Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-23

VIZ had been pronounced
big success, despite the fact of Perry's
defection-he had not even Joined them
at luncheon-and il was agreed that it
should be repeated the first bright day
after muster. That ceremony came off
on Monday with due pompand fornality
and much rigidity of inspection on the
part of the post commander. 1t was
watched with interest by the ladies, and
Mrs. Belknap even proposed that when
the barracks and kitchens were being
visited they should go along. Dana had
been her devotee ever since the day of
the hunt, and announced his willingness
to carry her suggestion TO the colonel,
but Belknap declined. She wanted few
words with Perry, and did not know
how to effect her purpose. When he
stopped and spoke to her after parade on
Saturday evening and would have made
peace. she thought to complete her APP
parent conquest by a show of womanly
displeasure at his conduct, and an as
surance that, thanks 10 Mr.. Dana, the
day had been delightful and his failure
to accompany her had been of no conse-
quence at all. The utterly unexpected
way in which he took it was simply
''stunner" to the little lady.
So far from being piqued and jealous
and huffy. as she expected, Mr.. Perry
justified the oft expressed opinion of her
sisterhood to the effect that "men were
simply past all comprehension" by
Frightening up instantly and expressing
such relief at her information that for
moment she was too dazed to speak. BY
that time he had pleasantly said good
night and vanished; nor had he been
near her since, except to bow and look
pleased when she walked by with Dana.
She never thought of him as an actor
before, but this, said Mrs. Belknap to
herself, looks like consummate acting.
Had she known of or even suspected the
existence of a woman who had interposed
and cast heS into the shade the explana-
ton would have occurred To her ut once;
but that there was goddess in the shape
Of GLADYS Maitland within a days ride
of Rossiter she never dreamed for an in
slant. Believing that no other woman
could have unseated her. Mrs. Belknap
simply could not account for such utter,
such unutterable. complacency on the
part of her lately favored admirer in his
virtual dismissal All Sunday and Mon
day she looked for signs of sulking OF
surrender. hut looked in vain.
Perry seemed unusually grave and
silent, was Parke's report of the situa-
ton; but whatever comfort she might
have derived from that knowledge was VI
terly destroyed by the way he frightened
up and looked pleased whenever they
CHANGED to meet. Monday evening he
stopped to speak with her on the walk,
holding out his hand and fairly beaming
upon her; she icily received these demon
STATIONS, but failed to chill them or him
Then she essayed to make him suffer the
pangs of the Tilted by ciinging to Dana's
arm and smiling up in Dana's face, and
then she suddenly started: "Oh, Mr..
Danal How could have been so thought.
less-and this is your wounded slider
Dana protested that her slight weight
was soothing balm, not additional pain,
and Perry promptly asseverated that If
he were Dana he would beg her not to
quit his arm, and her eyes looked scorn
at him as she said, "How can you know
du1 lHlile uDOGl IT, 1kI. 4 err GU We
never been in action or got a scratch,
while Mr.. Dana"-and now the dark
eyes spoke volumes as they looked up
into those of her escort-"Mr. Dana is
one of the heroes of the fighting days of
the regiment" Even that failed to crush
him. while 1t had the effect of making
Dana feel mawkish and absurd. Perry
frankly responded that he only won
dered the women ever could find time to
show any civility whatever to fellows
like him, when there were so many who
"had records" She was completely mt n
loss to fathom him, and when tattoo
came on Monday night, and they were
all discussing the project of n run with
he hounds for the coming morrow--a
May day celebration on new principles
Mrs. Belknap resolved upon change Of
tactics.
Dana was officer of the guard and over
at the guard house, but nearly all the
other officers were chatting about the
veranda and the gate of the colonel's
quarters. Thither had Capt. Belknap
escorted his pretty wife, and she was,
as usual, tho center of an interested
group. Perry came strolling along after
reporting the result of tattoo roll call to
the adjutant, and Capt. Stryker called
to him and asked some question about
the men on stable guard. The orders of
the colonel with regard to watching the
movements of the men after the night
roll call were being closely observed, and
when the trumpets sounded ''taps," a few
moments later, several of the troop com
manders walked away together, and this
left smaller party. Ii was just at this
juncture that Mrs. Belknap's sweet voice
was heard addressing the commanding
officer:
"Oh, colonel! Ever since Thursday !
have been telling Capt Belknap about
those lovely albums of yours; and he is
so anxious to see them. Could he have
look at them tonight"
why, certainly" exclaimed the colo
mel, all heartiness and pleasure. Come
right in, Belknap, come many of you
all Of you-where it's good and light"
And me Hospitality held open the screen
door. Perry had seen the albums dozen
times, but he was for going in with the
others, when he felt little hand press
ure on his arm, and Mrs. Belknaps
great dark eyes were gazing up into his
with mournful, incredulous appeal.
Don't you know want to see your"
she murmured so that only he could
hear. "Waitr
And, much bewildered, Mr. Perry
waited.
She stood where she could look
through the screen door in the parlor be-
yond, watching furtively until the party
were grouped under the hanging lamps
and absorbed In looking over one an
others shoulders at the famous albums:
then, beckoning to him to follow, she
fitted, like some eerie sprite, on tiptoe
to the southern end of the veranda.
where clustering vines hid her from
view from the walk along the parade
Perry began to feel queer, as he after
wards expressed IL, but he stalked along
after her, declining to modulate the