Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-13

ought % say 10 you that the reason /
was SO long in reaching your party last
night " as that was detained attending
to anoa her case-one of our own men.
Good evening, SIR" And, raising his
forage cap, the doctor walked slowly
and wi IN dignity away, leaving Perry
too surprised to speak.
1.-THE colonel told him to tell mev was
Perry's wondering soliloquy at last.
"Then J suppose he must have told the
chief so ne story to account for his being
away" IL was pretty evident from the
young fellows manner as he entered the
house Il at the story was not one which
struck him as being entitled to conf
dence OF consideration.
On tho table in his little sitting room
lay da nty note. 1t was not the first
he had received under that superscrip-
ton, and he had not been slow to open
and reao them. If anything, the cloud
upon his forehead seemed to deepen at
sight of {. He picked it up, looked i'm
patiently at the address, hesitated mo-
ment, tossed it back on his desk and went
into the inner room. He would not read
1t now; I was almost parade time; he
had to bslthe and change his dress, for
after par lde he was to dine at the quarters
of an infantry friend, and Capt. and
Mrs. lawrence were to be of the party.
Already IL was noted that when any of the
few infantry people at the post gave
little tea OF dinner at which only eight
or ten were gathered together, the Bel
knaps we're not invited on she same even
ing with dr. Perry, and vice versa. When
Parke came in, whistling and singing
and banging doors and making all man
ner of I'm couth noise in the exuberance
of his spirits, he bolted into Perry's do
main, as vas his wont, and begin a rat
Ting comment on the events of the day.
by the way" he broke in, suddenly,
Eve can't both go tomorrow; and sup
pose you want to-"
Go wbereg"
why, out with the hounds: to-mor-
rows the lay, you know"
Perry save whistle of perplexity.
The colonel had promised the ladies that
there should be run this very week.
All the feet hounds of the cavalry bat
talon were to be out, and all the officers
ties; detachment was to go over into
the valley Of stream some ten miles
away, pitoh tents in the shade, and there
set luncheon for the entire party; horses
were to lie provided for all the ladies
who cared to go mounted, buggies and
"buckboaIds" were to convey the others,
and 1t was to be a gala occasion. Ante
lope, coyote or jack rabbit-any four
footed game the prairie afforded-was to
be "coursed" in due state and ceremony;
the ladies in at the death" were 10 be
crowned and subsequently presented
with trophies of the chase more slightly
than the mask or brush au naturel. The
affair had been gayly talked over that
very evening of the colonels dinner, but
the events Of the previous day and the
perplexities of the one just closing had
completely driven it all out of his head
And vet he was engaged to ride with
Mrs. Belkra p, the amazon of Fort Rossi.
teri And for the first time in his life
Ned Perry would have been glad of an
excuse to get away from gallop with
an accomp -ished equestrienne.
"You don't mean TO say you had for
gotten it?' asked Parke, in amaze.
Don't llow on me, there's a good
fellow; but, after all my breaks of yes
terday-getting an absent from drill
and into row at the ranch-I declare
it had slipped my memory. No, YOU go,
Parke; don't deserve to be let off anv-
thing. after yesterday. You've been
sticking to duty like brick ever since
you joined and Stryker ought to give
you the preference"
But you re engaged to ride with Mrs.
Belknap." said Parke.
who told you so?"
Il heard her say so. Dana asked if
he might have the pleasure, Just a while
ago, and sle smilingly replied that it
would have been delightful, but that
you had asked her four DAYS ago, when
1t was first planned"
80 had; but I've been getting into
scrapes ever since, and oughtn't To go.
BY Jove! I'll write her a note now and
say can't get off. It's true enough.
wouldn't lei such fellow go if com
manded the troop. I'd make him stay
IN and attend roll call week"
We'll, Mrs. Belknap expects you"
said Parke, obviously. Not but what
Dana would he glad TO take your place.
Belknap cant go; he's too bulky to ride,
and she'd leave him miles astern first
run we had, sure"
Suddenly Perry bethought him of the
note, and made a dive into the sitting
room, towel in hand and shirt sleeves
rolled to the elbows. 1t read:
Mon An-You 20 the sprasues' to dine this
evening, and thhre will be cards and you will not
b. able 70 get away until very ate VIII you not
come In a little While before parade-wIthout fall
There is something greatly want to see you about
Sincerely, FEB
Come early as possible after stables
Thunder and turf" exclaimed Perry;
and there goes first call nowl Here.
Parke, you're dressed: run over and tell
Mrs. Belknap just this instant read her
note and cant come; I'll get late as
it Is"
How can I, mani" shouted Parke. as
he ned. I've got to get into war paint
too. Lucky thing for me-" he added, in
lower tone. Il don't want to be the one
70 tell the p '.ttiest woman at Rossiter
that her note that she sent here at noon
wasn't opened until first call for parade"
Perry's dI a sing was completed at rae
ing speed, but even then he was buck
ling his saber belt as the assembly sound
ed, and he had to go straight across to
where his troop was forming glitter
ing rank OF yellow plumes-and so could
only give hurried sidelong glance to-
ward Belknaps quarters. There was her
bonnie ladysh p pacing up and down the
seranda; and he knew well he would
have TO account for his sins All through
parade his thoughts were divided be-
tween the fair face he had seen at Dun
raven the night before and the dark one
with the long, curving lashes sweeping
those soft, peachy cheeks and half veil
ing those wonderful, liquid, speaking,
side glancing eyes. He saw Mrs. Beik-
nap stroll forth moment as though to
Join the group of ladies on the walk.
then return to her slow, graceful languid
promenade up and down her piazza. lie
knew that he i1uSt hasten IN her ,ho -