years
for her te wheedle most of his money
away, but there was no cessation te the
demand, no apparent limit te the supply.
Beth were growing elder, nnd new it bo be bo
caine evident that Mrs. Clancy was the
elder of the two, uud that the lutlflclal
ity of her charms could lint stand the
test of frontier life. Ne longer sought
ns thobclleef the Beldiers' ball rooms, she
aspired te leadership among their wives
mid families, and was acceided that pre
eminence rather than the fierce buttle
which was bine te fellow any revolt. She
liecame avaricious seme Bald miserly-rand
Clancy miberablc. Then began the
downward course. He tool; te drink been
after his return from a long, hard Bum
mer's campaign with the Indians. He
lest his sergeant's striics and went into
tlie ranks.
There came a time when the new col
onel forbade his re-enlistment in the
cavalry regiment in which he had served
se many a long year. He had been u
brave nnd devoted soldier. He had n
geed friend in thu infantry, hehuid, who
wouldn'ge back en a peer fellow who
took a drop tee much nt times, and, te
tlie surprise of many soldiers officers
and men he was brought te the recruit
ing Olllcer ene day, bober, soldierly, and
trimly d tensed, and Capt. Itayncr ex
pressed his desiie te have him enlisted
for his company; ami it was done. Mrs.
Clancy was accorded the quarters and
rations of a lnliudiess, ns was then the
custom, nnd for u time a very short
time Clauey beemed en the read te pro
motion te his old grade. The enemy
tripped him, aided by the sceldings and
ahutioef his wife, and he never rallied.
Some work was found for him around
the iniaitcrniastcr'i shops which saved
him fiem guard duty or the guard
houtie. Tlie infantiy officers and men
seemed te feci for the peer, broken
down old fellow, uud te lay much of his
wee te tlie deer of his wife. There was
charity for his faults and sympathy for
his borrows, but ut last it had ceme te
this. He was lying, sorely injured, iu
the hospital, and there were times when
he was apparently delirious.
At bucli times, said Mrs. Clancy, she
nlotie could inauage him; and bhe urged
that no ether nurse, could de mere than
excite or ii ritate him. Te the unspeaka
ble grief of little Kate she, tee, was
driven from the sutfeier's liedside and
fertiiilili'i' In emie unu tin f.iin i.repl
when hri iimtlier gue p-imUhimi.
Cl.'im-t Imd migiirilly bui u cinii'd into
the k1""!,.!!! ,Htl with ihentlierpnlieiits,
but (he biwpital Hiewnrd two days nfier
ward in'il thi surgeon that tbe patient
lueiiieii and cued he ut nih' that tlie
ether Hiek men could net bleep, and of ef
feied '" ipv. ui n little room in his own
pattef Mii. r-uilding, Tlie burly doctor
looked Miriinsed M this conceMiieit en
the pir of ibf stewaid, who was a man
ten.iilnus of every perquisite and ene
who had madu much complaint about
the crowded condition of tlie hospital
wards nnd small rooms ever since the
frozen soldiers had ceme In. All the
bamu the doctor asked for no explana
tion, but gladly availed himself of the
steward's elfcr. Clancy was hievihI te
this little room adjoining thu Muwntd's
quarters forthwith, and Mrs. Clancy was
satisfied.
Anether thing had happened te excite
remark and a geed deal et it. Nothing
short of eternal damnation was Mrs.
Clancy's frautie scntenej en the head of
her unlucky spoube th? night of the fire.
when she was the central ligiue of the
picture, and when huiidieds of witnesM.-s
te her words weie gieuped nreund.
Correspondingly had she called down
the blessings of the Hely Virgii and all
the saints upon the man who rescued
and returned te her that precious packet
of money. Everybody heard her, and it
was out of the question for her te re
tract. Nevertheless, from within an
hour after Clancy's admission te the
hospital net another word of the kind
escaped her lips. She was all patience
and pity w ith the Injured man, and she
bhuuned nil allusion te his preserver and
her benefactor. The surgeon had lecn
called away, after doing all lu his power
te make Clancy comfortable he was
needed elsewhere and only two or three
soldiers and a hospital uurse still re
mained by his bedside, where Mrs.
Clancy and little Kate were drying their
tears and receiving consolation from the
steward's wife. The doctor had men
tioned a name ns he went nway, and it
was seen that Clancy was sti iving te auk
a question. Sergt. Nelan lenl down;
"Lie quiet, Claucy, me boy; you must
unquiet, or you il move me umiiuukeh.
"Who did he say was burned? Who
was he 'going te sec?" gasped the suf
ferer. .
"Tlie new lieutenant, Clancy nlm
that pulled ye out He's a geed ene, nnd
it's Mrs. Clancy that'll tell ye the same."
"Tell hi ui what?" said she, turning
about in sudden interest.
"About the lieutenant' pulling him
out of the fire and saving your money."
"Indeed yes! Tlie blessing of nil the
saints be upon bis beautiful head,
and"
"Det who was it? What was his name,
I say?" vehemently Interrupted Clancy,
half raising himself upon his elbow, and
groaning with the effort. "What was
his name? 1 didn't see him."
"Lieut Hayne, man."
"Oh, nty Oedl" gasped Clancy, and
fell back as though struck a sudden blew.
She sprang te his side, "It's faint he
is. Don't answer his questions, scr
geantl He's beslde himself I Oh, will ye
never step talking te him and lave him
in pace? Oe away, all of ye's go away,
I say, or ye'll dbrive him crazy wid
ycr De quiet, Mlkcl don't ye spake
agin." And she laid a bread, red hand
upon his face. He only groaned again
and threw his ene unbandnged arm
across his darkened eyes, as though te
bide from sight of nIL
Frem that time en she made no men
tion of the name that se strangely ex
cited her stricken husband, but the
watchers in the hospital the next night
declared that in his ravings Clancy kept
calling for Lieut. Hayne.
Stannard's battalion of the cavalry
came inarching into the 'pest two days
after the Are, and created a diversion in
the gnrrisen talk, which for ene long day
had been all of that dramatic incident
and Its attendant circumstances. In social
circles, among the officers and ladies, the
main topic was the conduct et Mr.
Hayne and the injuries he had sustained
as n conscqucnce of his gallant rcscue.
Among the enlisted men and the deni
zens of Sudsvllle the talk was principal
ly of the revelation of Mrs. Clancy's
heard of greenbacks. I' in both circles
a singular story was ,i beginning te
creep around, and it . te the effect
that Clancy had cried aloud and fainted
dead nway nnd that Mrs. Clancy had
geno into hysterics when they wcre told
that Lieut. Hayne was the man te whom
the ene owed his life and the ether her
money. Some ene met Capt. Rayner en
the sidewalk the morning Stannard came
marching home and asked him if he had
heard the queer story about Clancy. Ile
had net, and it was told him then and
there. .
Rayner did net even attempt te laugh
at it or turn it off in anyway. He looked
dazed, stunned, for a moment, turned
very white and old looking, and, hardly
saying geed day te hia informant, faced
alteut and went straight te his quarters.
He was net among the crowd that gath
ered te welcome the incoming cavalry
men that bright, crisp, winter day, and
that evening Mrs. Rayner went te the
hospital te ask what she could de for
Clancy and his wife. Capt. Rayner al
ways expected her te bce that every care
and attention was paid te the Bick nnd
needy of his company, she explained te
the doctor, who could net recall having
seen her en a similar errand before, al
though sick and needy of Company B
wcre net unknown in garrisons where
he had berved with them. She spent a
geed while with. Mrs. Clancy, whom she
had never noticed hitherto, much te the
laundress' indignation, and concerning
whose conduct she had been known te
express herself In terms of cxtreme dis
approbation. But in times of suffering
such things are forgotten; Mrs. Rayner
was full of sympathy and interest; there
was nothing she was net eager te send
them, nnd no thanks -were necessary.
She could never de tee much for the
men of her husband's company.
Yet there was a member of her hus
band's company en whom inhis suffering
neither she nor the captain saw- fit te call.
Mr. Hayne's eyes were seriously injured
by the fiames nnd heat, and he was new
living iudarkuebs. It might ben month,
bald the doctor, before he could use his
e os again.
"Only think of that peer fellow all
alone out there en that ghastly prairie
and unable te read!" was the exclama
tion of ene of the cavalry ladies in Mrs.
ltayuer's presence; and, as there was an
awkward silence and somebody had te
break it, Mrs. Rayner respended:
"If I lived en Prairie avenue I should
consider blindness u blessing."
It was an iuifortunute remark. There'
was btreug sympathy developing for
Hayne all through the garrison. Mrs.
Rayner never meant that it should have
any such significance, but inside of
twenty-four hours, in ceurse of which
her language had been related seme
dozens of times and distorted quite as
many, the generally accepted version of
the story was that Mrs. Rayner, se far
from expressing the faintest sympathy
or sorrow for Mr. Hayne's ralsfortuue, se
far from expressing the natural gratifi
cation which a lady should feel that it
was an officer of her regiment who had
reached the, scenoet danger ahead of the
cavalry officer of the guard, had said in
se many words that Mr. Hayne ought te
be thankful that blindness was the worst
thing that had ceme te him.
There was little chance for harmony
after that. Many men nnd seme women,
of course, refused te believe it, and said
they felt confident that she had been
misrepresented. Still, all knew by this
time that Mrs. Rayner was bitter against
Hayne, nnd had heard of her denuncia
tion of the colonel's action. Se, tee, had
the colonel heard that she openly de
clared that bIie would refuse any invita
tion extended te her or te her sister
which might invelve her accepting hos
pitality nt his house. These things de
get around in most astonishing ways.
Then another complication arose;
Ilayne, tee, was mixing matters. Tlie
major commanding the liattulien, n man
in no wise connected with his misfort
unes, had gene te him and urged, with
the doctor's full consent, that he should
lie moved ever into and beceme an in
mate of liii household in garrison. He
had a big, roomy heuse. His wife ear
nestly ndded her entreaties te the ma
jor's, but nil te no purpose: Mr. Hayne
firmly declined. He thanked the ma
jor; he reMi and lxnt ever the lady's
hand nnd thanked her with n veice that
was full of gentleness and gratitude;
but he said that he had learned te live
iu solitude. Sam was accustomed te all
his ways, and he had every comfort he
.needed. His wants wcre few and 6im 6im
ple. She would net be content, mid
urged him further. He loved reading:
surely he would miss his hooks mid
would need seme mie te read aloud te
him, nnd there were se many ladles iu
the gniriben who would Iki glad te meet
at her house and read te him by turns.
He loved music, she heard, and theie
was her piano, and she- knew beveral
who would lie delighted te jiue und
play for him by thu hour. II bhoek his
head, mid the bandages hid the tears
that came te his smaitiug eyes. He had
made arrangements te lie read nleud te,
lie said; and ns for music, that must
wait awhile.
The kind woman retired iHsmayed
bhe could net understand such obduracy,
and her husband felt rebulfed. Stan
nard, of the cavalry, tee, came Iu with
his gentle wife. Klie wan lecd through
out the regiment for her kindliness and
icrace of mind, as well us for her deve
tien te the sick and suffering in the old
days of the Indian wars, nnd Stannard
had made a similar proffer and been
similarly refused, and he had gene away
Indignant Ha thought Mr. Hayne tee
bumptious te lire: but he born no malice,
and his wrath was seen ever. Many of
the cavalry officers called In person and
tendered their services, and were very
civilly received, but all offers were posi
tively declined. Just what the Infantry
officers should de was a momentous
question. That they could no longer
held nloef was a matter that was quick
ly settled, nnd three of their number
went through thn chill gleaming of the
wintry eve nnd sent in their cards by
Sara, who ushered them into the cheer
less front room, while ene of their num
ber followed te the doorway which led
te the room in rear, in which, still con
fined te his bed by the doctor's advice,
the injured officer was lying. It was
Mr. Ress who went te- the deer and
t cicarea nis inreat nnu sioeu in vue prat-
ence of the man te whom, mere than
five years before, he had refused his
hand. The ethers listened anxieusly:
"Mr. Ilayne, this is Rees. ceme
with Fester and Graham te say hew
deeply we regret your injuries, and te
tender our sympathy and our services."
There was dead silence for a moment.
Fester and Graham steed witli hearts
that beat unaccountably hard, looking at
each ether in perplexity. Would he
never reply?
The answer came at last a questien:
"Te what injuries de you allude, Mr.
Ress?"
Even in the twilight they could see
the sudden flush of the Scotchman's
check. He was n blunt fellow, but, as
the senior, had been chosen spokesman
for the three. Tlie abrupt question stag
gered him. It was a second or two be
fore he could collect himself.
"I mean the injuries at the fire," he
replied.
This time no answer whatever. It was
growing tee painful. Ress looked in
bewilderment at the bandaged face and
nnd again breke the silence:
"We hope you won't deny us the right
te be of service, Mr. Hayne. If there is
anything we can de that you need or
would llke" hesitatingly.
"Yeu have nothing further te say?"
asked the calm veice from the pillow.
"I don't knew what else we can say,"
faltered Ress, nfter nn instant's pause.
The answer came, firm and prompt,
but icily coel:
"Then there is nothing that you can
de."
And the three took their departure,
sere at heart.
There wcre ethers of the infantry who
had purposed going te see Hayne that
evening, but the story of Ress's experi
ence put nn end te it all. It was plain
that even new Mr. Hayne made the con
dition of the faintest advance from his
regimental comrades a full confession of
error. He would have no less.
That evening the colonel sat by bis bed
side and had ati earnest talk. He veil
tined te expostulate with the invalid en
his refusal te go te the major's or te
Stannard's. He could bave se many
comforts nnd delicacies there that would
lie impossible here. He did net refer te
edibles and drinkables alone, he said,
with a smile; but Hayne's patient face
gave no Bi'gn of relenting. He heard the
colonel through, nnd then said slowly
and firmly:
"I have net acted hastily, sir; I ap
preciate their kindness, and am net un
grateful. Five years age my whole life
was changed. Frem that time te this I
have dene without a host of things that
used te be indispensable, and have ab
jured thorn ene and all for a cingle lux
ury that I cannot live without Uie lux
ury of utter independence the joy of
knowing that I ewo no man anything
Iho blessing of being beholden te no one
n earth for a slugle service 1 cannot pay
ter. It is the ene luxury left rue."
CHAPTER VII.
" 1 ou shall net geP
It was a clear winter's evening, sharply
cold, about a week after the fire, when,
as Mrs. Rayner came down the stairway,
equipped for a walk, and was passing
the parlor deer without stepping, Miss
Travers caught bight of and called te
her:
"Are you going walking, Kate? De
wait a moment, and I'll go with you."
Any ene in the hall could have shared
the author's privilege and seen the ex
pression of annoyance and confusion that
appeared en Mrs. Rayner's face.
"I thought you wcre out. Did net Mr.
Graham take you walking?"
"He did; but we wandered into Mrs.
Waldron's.andsheand the major begged
us te stay, and we had seme music, nnd
then the first call sounded ferrctrcatand
Mr. Graham had te go, se he brought me
home. I've had no walk nnd need exer
cise," "But I don't llke you te be out nfter
sunset. That cough of yours"
"Disappeared the day after I get here,
Kate, and there hasn't been a vestige of
it since. This high, dry climate put an
end te it Ne, I'll be ready in ene min
ute mere. De wait."
Mrs. Rayner's hand was turning the
knob while her sister was hurrying te the
front deer nnd drawing en her heavy
jacket as she did se. The former faced
her impatiently:
"I don't think you are at all courteous
te your visitors. Yeu knew just as well
as I de that Mr. Fester or Mr. Reyco or
seme ether of these young officers are
sure te be in just nt this hour. Yeu really
are very thoughtless, Nellie."
I Miss Travers Btepped short in her prep
arations. "Kate Rayner," she began, impres3ive
Iv. "it was only nicht befere last that
you rebuked me for sitting here with
Mr. Ulake nt this very Heur, anil aaiceu
me hew I supposed Mr. Van Antwerp
would like it. New you"
"Fudge! I cannot stay and listen te
such talk. If you must go, wait a few
minutes until I get lack. I I want te
make a short call. Then I'll take you."
"Se de I want te make a short call call
ever at the doctor's; and you are going
right te the hospital, are you net?"
"Hew de you knew I am?" asked Mrs.
Rayner, reddening.
"Yeu de go there every evening, it
seems te me,"
"I don't. Who told you I did?"
"Several people mentioned your kind
ness and attention te the Clancys, Kate.
I have heard it from many sources."
"I wish icople would mind their own
affairs." wailed Mrs. Rayner, peevishly.
jjWL
"oe ae t, wrte; eat tncy never nave,
and never will, especially with aa en
gaged giri. I have mero te complain of
than you, but It doesn't make me for
lorn, whereas you leek fearfully worried
about nothing."
, "Who says I'm worried?" asked Mrs.
Rayner, with sudden vehemence.
"Yeu leek worried, Kate, and haven't
been at all like yourself for several days.
New, why shouldn't I go te the hospital
with you? Why de you try te hide your
going from me? Don't you knew that I
mtiBt have heard the strange stories that
are flitting about the garrison? Haven't
I asked you te set me right If Lhave
been told a wrong one? Kate, you are
fretting yourself te death about some
thing, nnd the captain leeks worried and
ill. I cannot but think it has some con
nection withtlhe case of Mr. Hayne. Why,
iheuld the Clancys"
"Yeu have no right te think any such
thing," answered her sister, angrily,
"We have suffered tee much at his
hands or en his account already, and I
never want te hear such words from
your lips. It would outrage Capt Ray
ner te hear that my sister, te whom he
has given a home and a welcome, was
linking herself with these who side with
that that thief."
"Katcl Oh, hew can you use such
words? Hew dare you speak se of an
officer? Yeu would net tell me what he
was accused of; but I tell you that if it
be theft I don't beliove it, and no one
else"
There was a sudden footfall en the
perch without, and a quick, sharp, im
perative knock at the deer. Mrs. Ray
ner fled back along the hall towards the
dining room. Miss Travers, hesitating
but a second, opened the deer.
It was the soldier telegraph operator
with a dispatch enveiejie in his hand.
"It is for Mrs. Rayner, miss, nnd an
answer is expected. Shall I wait?"
Mrs. Rayner came hastily forward
from her place of refuge within the din
ing room, took the envelope without a
word and passed into the parlor, where,
standing beneath the lamp, she tore it
open, glanced anxiously at its contents,
then threw it with an exclamation of
peevish indignation upon the table.
"You'll have te answer for yourself,
Nellie. I cannot straighten your affairs
and mlne tee." And with that she was
going, but Miss Travers called her beck.
The message simply read: "Ne letter
in four days. Is anything wrong? An
swer paid," and was addressed te Mrs.
Itayncr and signed S. V. A.
"I think you have been extremely neg
lectful," said Mrs. Rayner, who had
turned and new steed watching the
rising color and impatiently tapping feet
of bar younger sister. Miss Travers bit
her lips and compressed them hard.
There was an evident struggle in hei
mind between a desire te make an im
pulsive and sweeping reply and an effort
te coutret hcrself.
"Will you answer a quiet question or
two?" tdie finally asked.
"Yeu knew perfectly well I will," was
the sisterly rejoinder.
"Hew long does it take a letter te go
from here te New Yerk?"
"Five or six days, I suppose."
Miss Travers stepped te the deer, briefly
told the soldier there was no answer,
thanked him for waiting, and returned.
"Yeu are net going te reply?" asked
Mrs. Rayner, in amaze.
"I am net; and I inferred you did net
intend te. New another question. Hew
many days have we been here?"
"Eight Or nine nine, it is."
"Yeu saw me pest a letter te Mr. Van
Antwerp as we left the Missouri, did you
net?"
"Yes. At least I suppose se."
"I wrote again as seen aa we get
settled here, three days after that, did I
net?"
"Yen said you did," replied Mrs. Ray
ner, ungraciously.
"And you, Kate, when you are your
self have been prompt te declare that I
say what I mean. vVcry probably it may
have been four days from the time that
letter from the transfer reached Wall
street te the time the next ene could get
te him from here, even had I written the
night we arrived. Possibly you forget
that you forbade my doing se, and sent
me te bed early. Mr. Van Antwerp has
simply failed te remember that I had geno
several hundred miles farther west; and
even had I written en the train twice a
day, the letters would net have reached
him uninterruptedly. By this time lie is
lieginning te get them fast enough. And
ns for you, Kate, you are quite as unjust
as he. It nugurs badly for my future
peace; and I am learning two lessens
here, Kate."
"What two, pray?"
"That he can lie foolishly unreliable
in estimating a woman."
"Andthe ether?"
"That you may be persistently unreli
abeo iu your judgment of a man."
Verily, for a young woman with a
sweet, girlish face, whom we saw but a
week agone twitching a kitten's cars and
saying little or nothing, Miss Travers
was displaying unexpected lighting qual
ities. Fer a moment, Mrs. Rayner glared
at her in tremulous indignation and dis
may. "Yeu you ought te be ashamed of
yourself I" was her eventual outbreak.
But te this there was no reply. Miss
Travers moved quietly te the doorway,
turned nnd looked her angry sister in
thoeye, and said:
"I shall give up the walk and will go
te my room. Excuse me te nny visitors
this evening."
"Yeu nre net going te write te him
new, when you are angry, I hope?"
"I shall net write te him until te-morrow,
but when I de I shall tell him this,
Kate: that if he desire my confide nee he
will address his complaints and inquiries
te me. If I am old enough te be engaged
te him, in your opinion, I nin equally old
enough te attend te such details as these,
in my own."
Mrs. Rayner steed ene moment as
though astounded; then she flew te the
deer and relieved her surcharged besom
as follews: "Well, I pity the man you
marry, whether you are lucky cueugh
te keep this ene or net!" nnd flounced in
dignantly out of the house.
, When Capt. Rayner came in, half an
hour afterwards, the parlor was de
serted. He was looking worn and di
spirited. Finding no one en the ground
fleer, he went te the feet of the stairs,
and called:
"Kate."
A deer opened abeve: "Kate has geno
out, captain."
"De you knew where, Nellie?"
"Over te the hospital, I think; though
I cannot say."
She heard him sigh deeply, meve irre
solutely about the hall for a moment,
then turn and go out.
At his gate he found two figures dimly
visible in the gathering darkness; they
had stepped en hearing his footstep.
One was an officer in uniform, wrapped
in heavy overcoat, with a fur cap, and a
bandnge ever his eyes. The ether was a
Chinese servant, and it was the latter
who asked:
"This Maje Waldlen's?"
"Ne," said he, hastUy. "Maj. Wal Wal
dreu's is the third deer beyend."
At the sound of his voice the officer
quickly started, but spoke in low, meas
ured tene: "Straight ahead, Sam." And
tlie Chinaman led him en.
Rayner steed a mement watcbiug
them, bitter theuehts ceureuuc threush
" ' wm vwtly
rtWwrtly i mevmef te be pad
for sir, and mwImwm Mm lavMai
gala. ThlstitaeH wttUaeMoeavaJ.
WaMren, who honored srha. riiil5
Hwms another dinner. LHssthrhSi.
at this rate, the time wesUiimmm
when Mr. Ilayne would -Tittmm.
where and he and hk cerresMtlB
drcfiped. He turned miserably
and went, back te 'the btlilard roosts s'
the store.' When Mrs. Bayner nag her
bell fei tea that evening he had net re
appeared, and she sentametngerfer
him,
It was a briUIaatafroeaMt evening. A
strong prairie gale had hegua te Mew
from; the northwest, aad war Imaging
shutters aad whirling pebbles at a furl
euarate. At the sound of the truawets'
wailing tattoo a brace of yeaag eAeara
calling en the ladies took their leave.
The captain, had retired te hirden, or
study, where ha shut himself up a geed
deal of late, and thither Mrs.- Raywr fol
lowed hlat aad closed the deer after her.
Throwing a cloak ever bar shoulders
Miss Travers stepped out oe the aiasaa
and gazed in delight upon tan moonlit
panorama the snow covered maunita
te the south andwest, the rolling ex
panse of upland 'prairie between, the
rough outlines of the foothills softened
in the silvery light, the dark shadows of
the barracks across the parade the
twinkling lights of the sergeants aa they
took their stations, the soldierly forms
of the officers hastening te their com
panies far across the frozen level.
Suddenly she became aware of two
forms coming down the walk. They is
sued from Maj. Wnldren's quarters, and
the deer closed behind them. One was
young officer; the ether, shr neeedily
made out, a Chinese servant, wee was
guiding his master. She knew (lie pair
in an instant, and her first impulse was
te retire. Then she reflected that he
could net see, and she wanted te leek, se
she stayed. They had almost reached
her gate when a wild blast whirl 1 the
officer's cape about his cars and sent
seme sheets of music flying across the
read. Leaving his master at the fence,
the Chinaman sped in pursuh, and the
next thing she noted was that Mr.
Hayne's fur cap was blown from his
head, and that he was groping for it
helplessly.
There was no ene te call, no ene te
assist. She hesitated one minute, looked
anxiously around, then sprang te the
gate, picked up the cap, pulled it well
down ever the bandaged eyes, seized the
young officer firmly by the arm, drew
him within the gate and led him te the
shelter of the piazza. Once out of the
fury of the gale, Bhe could bear his ques
tion, "Did you get it all, Sam?"
"Net yet," she answered. Oh, hew she
longed for a deep contralto! "Hoiscenv
imr. ile wilt oe Here in a moment.' '.
"I am se sorry te have been a trouble
te you," he began again, vaguely.
"Yeu are no trouble te me. I'm glad
I was where I happened te see you and
could help.
He speke no mero for a minute. She
steed gazing nt all that was visible of the
pale face below the darkened eyes, lit
was se clear cut, be refined ajjjtftyf
and the lips under the 8.wccplj0''el
mustache, though set and ci.-vveaSeuW
wcre delicate and pink. He turned his
head eagerly towards the parade; but
Sam was still far away. The musie had
scattered and was leading him a lively
dance.
"Isn't my servant coming?" he asked,
constrainedly. "I fear I'm'keeping you.
Please de net wait. He will find me here.
Yeu were going sempwhere." --i
"Ne unless it was here." She waV-,
trembling new. "Please be patient, Mrv
Hayne. Sam may be a minute, or tVe
yet, nnd here you are out of the wind."
Again she looked in his face. He was
listening eagerly te her words, as though
striving te "place" her voice. Could she
be mistaken? Was he, tee, net trembling?
Beyend all doubt his lips were quivering
new.
"May I net knew who it is that led me
here?" he asked, gently.
She hesitated, hardly knowing hew te
tell him.
"Try and guess," she laughed, nerv
ously. "But you couldn't. Youdeuot
knew my name. It is my geed fortune,
Mr. Hayne. Yeu you saved my kitten;
I your cap." '
There was no mistaking his start. Be
yond doubt he had winced as though
stung, nnd was new striving te grope his
way te the railing. She divined lus pur pur pur
eoeo in nn instant, and her slender hand
was laid pleadingly yet firmly en histarm.
"Mr. Hayne. don't go. Don't think of
going. Stay here until Sam comes. He's
coming new," she faltered.
''Is this Capt. Rayner's house?-' he
asked, hearso and low.
"Ne matter whose it isl I welcome
you here. Yeu shall net go," she cried
impulsively, and both little hands were
tugging at his arm. He had feuud the
railing, and was pulling himself toward
the gate, but her words, her clinging
hands, were tee persuasive. .
"I cannot realize this," he said. "I
de net understand"
"De net try te understand it, Mr.
Hayne. If I am only a girl, I have a
right te think for myself. My father
was a seldfer I am Nellie Travers and
if he were allve I knew well he would
have had me de just what I have done
this night. New won't you stay?"
And light was beaming in through his
darkened eyes nnd gladdening hU soul
with a rapture he had' net known for
years. One instanthe seized and clasped
her hand. "May Ged bless you!" was
all he whispered, but se softly that even
she did net hear him. He bowed low
ever tlie slender white hand nnd stayed.
Cenl inurtl next Saturday
rinei for a New Executive Marulen.
Mrs. Harrison has prepared a design
for a new executive mansion in the shape
of additions te the present structure.
She desires te inaugurate a movement
which will relieve her successors from
the inconveniences which bIie has en
countered in trying te make the presi-
Eaten
tti3&
MI1S. HARRISON'S fLAN.
dent's family comfortable. She has had
several conferences vith senators and
representatives regarding the inadequate
accommodations of the cxecutive man
sion for thu dual purjieses of offices and
residence, and has received assurance of
co-operation in her plans. The theory
of Mrs. Harrison's design is the preserva
tion of the original building intact, the
addition ou thu east and west respective
ly of counterparts of the original struct
ure in general architectural style, their
connection w ith the main edifice by a
colonnade range. nnd the extension en
the Beuth of a wide conservatory or win
ter garden, with a central rotunda or
palm house, the entire series of struct
ures forming the four bides of an inner
Kirk. Te carry out Mrs. Harrison's
ideas will cost 4700.000.
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