Wichita eagle., 1889-10-20

tening. "WEy. we had no Idea Ano
she concludes irresolutely.
''Oh, yes; we met at the ranch-a'
home. am Miss Maitland, you know
and that is my fathers place. But we've
only lust come" she adds, with the wo
mans natural desire to explain to new
found friends why and how it was that
they had not met before. And then the
group is joined by a bulky young Briton
in the garb of a groom, though modified
to suit the requirements of frontier life;
he comes cantering to the scene all ell
bows and CONSERVATION; he gives groan
of dismay at sight of the PROSTATE hum
ter, but rides directly to his mistress.
She is paling again now, and in evident
pain, and Perry's face is study as he
stands, his eyes riveted upon her; but she
tries to smile and reassure him.
you'll have to ride to Dunr-to the
ranch, Griggs," she said; "and-there's
no help for it-papa will have to be told.
Let them send for me-"
pardon me, Miss Maitland" inter-
rupted Col. Brainard. ''You are almost
under the walls of Fort Rossiter, and
Dunrayen is miles away. have sent a
swift horse for DIR. Quin and a spring
ambulance. We cannot let you go home,
now that you are so near us, until you
have had rest and proper care"
Indeed we cannot, Miss Maitland"
chimed in both ladies at a breath. "You
are to come right to my house until you
are fit to travel"
''Pm not very fit just now, certainly"
she answers, with faint smile; "but 1
can surely wait here until they send;
twill not be more than an hour at most.
sit will be two hours-perhaps three
Miss Maitland" pleaded Perry, bending
eagerly forward. "Do listen to our la
diesI'
And "our ladies" prevailed. While
Griggs went suffering off to Dunraven
with the sorrowful news, the strong
arms of Perry and Graham lifted and
bore their English captive to the shade
of a clump of cottonwoods. Mrs.
Sprague and Mrs. Lawrence managed
to make little couch for her as tenn
porary resort. Mrs. Belknap rode up
and was formally introduced, then gal
loped away to Rossiter to send blankets
for the picnic couch and see to the pill
lows Of the ambulance. The colonel and
Perry remained with the ladies and Ell.
crossed their attention while Graham
went back and sent two pistol bullets
Into the struggling hunters brain, still
Ing his pain forever. Then came DR..
Quin galloping like the wind down the
familiar trail, Gliding "Gladys" as
though his right to do SO were a long
established thing, and thereby setting
Perry's teeth on edge, and, long before
the call for afternoon stables was sound
ing, the fair daughter of Dunraven
Ranch was housed within the walls of
Rossiter and the ''ice was broken"
Perry had had the joy of helping carry
her into Mrs Sprague's coolest and Co
zieSt room. She had held forth her hand
such long, white, beautiful hand
and let it rest in his while she said
"You know how impossible it is for me
to tell you how l thank you, MIR. Perry"
snG re had simply bowed over it. long
ing to say what he thought, but power
less to think of anything else; and then
he had gone to his own quarters and
shut himself in. Mrs. Sprague-bless
her!-had invited him to call after re-
treat, and he had totally forgotten the
I.awrences' dinner when he said he
would be only too glad to come.
At the sounding Of stable call his darky
servant banged at the door and reused
him from his reverie. He rose mechan-
ically and went out into the broad SUM-
shine, glancing first along the row to
see how things were looking at the
Spragues' and wishing with all his heart
that they were somewhere within reach
of a conservatory, that he might send a
heaping box of fresh and dewy roses tt
that sacred room where she lay. How
many time, he thought, had he strolled
into some odorous shop in the cities
where his "leaves" We're spent, and care
lessly ordered cut flowers by the cubic
foot sent with his card to some one with
whom he had danced the german the
night before and never expected to see
again! What wouldn't he give now for
just few of those wasted, faded, for.
gotten flowersi Stables that afternoon
proved sore trial to him.
When at last the men went swinging
homeward in their white canvas frocks
and Perry could return to his quarters tc
dress for his eagerly anticipated call, the
first thing that met his eyes as he came
in sight of officers row was huge, bulky.
covered travelling carriage in front OF
Spragues'. Two or three ladies were there
at the gate. Mr.. Even, the English man.
ager, was just mounting his horse; Dr.
Quin, too, was there and already in sad.
die; and befor~ poor Perry could get hall
way across the parade, and just as the
trumpets were sounding mess call foI
supper, the bulky vehicle started; the
ladies waved their handkerchiefs and
kissed their hand, and, escorted by Even
and the doctor, saluted by Col Brainard
and the adjutant with raised forage caps,
Gladys Maitland was driven slowly away.
and Mrs. BelEnap stood there in the little
group of ladies smiling sweetly upon him
as he fastened towards them. For many
long day afterwards mess call ALWAYS
made him think of Mrs. Belknap's smile.
and Mrs. Belknap's smile of mess call.
He shuddered at the sound of one or sight
of the other.
1t was Mrs. Sprague who stepped for.
ward TO greet him, her womanly heart
filled with sympathy for the sentiment
she suspected. She had to push by Mrs