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tffiE LAHCASTEK DAILY INTELLIGENCE!, SATURDAY, MAKCH 29. 1890.
KS.I,
.r
pit' ,! ' ' ''
i .1 '.MgTK
? Iraki
By Capt Charles King, U. S. A.
Auther of "Dcsraveh Rakch," "Tiik Ceumcel's
DMJanTKH," "Marien's Faith," Etc.
Copyright, by J. D. Llpplncett Company, Philadelphia, end
published by pccUl arrangement with Uicm.)
CHAPTER
Jfirfir Clancy struggling n the grasp of
tue or three soldiers.
ft wfld -niw trntinvfltlf? L'nAWII flllWIirdl-
out eri vvarrcner ny lueuutnun wu
following morning that Mr. Hayne liad
returned te duty nnd was ene of the first
officers te nppcar at the matinee. Onca
mero tlie colonel had risen from 1)1
chair, taken hini by the hand nnd wel
comed liiui. Tliis time he expressed the
hope that nothing would new occur te
prevent their seeing him dally.
"Won't you ceme into the club room?"
asked Capt. Gregg, afterwards. "We
will be pleased te have you."
"Excuse me, captain, I shall be en
gaged all morning," answered Mr.
IJayne, and walked en down the row.
Nearly all the officers wera strolling
away in groups of three or four, Hayne
ntbw1 nnet Itinm nil Uftllt nntflr futl.
XI.
s, dierly step and almost nggrcssive man
Eft, twr. Tinil tvna nnnn far nliead. Ml bv him-
j&4 self. Finding It an unprofitable sub-
g jeet, there had been liltle talk between
W. the two recitnents as te what Mr.
Hayne's status should be en hia reap
pearance. Evcryledy heard that he had
s somewhat rudely spurned the advances
of Ress and his companions. Indeed,
Ress had told llie story with strong col
oring te mero than half the denizens of
officers' row.
Evidently he desired no further friend
ship or intercourse w ith his brother blue
etrarw. and enlv a few of the cavalry
BS-ti Afllnnfa Mi.t1 1,1a c.tnti ntt nnfln IT..
a? "r."'.,". .. ',",:7.7 ."".. :..
iiiayuu ucugiiuuiij ; nu wiw wuu it-uu
jUbut in general talk he was net entertain
ling. "Altogether tee Fcpulchral or at i
Bj: least funereal," explained thecavalry. i
lie never laughs, ami rarciy sinties,
? and he's us glum as a Quaker niectiiig,"
Ifp was another complaint. Se n social sue
&cesswaB hardly te be predicted for Mr.
IgHayne.
PsT While he could net be invited where
gi just a few infantry peeple were the ether
K guests, from a big general gathering or
mfperty he, of course, could net be emit-
1 4 tea j but there lie would li.ie liiscav
&alrv and medical friends te talk te. and
k then there was Mai. Waldren. It was a
pj grievous pity that there should be such
O, VUU1UU I. LKJ IIL'JJICIJ. J13 11IU ICUIIUIIIUI
mh: mlmftinf lintl t'ltd Tlnxnn lilmcrtir una
wse rrj ." "r . - --,"- ----
'$S tue mam eubtncie 10 ins resioraiieu te
KiJ. OTi.t.t.n.il.il f. Inml.litn Kn limn t lm
l.'y ICJjIlllUHDI Al ,llluaiMJ'. 1W ...Mi. .. .l.
S PiQues uimseii en me iicnei mai no is
about te de a irtueus and praisewerthy
act will be apt te persevere w hen the
object of his bcnavolcnce treats him
-with cold contempt. If Mr. llayne saw
tit te rcpudlate the civilities a few offi
cers essayed te extend te him, no ethers
would subject themselves te similar re
buffs; and if he could stand the status
aue, whv. the reciment could; and
that, said the Hitlers, was the end of the
matter.
But it was net the end, by a geed deal.
Seme few of the ladies of the infantry,
actuated by Mrs. Ray ncr'8 elicinent ex--positieuof
thocasej-had aligned them--selves
en horeideaB against the pest com
mander, and by their general conduct
sought te convey te the colonel and te
the ladles wiie were present at thefliut
dinner given Mr. llajne thorough ilib-ip-preval
of their course. This put the
ij, cavalry people en their mettle nnd led te
s;. n.. ..! i ..
K. a uivisien in me garrison; aim an jtiuj.
wuiuruu wu3, in jiiitt. jutiicra ujv,
equally culjiable w ith the colonel, it se
resulted thattwoerthreo infantry house
hold., together with seme unmarried
subalterns, were arraj ed socially against
their own battalion commander as well as
against the grand panjandrum at pest
headquarters. If it had net been for the
determined attitude of Mr, Ha no him
self, the garrison might bpeedily have
been resehed into two parties llayne
and anti-IIayne sympathizers; but the
whole bearing of that young ui.ui wns
fiercely repellent of sy nip ithy; he w euld
have none of it. "Hayne's Kiitien,"
said Maj. Waldren, "is practically this;
beholds that no man who has Ixune him
self as he has during the-e llve years
denied himself ever) thing that he might
make upeterycent tint was lest, though
he was in nowise icspeiihible for the lea
could by nny possibility hae been
guilty of the charges en w hich he was
tried. Frem this he will net abate one
jet or tittle; nnd he icfuses new tore
store te his friendship the men who re
pudiated him in his y ears of trouble, ex
cept en their profession of faith in his
entire innocence."
New, this was something thecaalrf
could net de without semu impeachment
of the evidence w hich was heaped up
against the peer fellow at the tiuie of the
trialf and it wns something the infantry
wewid net de, because thereby they
wewd virtually pronounce one, at least,
of weir own officers te hau repeatedly
andFpersistently gu en false testimony.
the case et wulureu mm the cavalry,
?r however, it was possible for llayne te
' return their calls of courtesy, lecause
they, having never "bent him te Ceven-
fa try," received him precisely us they
'' would recclve any ether officer. With
the Killers it was different. Ilawng
once "cut" him ns though by unanimous
accord, and ha ing taught the young of
ficers joining year trier y ear te regard
him as a criminal, they could Ijo restored
te Mr. Hayne's friendship, as has been
said before, only "en confession of error."
If
Buxton and two or three of his stamp-
W
called or left their cai us en Mr. llayne
yr
liecause their colonel had se done; but
fl
precUely as theceremeuy w as performed,
. just se was it returned.
Vj i
Ituxten was ml wan wrath eier what
be termed Hay ne's conceited and super
cilious maimer when leturning his cull:
"I called upon him like a gentleman, by
thunder, just te let him understand I
wanted te help him out of the mire, and
told him if there was anything I could de
for him that a gentleman could de, net te
katltate ..about letting me knew; and
t.
Id
i
Mb came te, my house today,
)M 0te't FatrtwUa !-
talted te me aiieut tne I'levnn siege, nnd
wanted te discuss Oourke nnd the Hal Hal Hal
knnsorsemo ether feel thing: what in
thunder have I te de with campaigns In
Turkey? nnd I thought he meant these
nigger soldiers the British have In India
Ooerkhas, I knew new and I did tell
him it wad nn nwful blunder, that only a
Russian would make, te take these Sepey
fellow s and put 'cm Inte a winter cam
paign. Of ceurse I hadn't been booking
up the subject, nnd he had, nnd sprung
it en me; and then, by gad, na he was go
ing, he said he had book mid limps he
would lend me, nnd if there um any
thing he could de for me that a gentleman
could de, net te hesitate nlxut asking.
Damn his impudence!"
l'oer Buxtetil One of his Idiosyncrasies
was te talk wisely te thn juniors en the
subject of European camp ilgns mid te
criticise the inevcn of generals whose
very names nnd centuries were entang
ling snares. His own subalterns were,
unfortunately for him, nt the heuse when
If ay no called, and when he, eh was his
went, began te expound en current mili
tary topics. "A little learning" even he
had net, and the dangcieun thing that
that would have been wan supplanted by
something quite as bad, if net woise. lie
was trapicd and thrown by the quiet
mannered infantry sub.ilUru, nnd It was
all Messrs. Freeman and Reyco could de
te restrain llicii impulse te rush after
Hayne and cmbrare him. Buxton was
cordially detested by his "biibi," and
well knew they would tell the filmy of
his defeat, he Iio made n v irtue of neces
sity and cauie out w ith his own version.
TiieirH was far inen. ludicrous, and,
whlle it inaile Mr. llayne funieiw, lie
gained another enemy. The tli could
net fall te notion hew coon nfter that all
social recognition ceased letwccii their
bulky captain and the pale, slender sub
altern; and Mrs. lliixten and Mrs. Ray
ner became suddenly infatuated with
each ether, w bile their lords were seldom
seen except together.
All this time, hevcer, Miss Travers
was making friends throughout the gar
rison. Ne ene ever presumed te discuss
the llayne affair In her presence, beeause
of her relationship te the Rayners, nnd
yet Mm. Wnldien had told leviralpco leviralpce leviralpco
ple hew delightfully she and Mr. JIayiic
had siciit nn afternoon tegelTier. Did
net Mis. Rayner declare that Mrs. Wnl Wnl
dren was n woman who told every
thing she knew, or words te that effect?
It is safe te say that the garrison wxs
greatly intercbtul in the story, Hew
Ktrnnze it was that he should have had n
tete-a tele with the'sislui of Ids bitterest
fee! When did they meet? Had they
met since? Would they meet ngain? All
these were questions eagerly discussed,
y et nev er asked of the parties thcmsel ves,
Mr. Ilnynu'it reputation for Biiubbing
peeple htaiiding him in excellent stead,
and Miss Trm era' quiet dignity and re re
serve of manner befng tee much for
these who would hani given a geed deal
te gain her confidence. Hut there was
Mrs. Rayner.
She, nt least, w ith nil her high nnd
mighty ways, was no unappieachablu
ci'.iture when it catiin te finding out
wlinl she thought of ether peeple's con
din l. B.t half n deen, at le.ist, had
mere or less confidentially asked if hhe
kiiuw of Mr. Hayne nnd Miss Travers'
meeting. Indeed she did; and shu had
given Nellle her opinion of her conduct
very decidedly. It was Capt. Rayner
himself w he interpetrd, shen.iiil, and for
bade hei iipbialdlug Nellie any further.
Nellie lxing either in an adjoining room
or up in her own en seveial occasions
when tliese quel ics weie (impounded te
her sister, it gees without saying that
that estimable woman, after the manner
of her sex, had elevated her teicu in re
sponding, se that theiu was no possibil
ity of the wicked girl's failing te get the
full benefit of tliti scourging she de
served. Rayner had indeed positively
feibiddeu her further lebul.ing Nellie;
but the man does net live who can pro pre
vent ene woman's punishing another se
long ns bin) can get within earshot, and
MiusTrav us was piyiug dearly for her
independence.
It cannot Ui estimated just hew great
a disappointment her -il te the faul
tier was prev ing te that young lady, sim
ply because she kept her own counsel.
There vv ere w omen in thogairiseii who
longed te take her te their hearts and
homes, bhe wu.s se fresh and puru and
sweet and w inning, they said; but hew
could they when hcmmler would iccog icceg iccog
uize them only by the coldest Kssllie
nod? Nellie was net happy, that was
cei tain, though bhe. undo no complaint,
and though the young officers who were
daily her devotees declaied she was
blight and attractive us she could he.
There w ere still frequent dances and lur-
ties in t be gairisen; but Match was neatly
lent, anil the weather had U'cnsovile
and blustering that they could net meve
beyond the limits of the pest. April
might bring n cbauge for the better in
the weather, but Miss Travers wondered
hew it could better her position.
It is haul for n weunii of spirit te be
materially dependent en any one, and
Miss Ti avers was virtually dependent en
tier bi ether-iii-law. The little share of
her father's haul savings was spent en
her education. Once free from school,
she was bound te nnethcr apprenticeship,
and sister Kate, though indulgent, fend
and proud, lest no opertunlty of telling
her hew much she owed te Capt. Ray
ner. It get te be n fearful w eight befere
the first summer was well ever. It was
the main secret of her ncceptance of Mr.
Van Antwerp. And new, until bhe
would consent te inine the day that
bheuld bind her for life te him, bhe had
no home hut such us Kate Rayner could
offer hei; nnd Kate was bitteily offended
at hei, 'lhere was just one (.bunce te
end it new mid forever, and teielleve her
bister mid the captain of the burden of,
her suppeit. Could she make up her
mind te de it? Aud Mr. Van Antwerp
offeed the opportunity.
Be far from breaking with her, as bhe
half expected se far from leliig even
angry aud reproachful en receiving the
letter bhe had written telling him nil
about her meetings with Mr. llayne he
hid written again uud ng'dii, reproach
ing himself for his doubts and fears,
begging her forgiveness for having writ
ten und telegraphed te Kate, humbling
himself befere iter in the most abject
way, and imploring her te recensidei her
diteiminatien uud te let him write te
Capt. and Mrs Ray ner te return te their
eastern home at once, that the marriage
might take place forthwith und he could
bear her aw ay te Europe in May, Letter
after letter came, eager, impleilng, full
of tendercst love and devotion, full of
the saddest apprehension, never ro re ro
preichlng, never doubting, never com
manding or restraining. Theuian had
found the w ay te touch a woman of her
gMsreua nature: he bad laft all te bar;
no was at ner mercy, nnd she knew well
that he laved her fervently and that
te leso her would well nigh break bis
heart Could she say the word and be
free? Surely, ns this man's wife there
would be no serfdom; and, yet, could she
wed n man for whom she felt no spark
et lever
They went down te the creek ene flne
morning early in April. There had been
a sudden thaw of the snows up the
gorges of the Reckies, and the stream
bad overleaped its banks, spread evei
the low lands and flooded seme bread
depressions in the prairie. Then, capri
cieus as a woman's moods, the wind!
wmsiicu nreuim irem me norm ene
night and bound the lakelets in a bend
of ice. The skating was gorgeous, and
all the pretty ankles en the pest were re
joicing in thb opportunity befere the set
ting of another sun. Coming homeward
nt luncheon time Mrs. Rayner, Mrs. Bux
ton, Miss Travers and one or two ethers,
escorted by n squad of bachelors, strolled
somewhat slowly along Prairie avenue
towards the gate. It se happened that
the married ladies were foremost in the
little parly, when who should meet
them but Mr. Hayne, coming from the
cast gale! Mrs. Rayner and Mrs. Bux
ton, though passing him almost elbow te
elbow, looked straight ahead or other ether
w ise avoided his eye. He raised bis for
age cap in general acknowledgment of
the presence of ladies with the officers,
but glanced coldly from ene te the ether
until his blue eyes lighted en Miss Trav
ers. Ne woman In that group could fail te
nete the leap of sunsliine nnd gladness
te his face, the instant Hush that rese te
his check. Miss Travers herself saw it
quickly, as did the maiden walking just
Itehiiid her, nnd her heart bounded at
the sight. Bhe bowed as their eyes met,
spoke his name in low tene, nnd streve
te hide her face from Mr. lllake, who
turned ceiuph tely around and stble n
sudden glance nt her. She could no
mere ncceunt for than uhe could control
It, but her face was burning. Mrs. Ray
ner, tee, looked around and stared at
her, but this she met firmly, her dark
eyes never quailing before the angry
glare in her sister's, lllake was begin
ning te like Hayne and te dislike Mrs.
Ray ner, nnd he always did llke mischief.
" Yeu ew e me a grudge, Miss Travers,
if you did but knew it," he said, se that
all could hear.
"Yeu, Mr. Ulakel Hew can that Iks
possible."
"I spoiled n berenade for you n few
nights age. I was officer of the day,
nuil caught sight et a man gazing up ut
your window after midnight. I felt
sure he w as going te sing; se, like a
geed fellow, I ran ever te play an ac
companiment, and then would you be
lieve it? he wouldn't slug, after nil."
Slie was white new. Her eyes wete
gniug almost imploringly nt him.
Something warned him te held his
IK'aee, nnd he broke off short.
"Who was it? Oh, de tell us, Mr.
Ulakel" were the exclamations, Mrs.
Rayner being most impctueiis,iu herdo herde
mands. Again lllake caught the appeal
ill Miss Travers' eyes.
"That's w hat 1 wjant te knew," he re
sponded, mendaciously. "When I woke
up next morning, the whole thing was a
dieaiii, and I couldn't fix the fellow at
all."
There wns n chorus of disappointment
ami indignation. The idea of spoiling
such n gem of a sensation! Rut lllake
took It all complacently until he get
home. Then it lcgan te worry him,
Wus it possible that she knew he was
there?
That night there was n distuihaiicc in
the gau Isen. dust after 10 o'clock, and
whlle the wiiti ies were calling off the
hemr, n woman's shrieks and cries were
heard ever behind the quarters of Com Cem
pmy II nnd clene te the cottage occupied
by Lieut. Hay no. The officers of the
gu,u d inu te the spot with beveial men,
mid found l'rivate Clancy struggling
mid ku earing in the giasp of two or
three beldieis, while Mrs. Cliucy was
impleilng them net te let him go be
was wild lll.e again; it was drink; he had
the hoirers, and was h-itiu' her while
bhe was tryin'teget him home. And
Clancy's npearaiice lieirc out her words.
Hu was wild ami drunken, but he hwoie
he meant no harm; he stiugghd haul
for fieedem; he vowed he only wanted
te see the lieutenant nt his quartern; and
Mr, Hiiyiiu, lamp in hand, hud ceme
upon the scene and wns btilving te quiet
the woman, who only bcic.imed uud pro
tested the louder. At his quiet eidct
the soldiers released Clancy, and the
man stixid pitlent and subordinate.
"Did you want te bee me, Clancyf
asked Mr. Hayne.
"Askln' yer pardon hir, I did," began
the man, unsteadily, and evidently strug
gling with the fume's of tholiqiierhchad
been diluklng; but liefore he could speak
again, Mrs. Clancy's shrieks rang out en
the still air:
"Oil, for the loveof (led, hew Id him,
some e' ye'st He'll kill him! He's mad,
1 say ! bliure 'tis 1 that knew him best
Oh, blessed Vargin, bave usl Don't let
him loose, Misther lbsteil" shebcieamed
te the officer of the guard, w he at that
moment appeared en the full inu.
"What's the tieublcV" he asked, breath
lessly. "Clancy seems te have lie-eu thinking,
and wants te talk with me about some
thing, Mi. roster," bald Hayne, quietly.
"He belong te my company, and 1 will
be responsible that he gees home. It is
leally Mis. Clancy that is making all the
trouble."
"Oh, for the levu of Gxl, heai him,
new, whin the man was temin' the hair
e' me this minute! Oh, hew Id him, men!
Slitue 'tis Capt. Riyuei wild niver let
him go." Jk
"What's the nijttcrjf MrsClancy?"
spoke n quick, htern v elee, and Ray ner,
vv ith face white as a bheet, cuddeuly steed
In their midst.
"Oli, Oed lie praised, It's here ye are,
captin! Shuro it's Clancy, bir, dhruuk,
bir, nnd luuuin' leund the garrison, and
balin' ine, bir."
"Take him te the guard house, Mr.
roster," was the stein, budden Older.
"Net n vv erd, Clancy," as the man btiove
te speak. "Off with him, and if he
gives you nny trouble, bend for me."
And us the oer fellow was led nvvay,
silence fell iiKit the group. Sirs. Clancy
lieana wail of mingled lellef and mis
ety, which the captain ordered her te
cease nnd go home. Jlore men came
hutryingte the spot, and pre-ently the
efflcei of the day. "It is all right new,"
said Rayner te the litter. "One of my
men Clancy w as out here drunk and
raising u low. 1 have bent htm te the
guard house. Oe back te your quarters,
men, Come, captain, will you walk
ever home with me?''
"Was Mr. Hayne here when the row
eccutied'f" asked the cavalryman, look
ing as though he wanted te hear some
thing from the young officer who steed
a silent w itness.
"I den t knew," replied Uayner. "It
makes no difference, captain. It is net
a case of witne-haes. 1 shan't prefer
charges against the nan. Come!" And
he diew him hastily away.
llayne btoed watching them as they
disapiieared beyond the glimmer of Ids
lamp. Then a band was placed en bis
arm:
"Did you notice Cant. Ravtier's face-
Ids lijw? He w as ashen as death."
"Come in here with me," was there
ply; and, turning, Huyue led the pest
urge i&te the beuse. t
CHAPTER XIL
The Utile forage cap ca raded tctth eour eeur
teems gi ace.
There was an unit ual scene at the
matinee the follewim morning. When
Capt. Ray relieved C t. Gregg as officer
bf the day. und the two were isltlng
the glial (1 Iioiihe uud turning ever pris
oners, they came iihi the last name en
tlie list Clancy and Orcgg turned te
his regimental comrade and wild:
"Ne charges ure preferred against
Clancy, nt least none as j et, Capt. Ray;
but his company commander requests
that he be held here until he can talk
ever his exse w ith the rolencl."
"What's he in for?" demanded Capt.
Ray.
"Oettlng drunk nnd raising a row and
beating Ids wife," answered Oregg,
whereat there wns a titter among the
soldiers.
"I never sthruck a woman in me life,
sir," said peer Clancy.
"Silence, Clancy I" ordered the ser
geant of the guard.
"Ne, I'm blessed If I believe that part
of It, Clancy, drunk or no drunk," said
the new officer of the day. "Take charge
of him for the present, sergeant." And
away they went te the olllce.
Capt. Rayner was in conversation
w ith the commanding officer ns they en
tered, and the colonel was saying:
"It is net the proper way te handle
the case, captain. If he has been guilty
of drunkenness and disorderly conduct
he should be brought te trial at once."
"I admit that, sir; but the case is pe
culiar. It was Sirs. Clancy that made
ull the noise. I feel sure that after he
is perfectly sober I can gire him such a
talking te aa will put a step te this treu
ble."
"Very well, sir. I am w illing te let
company commanders experiment nt
least ence or tw ice en their thcei les, no
you can try the scheme; but we of the
th have had seme years of experience
with the Clancy s, nnd were net a little
amused when they turned up again In
'our midst ns accredited members of y our
company."
"Then, as I understand you, colonel,
Clancy is net te 1k In ought te trial for
this nffair," suddenly speke the pest sur
geon. Every liedy looked up in surpiise.
"Pills" was the last man, eidinarily, te
take a hand in the "shop talk" at the
morning meetings.
"Ne, doctor. His captain thinks it un
necessary te prefer charges."
"Se de I, sir; and, ns I saw the man
both befere nnd after his confinement
last night, I de net think it was necessary
te cenfine him."
"The officer of the dav says there was
gieat diseidcr," said the colonel, in sur
prise. "Ay, sir, se there was; and the thing
reminds me of the sterie'S they used te
tell en the New Yiirk police. It looked
te me as though all the low was laised
by Sirs. Clancy, as Capt. Rayner says;
but the man was m rested. That being
the case I would ask the captain for
what specific effense he erdeied Clancy
te the guard house."
IJav ner again vv aa pale us death. He
gUicd nt tlie doctor in umazetind in
credulity, while alt the officers noted his
agitation nnd werehileut in surprise It
was the colonel that came te the icscue.
"Capt. Rayner had abundant reason,
doctor. It was after taps, though only
just after, and, whether causing the
trouble or net, the man is the responsible
party, net the woman. The captain w as
right in causing his arrest."
Rayner looked up gratefully.
"I submit te your decision, sir," said
the surgeon, "and I npolegizo for any
thing 1 may have asked that was lieyend
my prev ince. New I wish te ask a ques
tion for my ew n guidance."
"Ge en, doctor."
"In case an enlisted man of this com
mand deslre te see an officer of his com cem com
paneor any ether officer, for that mat
teris it a violation of any military
regulation for him te go te his quarters
for that purpose?"
Again was Rayner fearfully white and
nged looking. His lips moved as though
lie would interrupt; but disciplino-pre-v
ailed.
"Ne, doctor, and jet we have certain
customs of scrvice te prevent the men
going nt all manner of hours and en friv
olous errands. A beldier asks his first ser
geant's permission first, nnd if elenied by
him, and he have what he considers geed
reason, he can report the whele case."
"Uut Biippose n man is net en com
pany duty, must he hunt up his first ser
geant and nsk permission te go mid see
bome officer with whom he has busi
ness?" "Well, hardly, In that case."
"That's all, sir." And the doctor sub
sided. Among all the officers, ns the meeting
adjourned, the question was, "Wli-H de
you suppose 'Pills' was driving at?"
There were two or llirce who k;cw.
Capt. Rayner went first te his quarters,
where he had n few moments' hurried
consultation with his wife; then they
left the heuse together; he te have n
low toned nnd ery stern talk te rather
than with the nbailied Clancy, who lis
tened, cap in hand aud with hanging
head; she te visit the sick child of Sirs.
Flanlgan, of Company K, w hee quar
ters adjoined these te w hich the Clancy a
had leceutly Ksjii assigned. When that
Hibernian culprit returned te his reef
tree, released from durnuce vile, he was
surprised te receive a kindly and sym
pathetic welcome from his captain's wife,
who with her own baud had mixed him
seme comforting drink aud was plan
ning with Mrs, Clancy for their greater
comfeit. "If Clancy will only premise
te quit entirely!" interjected the partner
of his joys and sorrows.
letter that day, w hen the doctor had
n little talk with Clancy, the ex-dragoon
declared he w as going te reform for ull
he was worth. He was only a distiesste
every body when he drank.
"AH right, Clancy. And when you
are perfectly yourself, you ean ceme
and bee Lieut. Hay lie us seen us you like,"
"Loet'naut Hay no is it, sir? Shuro I'd
be beggin' his pardon for the vexation I
gave him last night."
"But you have something you wanted
te speak vv ith him about. Yeu said se
last night, Clancy," said the doctor, look
ing him squarely in the eye.
"Shuro I was dhrunk, sir. I didn't
mane it," he answered; but he bhrank
and cowered.
TUa Ooetor ttUMd aad W t him. x
"If It'n only when he'rfiliurik that con
science pricks him Jind the truth will
out, then we must have him drunk
cgnlit," queth thb unprincipled practi
tioner. That same afternoon Sliss Travers
found that u headache was the result of
confinement te an atmosphere somewhat
heavily charged with electricity. Mrs.
Ray ner Feemed te bristle every time she
approached her sister. Possibly it was
the heart, mero than the head, that
sched, but in either case she needed re
lief from the exposed position she had
Decupled ever aince Kate's return from
the Clancys') n the morning. Bhe bad
been tee long under fire, and was wearied.
Even the cheeiy visits of the garrison
gallants had proved of little avail, for
Sirs. Rayner was in very ill temper, and
made snappish remarks te thorn which
two of them resented and speedily took
themselves off. Later Miss Travers went
te her room and wrote n letter, nnd then
the sunset gun shook the window, and
twilight settled down upon the still
frown earth. She bithcd her heated
forehead and Hushed checks, threw a
warm cloak ever her shoulders, and
came slew ly dew n the stairs. Sirs. Ray
ner met her at the parlor deer.
"Kate, I am going for a w alk and shall
step und see Mra. Waldren."
"Quite an unnecessiry plece of infl
ation. I saw him as well as you. He
bus just gene there-."
Sliss Tr.ivers ihishcd het with indigna
tion. "IJiavu seen no one; nnd if you mean
that Sir. Hayne has gene te Maj. Wal Wal
dren's, I shall net."
"Ne; I'd meet htm en the walk; it
would only ben trillumore public."
"Yeu h iv u no light te accuse me of
the faintest eHctalien of meeting him
any w hei e. I repeat, I hid net thought
of such u thing,"
"Yeu might just as well deit. Yeu
cannot nial.e your antngeiiism te my
husband much mere ieluted than you
h ive already. And as for meeting Sir.
Hay ne, the only advice I presume te give
new is that for you i own sal.e you keep
your hlushiH under better control than
you did the list time you met that I
knew of." Aud, with this triumphant
Insult ns a pirting shot, Sirs. Rayner
wheeled and marched off through the
parlor.
What was a gill tode? Nellie Travers
was net tt the cry Ing kind, nnd was do de
niid a vast amount of comfort in conse
quence. She steed a few moments quiv
ering under the lash of injustice and in
sult te w hich she had lieen subjected.
She longed for a breath of pure fresh
air; but there would be no enjoyment
even in that new. She needed sympathy
and help If ever a girl did, but where
wns she te find it? The women who
most attracted her and who would have
waimly welcomed her at any time the
women whom she would eagerly have
gene te hi her trouble were practically
denied te her. Sirs. lUyner in her quar
rel had declared war against thocaval thecaval
ry, and Sirs. Statinaul and Sirs. Riy.whe
had shown a lisKsitien te welcome
Nellie warmly, were no longer callers at
the house'. Sirs. Waldieu, who was
kind and metheily te the girl and loved
te have her w ith her, was se embarrassed
by SIis. Ikiy ner's determined snubs that
bhe baldly knew hew te treat the mat
ter. She would no longer visit Sirs.
Rayner informally, ns had been her cus
tom, et she wanted the gill te tome te
her.
If she went, Sliss Travers well knew
that en her letum te the heuse she
would be received by a volley of sar
casms about her proference for tlie
society of peeple who were the avowed
enemies of her lienrftictets. If she re
mained in the house, it was te becomein
person the target for her sister's uude
mtv ed sneers and censure. The situa
tion was becoming simply unbearable.
Tw ice she began uud twice bhe tore te
fragments the letter for which Sir. Van
Antwerp was daily imploring, mid this
evening she ence moie turned nnd
slowly bought her loom, threw off her
w raps, and took up her vv riting desk. It
was net yet dark. There wns still light
enough for her purpose, if bhe went
close te the window. Eveiy nerve was
tingling with the beuse of wrong nnd
ignominy; every throb of her heart but
intensified the longing for relief from
the thralldom of her jiositien. She saw
only one path te lead her from such
crushing dependence. There was his
last letter, received only that day, urg
ing, imploring her te leave Warrener
fertl i w ith. Sli s. Ilayncr had declared te
him her readiness te bring her east pro
vided she would fix an early date fertha
wedding. Was it netn future many a
girl might envy Was he net tender,
faithful, patient.doveted as man could be?
Had be net social position and compe
tence? Was he net high bred, courteous,
refined, a gentleman in nil his acts and
w erds? Why could she net love him and
Iw content?
There en the desk lay n little scrap of
nete papci; theie lay her pen; n dozen
words only were necessaiy. One mo
ment she gazed longingly, vv istfully, nt
the far away, datkeniiig heights of the
Reckies, watching the last roje tinted
fleams en the biievvy peaks; then w ith
sudden iiiipuKe bhe seized her pen and
dtew the portfolio te the window seat.
As bhe did se, a soldierly figuiocame
briskly down the walk; a pile, clear cut
face glanced up lit her casement; a
quick light of recognition and pleasure
llxshed in his eyes; the little ferage cap
was laised with courteous grace, though
the step never blaekeiuil, and SIis.s Trav
ers felt that her cheek, tee, was Hushing
again, as Mr. Hayne btrode rapidly by.
She steed there another moment, and
then It bad giewn tee daik te write.
When Sirs. Rayner, after calling twice
from the bottom of the stairs, finally
went up into her loom nnd impatiently
pushed open the deer, all was daikness
except the glimmer from the health:
"Ne-llie, where are you?"
"Here," nnsupic'd Slisa Tiavers, start
ing up fieui the bjfa. "I think I must
have 1ksh asleep."
"Your head is het as fire," bald her
sister, laying her firm white hand upon
the burning fetebead. "I suppese you
nre going te lw dew might ill, by way of
diversion. Just understand ene thing,
INelli, th it tlociei does net ceme into
my house."
"Whitdoctei? net tint I want one,"
asked SI isa Tiavers, we.uily.
"Dr. lV.iM, the pest surgeon, I mean.
Of ceuim! you have heard hew heis mix
ing himself in my busbiiid's affairs and
making trouble with various people."
"I have beard nothing, Kate."
"I don't wonder your ft lends are
ash inied te tell y ou. Things hive ceme
te a pretty pvs, w hen officers ure going
mound holding private meetings with
enlisted men!"
"I hardly knew the doctor ntall, Kate,
uud can't Imagiue wlnt affairs of your
Jiusband's he can interfere with."
"It was he that put up Clancy te mak
ing the disturbance at Ha no's, last night
and getting into the guard house, and
tried te piove that he hid a right te go
theieaud that the captain had no right
te arrest him."
"Was Clancy try ing te see Sir. Hayne?"
asked Sliss Travers, quickly.
"Hew should I knew?" said her sis
ter, pettishly, "He was drunk, and prob
ably didn't knew what he was doing." I
"And Capt, Rayner nrrested him for
for trying te see Mr. Hayne?"
"Capt. Raytw arretted Ua ler teiac
was ins uuty te arrest any soldier under
such circumstances' replied her sister,
with luajestie wrath, "and I will net tol
erate it that you should critlcise bis con
duct." "I have rnade no criticism, Kale. I
have simply tnade inquiry; but I bave
learned what no ene else could have
made me believe."
"Nellie Travers, be careful what you
say, or what you Insinuate What de
you mean?"
"I mean, Kate, that it is my belief that
there is something at the bottom of these
stories of Clancy's strange talk when in
the hospital. I believe he thinks be
knows something which would turn all
suspicion from Mr. Hayne te a totally
different man. I believe that, for reasons
which I cannot fathom, you are deter
mined Mr. Hayne shall net see him or
hear of it It was you that sent Capt
Rayner ever there last night, airs.
Clancy came bere at tattoo, and, from the
time she left, you were at the front deer
or window, Yeu were the first te hear
her erics and came running in te tell the
captain te go at once. Kate, why did you
stand there listening from the time she
left the kitchen unless you expected te
hear just what happened ever there be
hind the company barracks?"
Mrs. Rayner would give no nnswer.
Anger, rage, retaliation, all in turn were
pictured en her furious face, but died
away befere the calm and unconquera
ble gaze in her sister's syes. Fer the
first time in her Ufa Kate Rayner real
ized that her "baby Nell" had the
stronger will of the two. Fer ene in
stant she contemplated vengeance. A
torrent of invoctive leaped readily te
her lips. "Outrage," "ingrate," "Insult,"
were the first three distinguishable epi
thets applied te her sister or her sister's
words; then, "See if Sir. Van Antwerp
will tolerate such conduct. I'll wrlte
tliis very day," was the impotent threat
that followed; and finally, utterly de
feated, thoroughly convinced that she
wus powerless against her sister's reck
less leve of "fair pkiy at any price," she
felt that her wrath was giving way te
dismay, and turned and fled, lest Nellie
should see the flag of surrender en her
paling chicks.
CHAPTER XIII.
' in
"Well, sir, J should saji it uas a young
ueman."
Twe nights after this, as Capt. Buxton
was sulkily going the rounds of the sen
tries, he made a discovery w hich greatly
enlivened an othcrvvise uneventful tour
as officer of the day. It had been his
general custom en such occasions te take
the shortest way across the parade te the
guard house, make brief and perfunctory
inspection there, then go en down the
hill te the crock valley und successively
visit the bcntrlcs around the stables. If
the night vv ere wet or cold, he went back
the same way, ignoring the sentries at
the coal and store sheds along Prairie
avenue. This was a blnrply cold night
and very dark, but equally still. It was
between 12 nnd 1 o'clock nearer 1 than
12 as he climbed the hill en his home
ward way, and, instead of taking the
short cut, turned northward and struck
for the gloomy mass of sheds dimly dis dis
eTrnible bome forty yards from the crest.
He had heard ether officers speak of the
."act that Sir. Hayne's lights vv ere burn
ing until long after midnight, and that
dropping in there, they had found him
seated at his desk with a green shade
ever his eyes, studying by the aid of two
student lumps; "boning te boa gcneral,
probably," was the comment of captains
of Buxton's caliber, vv he, having grew n
old in the serv ice and.in their own igno
rance, w ere fiercely intolerant of lieu
tenants who streve te impreve in pro
fessional reading instead of spending
their time making out the company mus
ter rolls and clothing accounts, as they
should de.
Buxton wanted te see for himself what
the night lights meant, aud v. as plunging
heavily nhead threush the darkness,
when suddenly brought te a stand by
the sharp challenge of the sentry at the
coal shed. He whispered the mystic
countersign ever the leveled bayonet of
the infantry man, swearing te himself nt
the regulation which puts an officer in
such u "btand-and-deliver" attitude for
the time being, and then, by way of get
ting, square with the soldier for the
sharply military way in which his duty
ns bcntry had been performed, the cap
tain proceeded te catechise him as te his
orders. Tlie soldier had been well
taught, mid knew nil his "responses" by
rote far better than Buxton, for that
matter, aa the latter was anything but au
exemplar of perfection in tactics or sen
try duty; but this did net prevent Bux
ton's snappishly telling him he was
w reng in several points and contemptu
ously inquiring where he had learned
such trash. The soldier promptly but
respectfully responded that theso were
the exact instructions he had received at
the adjutant's school, mid Buxton knew
from experience that he was getting en
dangerous ground. He would bave stuck
te bis point, however, In default of some
thing else te find fault w ith, but that the
crack of a whip, the crunching of hoofs
and a rattloef wheels out iti the darkness
quickly diverted his attention.
"What's that, sentry?" he sharply In
quired. "A carriage, sir. Leastvv Ue, I think
it must be."
"Why don't you knew, sir? It must
have been en your pest."
"Ne, sir; it was 'way off my pest. It
drove up te Lieut! Hay no's about half an
hour age."
"Where'd it ceme fieui from?" asked
captain, eageily.
"Frem town, bir, I biippose." And,
leaving the sentry te his own retlectieus,
w hich, en the w hole, vv ere net compli
mentary te his biipener officer, Capt.
Buxton strode tapidly through the dark
ness te Lieut. Hayne's quarters. Bi ight
lights vvete still burning within, both en
the ground fleer and in a room above.
The sentries wete just beginning the call
of 1 o'clock when be teached the gate
nnd halted, giuing inquisitively nt tlw
heuse front. Then he tui tied and listened
te the rattloef wheels growing faint in
the distance as the team drove nvvay
towards the prairie tow u. If Hay no had
gene te town at thut hour of the night it
was a most unusuil piecivding. and he
had net the colonel's pumissiun te ab
sent himself from the (tust; of tint the
otnew of the day wus certain, I hen
an fits ngbts burning. e; mm Teblete,
whatever it was, had brought wmnliuilj
out te see him somebody who prtnjewil
te remain several hours; otherwise the
carriage would net bave drives away.
In confirmation of this theory he heard
voices, cheery voices, in laughing talk,
and one of them made htm prick up bis
cars. lie heard the piano crisply trilling
a response te light, skillful fingers. Be
longed for a peep within, and regretted
that he bad dropped Mr. Uayne from the
list of bis acquaintance. lie recegnised
Hayne's sliadew presently thrown by
the lamp upon the curtained window,
and wished that his visitor would come
similarly into view. He heard the clink
of glasses and saw the shadow raise a
wlne glass te the lips, and Sam's Mon
golian shape flitted across the screen,
bearing n tray witli similar suggestive
objects. What meant this unheard of
conviviality en the part of the ascetic,
the hermit, the midnight oil burner, the
scholarly recluse of the garrison? Bux
ton stared witli all his eyes and listened
with all his cars, starting guiltily when
he heard a martial footstep coming
quickly up the path, and faced the in
truder rather unsteadily. It was only
the corporal of the guard, and he glanced
at his superior, brought his fur gauntlet
cd hand in sal u te te the rifle en his shoul
der and passed en.
Tlie hext moment Buxton fairly gasped
with amaze; he stared an instant at the
window as though transfixed, then ran
after the corporal, called te him in low,
stealthy tene te ceme back noiselessly,
drew him by the slceve te the front of
Hayne's quarters, and pointed te the
parlor window. Twe shadows were
there new ene easily recognizable ns
that of the young officer in his snugly
fitting undress uniform, the ether slen
der, graceful, feminine.
"What de you make that ether nhadew
te be, corporal?" he whispered, hoarsely
and hurriedly. "Loek!" And witli that
exclamation a shadowed arm seemed te
encircle the slender form, the inustached
image te bend low and mingle witli the
outlined luxuriance of tress that decked
the ether's head, and then, together, w ith
clasping arms, the shadows moved from
view.
"What was the ether, corporal?" be
lepeated.
"Well, sir, I should say it w as a young
woman."
Buxton could hardly wait until morn
ing te see Ray ner. When he passed the
hitter's quarters half an hour later all
was darkness, though, had he but known
it, Rayner was net asleep. He was at
the house before guard mounting and
had a confidential and evidently exciting
talk with the captain; and when he went,
just as the trumpets were sounding,
these words were heard at the frontdeor:
"She never left until after daylight,
when the same rig dreve her back te
town. There was a stranger with her
then."
That morning both Rayner and Buxton
looked hard at Mr. Hayne when lid came
in te the matinee; hutjui was just as
calm and quiet as '''n 1U IVi'iV' sa
luted the command mcrr te J seat
by Capt. Oregg and was Boen eccumied
in conversation vv ith him. Net a word
was said by the officer of the day aUeut
the mysterious visitor te the garrison the
previous night. With Capt. Rayner,
however, he was again in conversation
much of the day, and te him, net te Ids
successor as officer of Clie day, did ire
communicate all the details of the pro pre
v ieus night's adventure and Ids theories
thereanent.
Late that night, having occasion te
step te his front deer, convinced that he
heard stealthy footsteps en his piazza,
Sir. Hayne could see nobody iu the dark
ness, but found his front gate open. He
walked around his little house, but net
a man was visible. HU heart was full
of a new and strange excitement that
night, and, as befere, he threw en his
overcoat and furs and took a rapid walk
around the garrison, gvzingup into the
starry heavens and drinking in great
draughts of the pure, bracing air. Re
turning, he came' down along the front
of officers' row, and as he appreiched
Raynei's quarters his eyes rested long
ingly upon the window he knew te be
hers new; but all was darkness. ' As he
rapidly uearcd the house, however, he
became nvvare of two bulky figures at
the gate, and, as he walked briskly past,
recognized the overcoats as these of offi
cers. One man was doubtless Rayner,
the ether he could net tell; for both, the
instant they recognized his step, seemed
te avert their heads. Once home again,
he seen sought his room and pillow;
but, long before he could sleep, again
and again a sweet vision seemed te
ceme te him: he could net shut out the
thought of Nellie Travers of hew she
looked and vv hat she said that v ery after
noon. He had geno te call at Sirs. Waldren s
seen after dark. He was ut the piano,
playing for her, when be became con
scious that another lady had entered the
room, and, turning, saw Nellie Travers.
He leso and Unveil te her, extending his
hand as he did se, uud knowing tint his
heart was thumping and his color rising
as he felt the soft, warm touch of her
slender llngeis in his grasp, She, tee,
had flushed any ene could see it, though
the lamps were net turned high, nor was
the firelight strong.
"Sliss Travers has ceme te take tea
very quietly with me, Sir. llayne she is
se seen te return te the east and new
I want you te stay and join us. Ne ene
will be bere but the major; and we will
have n lovely time w ith our music. Yeu
will, won't you?"
"Se seen te return te the east!" Hew
harsh, hew strange and unwelcome the
wordsseundedl Hew they seemed toop teop toep
press him and prevent bis reply! He
steed a moment dazed and v aguely wor
ried; he could net explain it. He looked
from Sirs. Waldren's kind face te the
sweet, flushed, lovely features there se
near him, and something told him that
he could never let them go and find even
hopeor content in lifeagain. Bew, why
had she se strangely ceme into his lonely
life, radiant, beautiful, bewildering as
semcsuddenly bhzingstar in tlie darkest
corner of the heavens? Whence had
ceme this strange power that enthralled
him? He gazed into her sweet face, with
its downcast, troubled eyes, and then, in
bow ildermeut, turned te Sirs. Waldren:
"I I had no idea Sliss Travers was go
ing east again just new. It 6ecms only n
few day s since Bhe came."
"It is ever a month; but nil the same
this is a sudden decision. I knew noth
ing of it until yesterday. Yeu said Mrs.
Rayner was lietter today, Nellie?"
'Yes, n little; but she is far from welL
I think the captain will go, tee, just as
seen as he can arrange for leave of ab ab ab
bonce," was the low toned answer. He
bad released, or rather she had with
drawn, her hand, and he still atoed there,
fascinated. His eyes could net quit their
gaze. She going nwny? She? Oh, it
could net be I What what would life
become without the sight of that radiant
face, that slender, graceful, girlish form?
"Is net this very unexpected?" he
struggled te say. "I thought I heard
you were te spend several months here."
"It was se intended, Sir. Hayne; but
my sister's health requires speedy change.
She has been growing werse ever since
vv e came, and she will net get well here."
"And when de you go?" be asked,
blaukly.
"Just as seen as we can pack: though
wa awy wait fwe or three days fat .
i.j.A . w . . ...
,