Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-10

major sudden turn was a mere languid
gesture Hardly could he believe his
eyes; hardly could he trust his Keeling
senses, but it was she-Fanny Forrest
not standing at the head of the stairs but
coming swiftly down upon him, her finger
at her lips, her other hand gathering her
skirts so that they should make as little
rustic as possible as she swoOped quickly
down the stairs Another instant and
she WIS by his side; her eyes cleaning
like frey Goals, her face burning, her
lips firm. set and determined. He was
too much startled to speak. 1t was she
I who broke the silence in words-clear
cut and distinct-yet soft and low
= Mr.. Hatton, | saw your major COM
ing here. 1 have heard within two days
more than you know | know why he
wishes 10 see you tonight and-yes, / list
ened There is more at stake than you
dream of. Now, l hasten to you-there
Is no time to explain-no time to answer
questions. II you would save a friend
from wrong and ruin, don t 90 near Ma
jor Miller tonight. / adjure you, find
some excuse. I'H find one for you, if it
is only TO delay that attendant; but mark
what 1 say: Don I go near Major Miller
tonight or tell him what you know until
Mr.. Holmes returns. 1-I've sent for
him. Will you PROMISE?
''Promise!' he utters slowly, a dazed
look in his eyes. Good God Miss For
rest! would do anything in my power
for Capt Forests sister and for him;
but if-if this thing is kOwn, what can
my silence avail?
'tNever mind Cant. Forrest or Capt.
Forrest s sister? This is vital Do you
promise? 1t is only for a day Mr..
Holmes will be here in twenty-four
hours
What can his coming or going-par-
don me. but m at loss to see how he
is III any way concerned.
manly step was heard on, the porch
without She turned glance of terror
at the hall door and few to spring the
latch, but the step went on toward the
south hall.
. 1t is the doctor - she said faltering-
ly. "sHe is going to our quarters and l
must hurry back the way I came, Mr..
Hatton. Tell no one I came to you here
and, as for the rest, | implore You to
be guided by what l say. One thing
more she whipped from her pocket
white silk handkerchief. . Put this
back among his-not on top, but any
where among them otherwise.
And thrusting the soft fabric into his
hand without another word, she few up
the old wooden stairs; her skirts rushing
and "sWishing'' over the floor; her
slippered feet twipkling over the
rickety fight, light as kittens
swift as terriers, and in an instant
she was through the upper hall-out
on the gallery and beyond sight and hear
ing 4 few moments, dazed and dumb
cSn Sra2 inc va
cantly after her Then he thought he
heard McLean's voice and, entering,
found him propped on his elbow, queer,
look on his face.
Hat, there are spOoks in this old
rOokery. could have sworn l heard a
woman s dress and woman 5 footballs
on those creaking stairs just now. Has
anyone been in here?'
emo one, Mae.
E'Gad! I'm not dreaming. It sounded
just as it did the night-the night that
thing happened. You know, Hat. "
XII
Just at tattoo that evening Mrs. Miller
was smitten with sudden desire to go
over and see Nellie Bayard The child
hadn t been out of the house, she ex-
planned, since the Grays started for the
fray down the Platte, taking Randall
Mclean with them. She louged TO see
her and learn from her own lips how
matters were going at home. She Won
dered If Nellie knew how her father was
devotng himself to the FORESTS; she
wondered if the gentle and obedient
daughter would not rebel at the idea
of such possibility as his becoming
seriously attached to Miss Forrest.
She had INDUCED the major in
one very plain and startling disserta-
ton on the subject of that young
woman, from the effects of which he was
still suffering, but worst of all her
motherly heart longed TO acquire through
Nellie s words, looks or actions, some
idea as to whether she really cared for
her pet among all the lieutenants. OF
course, Nellie iiked-but did she love
him? OF Mclean IS deep-rOOted regard
for the shy and sensitive little maiden
Mrs. Miller had not the shadow of a
doubt. Nellie had no one, she argued,
To be a mother 10 her in this troublesome
time, and yet she was beginning to feel a
species of jealousy in the knowledge that
the Bruces, the Gordous and other good
garrison peOple-maid and matron-had
been seen going continually to and from
the doctors quarters. Mrs. Miller
thought she had a prior claim on the
daughter and did not relish ii that others
should possibly be before her. Oddly
enough there was no one calling on this
night of nights; the major had
been out, ostensibly to attend TO
business at the office, but
something told her he was seeking in
formation as 10 the array of ciPcum-
stances pointing to the tact that there
was further evidence against Miss For
rest
The bugles were sounding the call
through the stiffness of the early summer
night, though at Laramie summer |
seemed yet far away, when she heard |
him coming heavily up the steps TO the |
piazza. Well The good lady knew by the |
very cadence of his footballs Just what /
mood possessed him. It was slow,
draggy, spiritiess Tonight, and, though |
he had almost angriIy and contemptu- /
ously checked her when she began the
story of these later revelations, her heart |
yearned over him now. She went down |
TO him as he sat there looking drearily |
out at the twinkiing lights across the /
parade.
''Come, major - she said, addressing /
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