10
TfTE SCKANTON TltlBUXES AT CRD AT MORNING. AUGUST 4. 1894.
t UP. v 1 0 H 1 0 9 4. - G Y.VT H
CHAPTER XVin.
Tho ecu is not au honr high, bnt tbo
bivouao at tho springs is far behind.
With advance guard aud flankers well
out, the repiuiout is tramping its way,
full of eagerness and spirit. The mon
can hardly refrain from bursting into
song, but although at "romo stop" tho
faot that Indian scouts havo already
been sighted scurrying from bluff to
bluff is sufficient to warn all hands to
bo silent ud alert. Wilton, with his
oompany, is on tho dangerous flunk and
guards it well. Arniiruge, with Com-
Eany B, covers tho advance, and his
len are strung out in Ion;; skirmish
lino across the trail wherever the ground
Is suflioieiitly open to admit of deploy
ment. Whero it is not, they spring
ahead and explore every point where
Indian way lurk and render ambuscade
of the main column impossible. With
Armitago is McLeod, the cavalry ser
geant who luado the night rido with
the scout who bore the dispatches. The
Bcout has galloped ou toward the railway
with news of the rescue; the sergeant
guides tho infantry re-enforoeuieut.
Observant men have noted that Armi
tago and tho sergeant havo had a vast
deal to say to each other during tho
chill hours of tho early morn. Others
bave noted that at tho first brief halt
the captain rode back, called Colonel
Maynard to one side ami spoko to him
in low tones. The colonel was seen to
Btart with astonishment. Then ho said
a few words to hi3 second in command
and rode forward with Armitago to join
the advance. When tho regiment moved
on again and tho hoad of column hovo
in sight of tho skirmishers, tln-y saw
that tho colonel, Armitago and tho ser
geant of cavalry were riding sido by
tide, and that the officers wcro paying
Armitagc and the sergeant of cavalry
were rldimj sido by aide.
close attention to all the dragoon was
saying. All wero eager to hear tho par
ticulars of the condition of affairs at tho
corral, aud all wero disposed to bo en
vious of the mounted captain who could
rido alongsido tho one participant in tho
rescuing charge and get it all at first
hand. Tho field officers, of course, wero
mounted, but every lino officer marched
afoot with his men, except that threo
horses had been picked up at tho rail
way and impressed by tho quartermaster
in caso of need, aud these were assigned
to tho captains who happened to com
mand tho skirmishers and flankers.
But no man had tho faintest idea
what manner of story that tall sergeant
was tolling. It would have been of in
terest to every soldier in tho command,
but to no oue so much so as to tho two
who were his absorbed listeners. Armi
tago, beforo their early inarch, had
frankly and briefly set before him his
suspicious as to the caso and tho tronblo
in which Miss Renwick was involved.
No time was to be lost. Any moment
might find them plunged in licrco bat
tle, and who could foretell tho results,
who could say what might happen
to prevent this her vindication ever
reaching tho ears of her accusers? Sonio
men wondered why it was that Colonel
Maynard sent his compliments to Cap
tain Chester and bogged that at the next
halt ho would join him. Tho halt did
not come fur a long hour, and when it
did como it was very brief, but Chester
rccoived another message and went for
ward to find his colonel sitting in n lit
tle grovowith tho cavalrymau whilo tho
orderly held their horses a short space
away. Armitago had gone forward to
his advance, and Chester showed no sur
prise at the sight of tho sergeant seated
sido by side with tho colonel and in con
fidential converse with him. There was
a quaint sly twinklo iu Maynard's eyes
as ho grcotod his old friend.
"Chester, " said ho, "I want you to bo
bettor acquainted with my stepson, Mr.
Eeuwick. He has on apology to make to
you."
Tho tall soldier had risen the instant
ho caught sight of tho newcomer, and
even nt tha half playful touo of tho colo
nel would relax in no degroe his soldier
ly Benso of tho proprieties. Ho stood
erect and held his hand at tho salute,
only very slowly lowering it to tako the
one so frankly extended him by tho cap
tain, who, however, was grave and quiet.
"I havo suspected as niuclisinco day
break," ho said, "and no man is glad
der to know it is you than I am. "
"You would have known it before,
sir, had I had the faintest idoa of the
danger in which my foolhardiness had
involved my sister. The colouol has told
you of my story. I havo told him and
Captain Armitago what led to my mad
freak at Sibley, and whilo I havo much
to make amends for I want to apologize
for the blow I gave you that night on
the terrace. I was fair more scared than
you wero, sir."
"I think we can afford to forgive
him, Chestor. He knocked us both
out," said tho colonel.
Chester bowed gravely. "That was
the easiest part of tho affair to forgive, "
he Baid, "and it is hardly for mo, I pre
sume, to be the only ouo to blame tho
sergeant for the trouble that has in
volved us all, especially your household,
colonel."
"It was expensive masquerading, to
t, J . B i I P PIN C 0 TJ
say tho least," replied the colonel, "but
ho never realized tho consequences un
til Armitago told him today. You must
hear his story in brief, Chester, ft is
needful that tbreo or four of us know
it, so that sonio may bo left to set
things fight nt bibley. God grant lis all
safo return!" ho added piously aud
with deep tanotiou. "1 can far bctttr ;
appreciate our homo and happinoss thr.n j
I could a mouth ago. Now, Rouwick, .
tell tho captain what you have told us. " j
And briefly it was told how in his
youthful fury ho had sworn never again
to set foot within tho door of the father
and mother who had so wronged tho
poor girl ho loved with boyish fervor;
how ho called down tho vengeance of
heaven upon them in his frenzy aud
distress; how ho had sworn never again
to set eyes on their faces. "May God
ftriko mo dead if ever I return to this ,
luof until sho is avenged! May ho deal I
with you as you havo dealt with her!"
Was tho curso that flew from his wild
lips, and with that he left them, stun
ned. Ho went west, was soon penuiloss,
and caring not what ho did, seeking
change, adventure, anything to tako
him out of his past, ho enlisted in tho
cavalry aud was speedily drafted to tho
th, which was just starting forth
on a stirring summer campaign. Ho
was a fiiio horseman, a fmo shot, a man
who instantly attracted tho notico of
his ofiieers. Tho campaign was full of
dauger, adventure, rapid and constant
marching, and beforo ho knew it or
dreamed it possible ho had become deep
ly interested in his new life.
Only iu tho mono! my of a month or
two in garrison that winter did tho
servico seem intolerable. His comrades
were rough in tho main, but thoroughly
good hearted, and ho soon won their es
teem. Tho spring sent them again into
the field, another t tirriug campaign, and
hero ho won his stripes and words of
pr.iiso from tbo lips of a veteran general
oflicer as well as tho promise of futuro
reward, and then tho love of soldierly
deods and tho thirst for soldierly renown
took firm hold in his breast. Ho began
to turn toward tho mother and father
who had been wrapped up in his future,
who loved him so devotedly. IIo was
forgetting his early and passionate lovo,
and tho bitter sorrow of her death was
losing fast its poignant power to steel
him against his kindred. IIo knew they
could not but bo proud of the record he
had niado iu tho ranks of the gallant
th, and then he shrank and shivered
when ho recalled tho dreadful words of
his curso. Ho had niado np his mind to
write, implore pardon for his hideous
and unfilial language and iuvoko their
interest iu his career, when, returning
to Fort Raines for supplies, he picked
np a Now York paper in tho reading
room and read tho announcement of his
father's death, "whose health had been
broken over sinco tho disappearance of
his only son, two years before." Tho
memory of his malediction had indeed
como homo to him, and ho fell stricken
by a sudden and unaccountable blow.
It seemed as though his heart had given
ono wild leap, then stopped forever.
Things did not go so woll aftor this.
Ho brooded over his words and believed
that an avenging God had launched tho
bolt that killed tho father as punish
ment to tho stubborn and recreant son.
Ho then bethought him of his mother,
of pretty Alice, who had loved him so
as a little girl. Ho could not bring him
self to write, but through inquiries ho
learned that tho honso was closed aud
that they had gouo abroad. IIo plodded
on in his duties a trying year; then
oamo moro lively field work and reviv
ing interest. Ho was forgetting entire
ly tho sting of his first great sorrow
and mourning gravely tho gulf ho had
placed 'twixt him and his.
. Ho thought timo and again of his
cruel words, and something began to
whisper to him he must seo that mother
again at once, kiss her hand and im
plore her forgiveness, or she, too, would
bo stricken suddenly. Ho saved up his
money hoping that after tho summer's
riflo work at Sibley ho might get a fur
lough and go east, and tho night ho ar
rived at the fort, tired with his long
railway journey ir.id panting after a
long and difficult climb np hill, his
mother's faco swam suddenly beforo his
eyes, and ho felt himself going down.
When they brought him to, ho heard
that tho ladies wero Mrs. Maynard and
her daughter, Miss Renwick his own
mother, remarried; his own Alico, a
grown young woman. This was indeed
news to put him in a flutter aud spoil
his shooting. IIo realized nt ouco that
tho gulf was wider than ever. How
could ho go to her now, tho wife of a
colonel, and ho an culisted mnu? Like
other soldiers, ho forgot that tho lino of
demarcation was ouo of discipline, not
of sympathy. IIo did not realizo what
uny soldier amoug his officers would
gladly havo told him that ho was most
worthy to reveal himself now, a non
commissioned officer whoso record was
an honor to himself and to his regi
ment, a soldier of whom officers and
comrades aliko wero proud. Ho never
dreamed indeed, how fow there aro
who do that a man of his character,
standing and nbility is honored and re
spected by the very men whom tho cus
toms of tho servico requiro him to speak
with only when spoken to. Ho sup
posed that only as Fred Renwick could
he extend his hand to ono of their num
ber, whereas, it wa3. under his soldier
name he won their trust and admira
tion, and it was as Sergeant McLeod
the 'officers ;of . tho th wero baoking
him for a commission that would make
him what thoy deemed him fit to be
their equal. , .
Unable to penetrate the armor of re
serve and discipline which separates the,
officor from the rank and file, ho novejf
imagined that tho colonel would have
beon the first to welcome him had he
known tho truth. Ho baliovod that (ow
his last chance of Booing his mothoi' was
gone until that coveted commission was
won. Then came another blow The
doctor told him that with hjit heart
trouble he could never pass th physical
examination. Ho could not hopo for
preferment, then, and must see her as
he xs as and see her secretly aud alone.
Tin 11 camo blow after blow. His shoot
ing had failed, so had that of others of
his regiment, and he was orderod to re
turn in charge of tho party early on tho
morrow. The order reached him late in
the evening, and before breakfast time
on tho following day ho was directed to
start with his party for town, thence by
rail to his distant post. That night, In
desperation, he made his plan. Twice
beforo ha had strolled down to tho post,
and with yearning eyes had studied ev
ery feature of the colonel's house. He
darod ask no questions of servants or of
tho men in garrison, but he learned
enough to know which rooms were
theirs, and ho had noted that the win
dows were always open. If he could
only see thoir loved faces, kueel and
kiss his mother's hand, pray God to for
give him, ho could go away believing
that he had undone the spell and re
voked the malediction of his curly
youth. It was hazardous, but worth
tha danger. He could go in peace aud
sin no moro toward mother, at least,
and then if sho mourned and missed
him could he not find it out somo day
and mnko himself known to her after his
discharge? Ho slipped out of camp,
leaving his boots behind and wearing
his light Apache nioocnsins and flannel
shirt and trousuis. Danger to himself
ho had no great fear of. If by any
chance mother or sister should wake, ho
had but to stretoh forth his hand and
say, "It is only I Fred." Danger to
them he never dreamed of.
Strong and athletic, despite his slen
der frame, he easily lifted the ladder
from Jerrold's fenoe, and dodging the
sentry whou ho spied him at the gato
finally took it down back of the colo
nel's and raised it to a rear window. By
tho strangest chance the window was
closed, and ho could not budge it. Then
ho heard tho challenge of a sentry
around on tho oast front and had just
timo to slip down and lower the ladder
when ho heard tho rattle of a sword and
knew it must be the officer of tho day.
There was no time to carry off the lad
der. Ho left it lying whero it wns aud
sprang down tho steps toward tho sta
tion. Soon ho heard No. 6 challengo
and knew tho officer had passed on;
waited sonio time, but nothing oc
cured to indicato that tho ladder was
discovered, and then, plucking up cour
ago and with a mnttered prsyor for
guidance aud protection, he stolo up
hill again, rais-jd the ladder to tho wost
wall, noiselessly ascended, peered in
Alice's window and could seo a faint
night light burning in tho hall beyond,
but that all was darkness there, stole
around on the roof of the piazza to the
hall window, stepped noiselessly upon
tho sill, climbed over the lowered sash
and found himself midway between tho
rooms. He could hear tho colonel's
placid snoring and tho regular breath
ing of tho other sleepers. No timo was
to bo lost. Shading the little night lamp
with one hand, ho entered the open door,
Btolo to the bedside, took ono long look
at his mother's face, knelt, breathed
upon, but barely brushed with his trem
bling lips, the queenly white hand that
lay upon tho coverlet, poured forth oue
brief prayer tw God for protection and
blessing for her and forgiveness for him,
retraced his steps and caught sight of
tho lovely picture of Alice in the direc
toiro costume. Ho longed for it and
could not resist. She had grown so beau
tiful, so exquisite. Ho took it, frame
and all, carried it into her room, slip
ped tho card from its place and hid it
insido tho breast of his shirt, stowed tho
: framo away behind her sofa pillow, then
looked long at tho lovely picture Bhe
herself made, lying thero sleeping sweet
ly aud peacefully amid tho whito drap
ings of her dainty bed. Then 'twas timo
to go. IIo put the lamp back in tho hall,
passed through her room, out at her
window and down tho ladder and had
it well on the way back to tho hooks on
Jerrold's fenco when seized and chal
lenged by tho officer of tho day. Mad
terror possessed him then. Ho struck
blindly, dashed off in panicky flight,
paid no heed to sentrys' cry or whis
tling missile, but tore liko a racer up
the path nud never slackened speed till
Kimnv vn f;iv lmliuirl
Sibley was far behind.
When morning came, the order thai
they should go was temporarily sus
pended. Sonio prisoners were sent to a
neighboring military prison, and ho was
placed iu charge, and ou his return
from this duty learned that the colonel's
family had gone to Sablon. The next
thing thero was some Btraugo talk that
worried him a story that oue of tho
men who had a sweetheart who was sec
ond girl at Mrs. Hoyt's brought out to
camp a btory that thero was an officer
who was too much iu lovo with Alice
to keep away from the house even after
tho colonel so ordered, and that he was
prowling around tho other night, and
the colonel ordered Leary to shoot him
Leary, who was on poet on No. 5.
Ho felt suA) that something was wrong
felt sure that it was duo to his night
visit and his first impulso was to find
his mother and confido tho truth to her.
Ho longed to see her again, nnd if harm
had been done to mako himself known
and explain everything. Having no
duties to detain him, ho got a pass to
visit town and permission to be gouo a
day or more. On Saturday evening ho
ran down to Sablon, drove over, as Cap
tain Armitago had already told them,
nnd peering in his muthur's room saw
her, still up, though in her nightdress.
IIo never drcamud of the colonel's boiug
out and watching. Ho had "scouted"
all those trees, and no ono was nigh.
Then he softly called. Sho heard and
was coming to him, when again camo
fierco attack. He had all a soldier's
reverence for tho person of the colonel
nnd would never have harmed him hnd
he known 'twas he. It was the night
watchman that had grappled with him,
he supposed, and he hud no compunc-,
tions in sending him to grass. Thon lio
Ucd again, knowing that he had only
mado bad worse, walked all that night
to the station next north of Sablon a
big town, whore tho early morning
train always stopped and by 10 on
Sunday morning ho was in uniform
again and off with his regimental com
rades uuder orders to haste to their sta
tion thoro was trouble with tho In
I uians at Spirit Rook, and the th
j wero held in readinoss. From beneath
,: his scouting shirt he drew a flat packet,
an Indian caso,, which he carefully un
rolled, and there in its folds of wrap
pings was the lovely directoire photo
graph.
Whose, thon, was the one that Sloat
had seen in Jerrold's-room? . It was this
that Armitago had gone forward to de
termine and he found his sad eyed
lieutenant with tho skirmishers.
"Jerrold," said ho, with softened
mmucr, "a strango thing is bronght to
light this morning, and I loso no timo
in telling yen. Tho man who was seen
at Maynard's quarters, coming from
Miss Berwick's room, was her own
brother and tho colonel's stepson. He
was the man who took tho photograph
from Mrs. Maynard's room and has
provod it this very day, this very
hour." Jerrold glanced up in sudden
surprise. "He is witli us now, and only
one thing remains, which you can clear
up. We aro going into action, and I
may not get through, nor you, nor
who knows who. Will you tell us now
how you dmo by your copy of that
photograph?' '
For answer Jorrold fumbled iu his
pocket a moment and drew forth two
letters.
"I wrote theso last night, aud it was
my intention to seo that you had them
beforo it grew very hot. Ouo is ad
dressed to you, tho other to Miss Beau
bien. You had bettor tako them now,"
he said wearily. "Thoro may bo no
timo to talk after this. Send hers after
it's over, and don't read yours until
then."
"Why, I don't understand this exact
ly," suid Armitago, puzzled. "Can't
you tell mo about tho picture?"
"No. I promise! not to whilo I lived,
but it's tho simplest mutter in tho
world, and no ouu at tho colonel's had
a hand in it. They never saw this ouo
that I got to show Sloat. It israrued
now. I said 'twas given me. That
was hardly tho truth. I havo paid for
it dearly enough."
"And this uoie explains it?' '
"Yes. You can read it tomorrow."
CHAPTER XIX.
And tho morrow has como. Down
in a deep and bluff shadowed valley,
nung all around with picturcsquo crags
and pino created heights, under a cloud
less September sun, whoso warmth is
tempered by tho mountain breczo, a
thousand rough looking, bronzed and
bearded and powdur blackened men aro
resting after battle.
Hero and thero on distant ridgo and
point tho cavalry vidottes keep vigilant
watch against surprise or renewed at
tack. Down along the banks of a clear,
purling stream a soutry paces Blowly by
the brown lino of rifles, swivel stacked
in tho sunshine. Men Ly tho dozen aro
washing their blistered feet and grimy
hands and faces in tho cool, refreshing
water; mou by the dozen lio soundly
sleeping, some in tho broad glare, somo
in tho shade of tho little clump of wil
lows, all heedless of the pestering
swarms of flies. Out on the broad,
grassy slopes, sido lined and watched
by keen eyed guards, the herds of cav
alry horses uro quietly grazing, forget
ful of tho wild excitement of yester
even. Every now and then some ono of
them lifts his head, pricks up his cars
and snorts and stamps suspiciously as
ho sniffs at the pun's of smoko that como
drifting up the valley from the fires a
mile away. The waking men, too, be
stow an occasional comment on tho odor
wkich greets their nostrils. Down
stream, where the fires are burning, nro
tho blackened remnants of a wagon
train. Tires, bolts and axles aro lying
about, but all woodwork is in smolder
ing ashes; so, too, is all that remains of
several hundredweight of stores and
supplies destined originally to nourish
the Indians, but, by them, diverted to
feed tho fire.
There is a big circle of seething
flamo and rolling smoko here, too a
malodorous neighborhood, around which
fatigue parties are working with avert
ed heads, and among them some surly
and unwilling Indians, driven to labor
at tho muzzle of threatening revolver or
carbine, aid in dragging to tho flames
carcass after carcass of horso aud mule,
and in gathering tngethor and throwing
on tho pyro an array of miscellaneous
soldier garments, blouses, shirts aud
trousers, all moro or less hacked aud
blood stained, all of no more use to
mortal wearer.
Out on tho southern slopes, just
whero a ravino crowded with wild roso
bushes opens into tho volley, more than
in rectttl)BUiar iine3 about a amaha of
! . .. . ....
snauow, elongated pus, in enen oi
which thoro lies tho stiffening form of
a oomrado who bnt yesterday joined iu
the battle cheer that burst upon the val
ley with tho setting sun. Silent and
reverent thoy stand in their rough cam
paign garb. Tho escort of infantry
"rests on arms;" tho others bow their
uncovered heads, and it is tho voieo of
tho veteran colonel that, in accents
trembling with sympathy and emotion,
renders tho Just tribuj to fallen com
rades and lifts to heaven tho prayers for
the dead. Then nntM Tho mourning
groups break away from tho southern
side, the brown rifles of tho escort are
lifted in air, the listening rocks resound
to the sudden ring of the flashing vol
ley, the soft, low, wailing goodby of
tho trumpets goes floating up the vale,
and soon the burinl parties aro left alono
to cover the onco familiar faces with
tho earth to whioli tho soldior must re
turn, and tho comrades who aro left,
foot and dragoon, come marching, si-
j ieut iack to camp.
And when tho old regiment begins its
homeward journey, leaving tho well
won field to tho fust arriving oomuiands
and bidding hearty soldier farewell to
tho cavalry comrades whoso friendship
they gained in tho front of a savago foe,
the company that was the first to hind
its fire in the fight goes back with di
minished numbers and uuder command
of its second lieutenant. Alas, poor
Jerrold!
There waB a Bolenm littlo group
around the canipfire tho night before
thoy go. Frank Armitago, flat on his
back, with a rifle bullet through his
thigh, bnt taking things very coolly for
all that, is having a quiet conference '
with his colonel. Such of tho wounded
of the entire command as aro well
enough to travel by easy stages to tho
railway go with Maynard and tho regi
ment in tho morning, and Sergoant Mc
Leod, with his saber arm in a sling, is
one of theso. But the oaptuin of Com
pany B must wait until tho surgoons can
lift him along in an ambulance and all
fear of fever has subsided. To tho colo
nel aud Chester he hands tho note
. whioh is all that is left to comfort poor
Nina Beaubien. To thorn ho reads aloud
the note addressed to himself:
"You are right in saying that the
matter of my possession of that photo
graph should be explained. I soek no
longer to palliate my action. In making
that puppish bet with Sloat I did be
lieve that I could induce Miss Renwick
or her mother to let me have a oopy,
but I was refused so positively that I
know it was useless. This simply added
to my desire to have one. TJio photog
rapher was the samo that took tho pio
tures and furnished the albums for our
class at graduation, and I, moro than
any ouo, ld beou instrumental i got
ting the order for him against very ao
tive opposition. He had always professed
tho greatest gratitude to me and a will
ingness to do anything for me. I wroto
him in strict confidence, told him of tha
iutimato and oloso relntions existing
between the colonel's family and me,
told him I wautod it to enlargo and
present to her mother on her approach
ing birthday and promised him that I
would never roveal how I came by tho
picture so long as I lived, and ho sent
mo one just in time. Have I not paid
heavily for my sin?"
No ouo spoko for a moment Chester
was tho first to break the silence:
"Poor fellow! Ho kept his word to
tho photographor, but what was it worth
to a woman?"
Thero had beou a week of wild anxi
ety and excitement at Sibley. It was
known through tho columns of the press
that tho regiment had hurried forward
from tho railway tho instant it reached
the Colorado trail; that it could not
hope to get through to tho valley of tho ;
Spirit Wolf without a fight, and that
tho moment it succeeded in joining
hands with tho cavalry already thero a
vigorous attack would be made on tho
Indians. Tho news of tho rescue of the
survivors of Thornton's command como
first, and with it tho tidings that May
nard and his regiment were met only 80
miles from tho seono and wera pushing
forward. Tho next news came two days
later, and a wail went up even while men
wero shaking hands aud rejoicing over
tho gallant fight that had been made,
aud women woro weeping for joy and
thanking God that those whom they held
dearest wero safe. It was down among
tho wives of tho sergeants and other
veterans that the blow struck hardest at
Sibley, for tho stricken officers wero
unmarried men, whilo among tho rank
and filo thero wero Boveral who never
camo back to tho little onos who bore
their name. Company B had suffered
most, for tho Indians had charged fierce
ly ou its deployed but steadfast line.
Armitago almost choked and broke
down when telling the colonel about it
that night as he lay under tho willows.
"It was the firstsmilolhad seen on his
face since I got back that with which
ho looked up in my eyes and whispered
goodby and died, just after we drove
lie ivhlspcrcd goodby and died.
them back. My turn came later. " Old
Sloat, too, "had his customary crack, "
as ho expressed it a shot through tho '
wrist that made him hop ail swear
savagely until somo of tho men got to
laughing nt the comical figure he cut,
and then he turned and damned them
with hearty good will and Beemod all
oblivious of the bullets that went zip
ping past his frosting hoad. Young Rol
lins, to his inexpressible pride and com
fort, had a bullet holo through his scout
ing hat and another through his shoul
der strap that raised a big welt on tho
whito skin beneath, but, to tho detri
ment of promotion, no captain was kill
ed, and Jerrold gave the only file.
Tho ono question at Sibley was, What
will Nina Beanbiou do?
Sho did nothing. Sho would seo no
body from the instant the news came.
Sho had hardly slept at night, was al
ways awake at dawn and out at the
gate to get tho earliest copy of the morn
ing papers, but tho news reached them
at nightfall, and when some of tho la
dies from tho fort drove in to offer their
sympathy nnd condolenco in tho morn
ing aud to mako tender inquiry the nn
swer at tho door was that Miss Nina
saw nobody, that her mother alono was
with her, and that "sho was very still. "
And so it went for some days. Then thero
came the return of the command to Sib
ley, and hundreds of people went up
from town to see the six companies of tho
fort garrison march up tho winding
road amid tho thunder of welcome from
tho guns of tho light battery aud tho
exultant strains of tho band. Mrs. May
Hard and Alice woro the only ladies of
the circlo who wero not there. A son and
brother had joined them aftr long ab
sence, nt Aunt Grace's cottago nt Sab
lon, was the explanation, aud the colo
nel would bring them home in a fow
days, after ho had attended to somo im
portant matters at the fort. In tho first
place, Chester had to see to it that the
tongue of scandal was slit, bo far as the
colonel's household was concerned, aud
all good people notified that no such
thing had hnppened as was popularly
supposed aud "everybody" received
the announcement with the remark that
Bho knew all along it couldn't be so
and that a grievous and absurd bnt most
mortifying blunder had boeu mado. It
wns a most unpleasant ghost to down,
tho shadow of that scandal, for it
would come up to tho surface of garri
son chat at all manner of confidential
moments, but no man or woman could
safely speak of it to Chester. It was
pradually,nssnmf d that ha was tho man
who had dono nil tho blundering aud
thnt ho Wis supersensitive on tho sub
ject. Thero was another thing never satis
factorily explained to some of tho garri
son people, and that was Nina Boau
bien's strango conduct. In loss than a
week sho was seen ou tho street in col
ors brilliant colors when it was
known sho had ordered deep mourning,
and then sho suddenly disappeared aud
wont with her silont old mother abroad.
To this day no woman in society under
stands it, for when sho camo back, long,
long afterward, it was a subject on
which sho would never speak. . There
wero ono or two who ventured to ask,
and tho answer was, "For reasons that
concern mo alono. " But it took no great
power of mental vision to see that her
hoart woro black for him forever.
His letter explained it alL She had
received it with a paroxsm of passion
ate griof . and joy, kissed it, covered it
with wildest caresses beforo she began
to read, and thon, little by little, as the
words unfolded beforo her staring eyes,
turned cold as stone:
"It is my last night of life, Nina,
and I am glad 'tis so. Proud and sensi
tive as I am, the knowledge that every
man in my regiment has' turned from
me; that I have not a friend among
them; that thero is no longer a place
for mo in thoir midst more than all,
that I deserve their oontemat has bro
ken my heart. Wo will be in battle be
fore tho setting of another sun. Any
man who seeks death in Indian fight
oan find it easily enough, and I can
compel thoir respect in spite of them
selves. Thoy will not recognize me, liv
ing, as ono cf them, bnt dying on tho
field they have to place mo on their roll
of honor
"But now I turn to you. What have
I been, what am I, to have won such love
as yours? May God in heaven forgivo
me for my past! All too late I hate and
despise tho man I have been tho man
whom you lovod. One last act of jus
tice remains. If I died without it, you
would mourn me faithfully, tenderly,
lovingly, for years, but if I tell tho
truth you will seo tho utter unworthi
ness of the man, and your lovo will
tnrn to contempt. It is hard to do this,
knowing that in doing it I kill the
only genuine regret and dry the only
tear that would bleas my memory, but
it is tho one sacrifice I con timl-fl tn
complete my self humiliation, and it is
tho one thing that is left me that will
free you. It will sting at first; but, liko
tho surgeon's knife, its cut is meroy.
Nina, tho very night I came' to you on
the bluffs, the very night you periled
your honor to have that parting inter
view, I went to you with a li on my
lips. I had told her we were nothing to
each other, you and L More than that,
I was seeking her love. I hoped I could
win her, and had she loved me I would
have turned from you to make her my
wife. Nina, I loved Alice Renwick.
Goodby. Don't mourn for me after
this."
CHAPTER XX.
They wero having a family conclave
at Sablon. The furlough granted Ser
geant McLeod on account of wound re
ceived in action with hostile Indians
would soon expire, and the question
was, Should he ask an extension, apply
for a discharge or go back and rejoin
his troop? It was a matter on which
there was much diversity of opinion.
Mrs. Maynard should naturally be per
mitted first choice, and to her wish
thero was every reason for according
deep and tender consideration. No
words can tell of tie rapture of that re
union with her long lost son. It was a
scene over whioh the colonel could nev
er ponder without deep emotion. The
telegrams and letters by which he care
fully prepared hr for Frederick's com
ing were all insufficient. She knew well
that her boy must have greatly changed
and matured, but when this tall, bronz
ed, bearded, stalwart man sprang from
tho old red omnibus and threw his one
serviceable arm around her trembling
form tho mother was utterly overcome.
Alice left them alone together a full
honr before even she intruded, and lit
tle by littlo, as the days went by and
Mrs. Maynard realized that it was really
her Fred who was whistling about tho
cottage or booming trooper songs in his
great basso prof undo and glorying in his
regiment and the cavalry life he had lod,
a wonderful content and joy shone in
her handsome face. It was not until the
colonel announced that it was about
time for them to think of going back to
Sibley that tho cloud came. Fred said
he couldn't go.
In fact, the colonel himself had been
worrying a littlo over it. As Fred Ren
wick, the tall, distinguished young man
in civilian costume, ho would be wel
come anywhere; but, though his garb
was that of the sovereign citizen so long
as his furlough lasted, there wero but
two weeks more of it left, and officially
ho was nothing more nor less than Ser
geant McLced, Troop B, th cavalry,
and thore was no precedent for a colo
nel's entertaining as an honored guest
aud social equal one of the enlisted men
of the army. He rather hoped that Fred
would yield to his mother's entreaties
and apply for a discharge. His wound
and the latent trouble with his heart
would probably render it an easy mat
ter to obtain, and yet he was ashamed
of himself for the foeliug.
Then thero was Alico. It was hardly
to be supposed that so very high bred a
young woman would relish tho idea of
being seen around Fort Sibley on the
arm of her brother, the sergeant; but,
wonderful to relate, Miss Alice took a
radically different view of tho wholo
situatiau. So fur from wishing Fred
out of the army, sho importuned him
day after day until he got out his best
uniform, wth its resplendent chevrons
anil stripes of vivid yellow and the yel
low helmet cords, though they were but
humble worsted, and when he came
forth in that dress, with the bronze med
al on his left breast and the skarpshoot
er's silver cross, his tall, athletic figure
showing to such advantage, his dark,
southern, manly features so enhanced
by contrust with his yellow facings, she
clapped hor hands with a cry of delight
and sprang into his one available arm
and threw her owu about his neck and
kissed him again and again.
Even mamma had to admit he looked
astonishingly well, but Alico declared
tho would never thereafter be reconcil
ed to seeing him in anything but a cav
airy uniform. Tho colonel found her
not at all of her mother's way of think
ing. She saw no rcasou why Fred should
leave the servico. Other sergeants had
won thoir coniuiissious every year. Why
not he? Even if it were some time in
coming, was there ehanie or degradation
in being a cavalry sergeant? Not a bit
of it! Fred himself was loath to quit
Ho was getting a little homesick, too
honieaiok for the boundless life and
space and air of tho broad frontier,
homesick for the rapid movement and
vigorous hours in the saddle and on the
scout. His arm was healing, and suoh a
delight of a letter had come from his
captain, telling him that the adjutant
had just beon to see him about the new
staff of the regiment. The gallant ser
geant major, a young Prussian of mark
ed ability, had been killed early in the
campaign. The vacancy must soon bo
filled, aud tho colonel and the adjutant
both thought at ence of Sergeant Mc
Leod. "I won't stand in your way, ser
geant," wroto his troop commander,
"but you know that old Ryan is to be
discharged at the ead of his sixth en
listment, the 10th of next month. Thero
is no man I would sooner see in his
place as first sergeant of my troop than
yourself, and I hate to lose you. But,
as it will be for the gain and the good
of th whole iregiment, yon ought to
accept the adjutant's offer, i All the men
rejoice to i hear you aro recovering so
fast, and all will be glad to tee Sergeant
McLeod back again. "
Continued H Page II.
cxntn
Biliousness.'
CURES
Biliousness.
CURES
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Direct Proot
lfv wlf fc. V.. A
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Tha
LIVER
of our beat pbyaidaua. After
u.mii wire Bottle of your
Burdock Blood Bittore una la al
most entirely well. Wa truly
recommeud your medicine.
Moatpeller, William Oo"o.
E. Robinson's Sens'
Beer
Brewery
Vaunfacturtrt of the Celebrate!
PlLSENER
Lager
Beer
CAPACITY
100.000 Bblfc Per Annum.
DUPONT'S
MINING, BLASTING AND 6P0BTIN0
POWDER
Manufactured at tha Wapwallopan MUla, L
auma county ra ana at vv u
mingUin, t)lware.
HENRY BELIN, Jr.
General Agent for tha Wyoming DUtrlcb
118 Wyoming Ave., Scranton Pv
laird Rational Bank Building.
A0INC1KS.
THOB. FORD, Pittat-m, Pa.
JOHN B SMITH ft BON; Plymouth. Fa,
E. W. MCLLIGA-t, Wilkwbarro, Pa.
Agenta (or the Kapaune C'ueinical Con
rany'a High Explosive.
Seeds and
Fertilizers
Large Medium and
White Clover,
Choice Timothy and
lawn Grass Seeds
Guano, Bone Dust
and Phosphates for
Farms, Lawns and
Gardens.
HDNT & GONNELLCO.
Atlantic Reining Co.
Manufacturers and Daalen la)
niuminatini and Lubricating
Linseed Oil. Napthas and Gaso
lines of all grades. Axle Grease,
Pinion Grease and Colliery Cem
pound ; also, a large line of tu
nifllne Wax Candles.
We alto handle the Faraons CROWN
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earning oil in the market
WILLIAM MASON, Manser.
pmce: Coal Exchange, Wyoming Ave.
WkaatPme Broo.
Booms hoi 2 CommoMltb Blfj. ;
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MINING andBLASTINQ
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klade at the M009I0 anil BUSH
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Lsfnin & Band Powder Cft's
ORANGE GUN POWDEB
Electrlo Batteries, Fuies for expUfr
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KIC
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