Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-18

put an end to Archie Maitland and start
new life for himself. He wrote his
letters and arranged his property with
that view, and he called the steward to
enable him to swear he was in his state
room after the steamer weighed anchor
Then in a jiffy he was over the side in
the darkness; it was food tide and he was
an expert swimmer; he reached a coast
ing vessel lying near; he had money,
bought his passage to France, after a
few days at Cape Town, and then came
to America and enlisted. He got con-
fession out Of one of their irregulars who
was with him, Perry says, and that was
one OF the papers he was guarding so
jealously. He had given others to Perry
that very night"
"They seemed to take to each other
like brothers from the start" said the
colonel, with quiet smile.
Just about" answered Capt. Striker.
Meantime, Perry and Sergt Gwynne
have been riding slowly down the valley.
Night has come upon Dunraven by the
hour they reach the northern gate-no
longer closed against them-and as they
near the house Perry slowly dismounts.
"Tll take the horses to the stable myself:
l want to. says his trooper friend, and
for the second time the young officer
stands upon the veranda at the doorway,
then holds his hand as he hears again the
soft melody of the piano floating out
upon the still night air. Slowly and not
without pain he walks around to the east
rrx 70
steps At last he stands by the open
easement, just where he had paused in
surprise that night IA month agone, and
slowly drawing aside one heavy fold of
curtain, gazes longingly in at Gladys
Maitland, seated there at the piano, Just
where he first saw her lovely face and
form.
Presently, under the soft touch of her
fingers, a sweet, familiar melody comes
ripping forth. He remembers it in
stantly; it is the same he heard the night
of his first visit-that exquisite "Spring
Song" of ENTHUSIASTICALLY he listens,
spell bound. All of a sudden the sweet
strains are broken off, the music ceases;
she has thrown herself forward, bowed
her queenly head upon her arms, and,
leaning over the keyboard, her form is
shaken by a storm of passionate tears
Perry hurls aside the sheltering curtain
and limps rapidly across the soft and
noiseless rug. She never dreams of his
presence until, close at her side, voice
she has learned to know and know well
"a voice tremulous with love, sympathy
and yearning-murmurs only her name,
"Gladys," and, starting up, she looks
one instant into his longing eyes.
Sergt "Gwynne" Maitland, lifting the
heavy portiere moment later, stops
short at the entrance, gazes one second
at the picturesque scene at the piano,
drops the portiere. and vanishes, unno-
ticed
Things seemed changed at Dunraven Of
late years The TIL are still at Rossiter.
so is Lieut.. Perry. 1t may be the climate
or association with an American sister
hood, or-who knows?-perhaps some
body has told her Of Mrs. Belknap pre-
diction. but Mrs. Perry has not vet begun
to grow course, red faced or stout. She
is wonderfully popular with the ladies of
the -th, and has found warm friends
among them, but Mrs Sprague of the in
fantry Is the woman she particularly fan
cies, and her gruff old kinsman DIR. Quin
Is ever welcome guest at their fireside.
1t was he, she told her husband long
after, who undid the mischief Mrs. Bel
KNAPP had been able to SOW in one brief
conversation. I've known that young
woman ever since she wore pinafores,
Gladys. She has some good points, too.
but her one idiosyncrasy is that every
man she meets should bow down TO and
worship her. She is an Alexander in pet
ticoats, signing for new worlds TO con-
quer. has been coquette from the cradle,
and-what she can't forgive in Ned Perry
is that he simply did not fall in love with
her as she thought he had"
Down at Dunraven the gates are gone,
the doors are very Hospitality open.
Even is still manager de jure, but young
Mr.. Maitland, the proprietor, is manager
de facto, and, though there is constant
going and coming between the fort and
the ranch, and the officers Of the til
ride In there at all hours, what makes
the ranchman so popular among the rank
and file Is the fact that Sergt- "Gwynne,"
as they still call him, has a warm place
in his heart for one and all, and every
year when the date OF his enlistment in
the til comes round ne gives barbecue
dinner to the men, whereat there are
feasting and drinking of healths and
song and speech making, and Leary and
Donovan and even the recreant Kelly
are apt to be boisterously prominent on
such occasions, but blissfully so-for
there hasn't been shindy of any kind
since their old comrade stepped into his
possessions at Dunraven Ranch
THE END.