Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-10-20
CHAPTER XII

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..Ef o USE the expression OF
49, Mr.. Dana, ''Ned Perry
SSfgJ seemed off his feed fol
- w. day or two. The hunt
w had been pronounced g
big success. despite the fact of Perry:
defection-he had not even joined them
at luncheon-and it was agreed that i,
should be repeated the first bright day
after muster. That ceremony came of
on Monday with due pomp and formality
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 ap-
parent conquest by show Of womanly
displeasure at his conduct, and an as.
surance that, thanks to 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 8
t'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 he1
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 q woman who had interposed
and cast her into the shade the explana'
ton would have occurred to her at once
but that there was goddess in the shape
" Gladys Maitland within 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, oomplacency 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, but 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 ut.
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 J
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 clinging to Dana's !
arm and smiling up in Dana's face, and |
then she suddenly started: "Oh, Mr.. |
Danai 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 tc |
quit his arm, and her eyes looked scorn /
at him as she said, GLOW can you know |
anything about it, Mr.. Perry? You've
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 il
one of the heroes of the fighting days of
the regiment" Even that failed to crush
him while it had the effect of making
Dana feel mawkish and absurd. Perry
frankly responded that he only won
dered the women ever could find time &c
show any civility whatever TO fellows
ike him, when there were so many who
had records" She was completely at q
loss TO fatho,a him, and when tattoo
rame on Monday night. and they Were
all discussing the project Of run with
the hounds for the coming morrow
HAY dav celebration on new principles
Mrs. Eelhnap resolved upon change OF
tactics.
Dana was officer of the guard and over
It the guard house. but nearly all the
sther officers were chatting about the
seranda and the gate of the coloners
quarters. Thither had Capt. Belknap
escorted his pretty wife. and she was,
Is usual. the center of an interested
group. Perry came stGolling along after
reporting the result of tattoo roll call 20
lhe adjutant. and Capt. Stryker called
20 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, anc
when the trumpets sounded TAPS" few
later. several of the troop COM
manders walked away together, and this
left smaller party. 1t was just az this
juncture that Mrs. Belknap's sweet voice
Was heard addressing the commanding
officer: